Custom Japanese Bathtubs
Home design is trending towards the compact but meaningful spaces, and a large part of home design is designing the right bathroom to fit your home. Before, the only way to have a bathtub in your bathroom was to design one that was large enough to accommodate those ergonomic tubs. Today, you do not have to compromise your bathroom floor for the luxury of owning custom Japanese bathtubs.
Custom Japanese bathtubs are the new smart trends in bathroom design. Termed as soaking tubs, or ofuro, the design of the Japanese tub is deeper and narrower which allows your bathroom to have more floor space. Custom Japanese bath tubs are often more expensive than a predesigned tub, but it is also necessary to have a customized tub to make sure that it fits into your small bathroom.
The art of bath tub design has a much longer history in Japan and in Asia than in the West. Many say that bath tubs are Asian imports at a time when the West is just discovering the necessity of hygiene. The Japanese bathtub is much smaller compared to a western bathtub since the Japanese always like their things small. Japanese style bath tubs are much deeper because they are meant to soak your body from head to toe. Older Asian bathtubs are similar to the wide wooden barrels. These bath tubs are designed so the water reaches your neck when you sit.
Japanese bathtubs also have a different purpose in bathing compared to western bathtubs. Unlike the western bathtubs, the Japanese use them to soak, rather than wash themselves. For the Japanese, washing is done by taking a shower, while the bathtub is only used to soak after cleaning up.
The water in Japanese bathtubs is usually hotter much like a hot spring. For the Japanese, tubs are used for relaxation and therapy. Custom Japanese bathtubs relieve people from stress and the pain of tired muscles after a hard day�s work. This tradition comes from the fact that Japan has a lot of hot springs. The public bathhouses in Japan are actually open hot springs where they relax and socialize especially during the cold weather.
Custom Japanese tubs can be either made of copper, stainless steel, wood finish, ceramic, and more. The newest trend in Japanese bathtub design is stainless steel. Although the shape of the tub is Asian inspired, stainless steel is not a Japanese material. Nevertheless, this design is a fusion of the East and the West design inspirations, allowing Japanese tubs to fit well in a Western home. Custom Japanese bathtubs usually have bench seats for bathing comfort. The most important element of a Japanese hot tub is that you should be able to sit comfortably in it. If you want to recline and lie down when you are in a tub, then the Japanese tub is not for you.
Although Feng Shui is a Chinese tradition, you can customize your Japanese bathtub to draw these Zen energies. For many home designers, bringing in the Asian tradition sets the table for a more authentic experience.