The compromise that isn’t one
There is a conversation that repeats itself in nearly every project we undertake in Valencia. A moment arrives — generally when discussing square metres — when the client says with a certain resignation: “I suppose we’ll have to remove the bathtub.” As though it were a loss. As though converting the bathtub into a shower necessarily meant giving something up.
We understand. The bathtub carries enormous symbolic weight. It evokes relaxation, foam, a Sunday afternoon with candles. But the reality is that in most Ensanche apartments in Valencia — those four- or five-square-metre bathrooms where the standard 160 cm bathtub swallows half the space — that bathtub is used as a shower 95% of the time. And the other 5% is a promise that is rarely kept.
The good news is that the conversion from bathtub to shower, when approached with design intent, is not a compromise. It is one of the most transformative improvements that can be made in a bathroom. In fact, we would go so far as to say that the aesthetic and functional leap from a cramped bathtub to a well-designed shower is, arguably, the renovation with the greatest visual return in an entire home.
But there are conversions and there are conversions. And the difference between replacing a bathtub with a shower tray and genuinely designing a transition is precisely the difference between a botched job and a project.
Why the conversion is almost always an improvement
Let us be direct. In a bathroom of less than six square metres, the bathtub takes away far more than it contributes. And this is not merely a question of fashion or trend — it is pure geometry.
Real space gain. A standard bathtub occupies between 1.1 and 1.3 square metres of floor area. An 80 x 120 cm walk-in shower frees up between 20% and 35% of usable surface, depending on the configuration. That difference, in a small bathroom, is the difference between moving comfortably and colliding with the vanity every morning.
Accessibility. You need not have reduced mobility to appreciate stepping into a shower without lifting your leg over a 55-centimetre rim. Floor-level access is universal comfort, and increasingly, regulations require it in full renovations. It means thinking about the present and also about the next twenty years.
Contemporary aesthetics. The open shower, the fixed glass panel, the continuous floor — these elements connect directly with the visual language of current interior design. It is not about following fashions, but rather that a well-executed shower contributes a clarity of line that the bathtub, by its very volume, can seldom offer.
Water consumption. An eight-minute shower uses between 60 and 80 litres. Filling a bathtub, between 150 and 200. In times of Mediterranean drought, this figure is not trivial. And if you add a thermostatic system with a flow limiter — such as those from Grohe or Roca — the savings become even more significant.
3 levels of conversion
Not all conversions have the same scope. In our experience, there are three clearly differentiated levels, and choosing the right one depends as much on budget as on the ambition of the project.
Basic conversion: tray + screen (2,500 - 4,000 EUR)
This is the starting point. The bathtub is removed, an ultra-slim shower tray (acrylic or resin) is installed along with a sliding or hinged screen. The tiles around the bathtub perimeter are patched and the plumbing is adapted.
It is functional. It solves the problem. But let us be honest: aesthetically, it is a partial intervention. The tray is one colour, the tiles another, the screen cuts the space. The bathroom gains function but does not gain design. This is what most quick-renovation companies offer, and for many situations it is sufficient. But it is not what we do at Azulia.
Design conversion: walk-in + porcelain (5,000 - 8,000 EUR)
This is where things become interesting. Instead of a conventional tray, a flush tray or slope system is used to integrate the shower with the floor. A fixed glass panel is installed — what we call a walk-in or open shower — that separates without enclosing. The wall finish is unified with medium or large-format porcelain, creating visual continuity.
This level radically changes the perception of the bathroom. The space reads as a whole, not as compartments. The shower ceases to be a cubicle and becomes an integrated zone. It is the sweet spot between investment and result, and the one we most recommend for complete bathroom renovations in Valencia apartments. You can see how this approach works in our Walk-in Invisible design.
Premium conversion: continuous floor + recessed tapware (8,000 - 14,000 EUR)
The highest level of integration. Here there is no shower tray — there is a continuous floor with millimetric slope toward a concealed linear channel. The tapware is recessed: only the control and the shower head are visible, not the body of the valve. The finish may be continuous micro-cement, natural stone or large-format porcelain with minimal grouting.
The result is a bathroom where the shower is invisible. There is no transition, no frame, no element that says “the shower zone begins here.” Everything flows. In the world of interior design, this is known as a partial wet room, and it is the most sophisticated expression of this conversion.
It requires flawless execution — the slopes are calculated to the millimetre, the waterproofing is critical — but the visual effect is incomparable. If the budget permits, it is our recommendation for anyone seeking a bathroom that feels like those found in interior design magazines.
What to do with the space you gain
Removing the bathtub is not merely about gaining square metres. It is about gaining possibilities. And this is where design makes the difference between a conversion that simply works and one that transforms.
Recessed wall niches. The recess where the bathtub tapware once was is perfect for creating a built-in niche for products. Not a suction-cup shelf — a structural niche, lined with the same material as the wall finish, with integrated LED lighting. Clean, functional, invisible when not needed.
Integrated bench. If the shower is at least 90 cm wide, a built-in bench (finished in the same porcelain or micro-cement) adds extraordinary functionality. It is comfort for shaving legs, the seat where you rest a towel, the element that turns the shower into a wellness zone. At our Valencia studio we showcase several configurations with an integrated bench.
Dual shower head. With the freed space, it is often possible to install a ceiling-mounted rain head (25-30 cm diameter) in addition to the hand shower. It is a luxury that previously would not fit and now redefines the daily shower experience.
Vertical storage. The wall that once concealed the bathtub can house a tall cabinet, a designer heated towel rail or simply breathe and lend visual spaciousness to the bathroom. Sometimes, the best thing you can do with gained space is leave it empty. Emptiness, too, is design.
Before and after: the transformative factor
If there is one image that encapsulates why we do what we do, it is the before-and-after of a bathtub-to-walk-in-shower conversion. No other interior renovation produces so dramatic a contrast in so few square metres.
The “before” is depressing in its familiarity: a standard white bathtub, a plastic curtain or opaque screen with aluminium frames, 20 x 20 tiles from the nineties, cross-handle tapware, blackened silicone in the joints. We have seen it hundreds of times in Valencia’s residential neighbourhoods — from Patraix to Benimaclet, from Mestalla to Campanar — and it always produces the same effect: a space that feels smaller than it is.
The “after,” with intent, is another category entirely. The open shower with a fixed transparent glass panel multiplies the light. The continuous floor or flush tray eliminates the visual barrier. The recessed tapware clears the wall. The unified finish — a single material, a single tone — creates a serenity the previous bathroom could not have dreamed of.
This is not exaggeration. It is the kind of transformation that makes the homeowner ring their friends to come and see the bathroom. Not because it is ostentatious, but because it is elegant in its simplicity. That is what distinguishes a conversion with design from a conversion without: the capacity for the finished result to be greater than the sum of its parts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to convert a bathtub into a shower?
It depends on the level of intervention. A basic conversion with tray and screen can be completed in 3-4 days. A design conversion (walk-in, unified porcelain) requires between 5 and 7 working days. A premium conversion with continuous floor and recessed tapware may extend to 8-12 days, as the slopes, waterproofing and material curing require more time. In all cases, we work with fixed schedules to minimise disruption.
Do I need a building permit to replace the bathtub with a shower?
In the Valencian Community, converting a bathtub to a shower within the same space does not require a major works licence. If no structural elements are modified and the bathroom layout is not changed, a responsible declaration to the local council is sufficient. If the renovation involves changes to the layout or to soil stacks, a technical project and licence may be required. At our studio we advise on the appropriate paperwork for your specific case.
Can I convert the bathtub to a shower without a full renovation?
Yes, but with caveats. The basic conversion (tray over tray) intervenes minimally in the existing bathroom. However, the aesthetic result is limited because the new tray is surrounded by the old tiles. For a truly transformative result, we recommend at least unifying the finish in the shower zone. The cost difference between a partial conversion and one that genuinely improves the design is smaller than most clients expect, and the difference in outcome is enormous.
Is a walk-in shower worthwhile in a small bathroom?
Absolutely. In fact, it is in small bathrooms that the walk-in shower with a fixed panel produces the most spectacular effect. By eliminating the enclosed structure of a traditional screen (frames, tracks, doors), the visual space is amplified. A four-square-metre bathroom with an open shower is perceived as significantly larger than the same bathroom with a bathtub or a closed shower cabin. The key is that the fixed panel be of transparent glass (never translucent or patterned) and that the finish be continuous. You can explore configurations for small bathrooms with our bathroom calculator.
Converting a bathtub into a shower should not feel like a concession. When design takes the lead, it is one of the most intelligent and rewarding decisions of an entire renovation. If you are considering this transformation for your bathroom, we invite you to explore our design calculator to visualise the possibilities, or to discover how we approach the open shower in our Walk-in Invisible design. The change begins with ceasing to think about what you lose and starting to imagine what you gain.