Are Outdoor Tubs and Spa Porches Worth It?

18.08.2024 - 12:24 / bhg.com / Christianna Silva

Kim Cornelison

Pairings are always fun when it comes to food, mixing our favorites to create something even better: peanut butter and jelly, wine and cheese, chocolate and strawberries. The list goes on.

When you combine two things you love, do you create a better third thing? Or do you just dilute the qualities that make them great on their own? That's the question we have to ask ourselves when we think about this new design trend: outdoor tubs and spa porches.

«My husband and I reinvented a screened-in porch at our home we rarely used by adding a tub and naming it the ‘spa porch,'» designer Megan Molten told House Beautiful. «It is filled with plants we've collected and is truly magical at night… Adding plumbing outdoors is typically very doable, making this an easy and very satisfying addition for any bath lovers.»

There are pros and cons to having an outdoor tub, but most of the positive characteristics can be attributed to the fact that you have a nice tub in the privacy of your own home while still enjoying nature.

An outdoor tub offers plenty of relaxation and stress relief, which can benefit not only your mental health but also your physical health by improving circulation, reducing muscle tension, and helping you sleep better. If you treat the tub like you would a hot tub or a jacuzzi, it's perfect for hosting gatherings—but not quite as lovely if you use it like a bathtub.

One big plus of this feature is it brings the outdoors to your bathing experience, letting you connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air, scenery, and natural surroundings. Plus, it just looks really cute.

However, it isn't all sunshine and roses: An outdoor tub or porch spa requires a great deal of maintenance and regular cleaning, which