Splash SPLISH

Freestanding tubs are pretty, but they can also make a mess. Here’s how to prevent water damage in your bathroom.

FLOOR: As is the rule of thumb for bathrooms, the flooring should not be wood or carpet. Tile is the top choice, followed by other water-resistant materials such as linoleum. If you love the look of hardwood floors, you can pick a wood look-alike tile, which will give you the wood look but protect your floors from water damage.

WALLS: First, don’t put shiplap around your freestanding tub. In fact, any wood wall paneling is a bad idea for the lower half of the wall, where the most splashing will happen. In general, bathroom wainscoting should be at least 34" high (the average wainscoting is usually 36" high) and should be tile to protect the wall from water. You can also bring the tile all the way up to the ceiling for a tile wall that will protect your bathroom even more.

SHOWERING: If you use the freestanding tub for both baths and showers, you should either place the tub inside a sectioned off area with full tile walls and glass doors or use a shower curtain to protect the rest of the bathroom. You can still get that charming farmhouse bathroom look with a shower curtain— just make sure your freestanding tub is up against the wall and that the shower curtain goes all the way around it.