Bye-bye, bathtub? How to know when it’s time to swap your tub for a walk-in shower.

By JiaYing Grygiel

Special to At Home in the Northwest (Seattle Times)

"In her own house, Ducsik recently turned a cramped tub-shower alcove into a large, free-standing shower.

The original 1990s layout was tight. The tub-shower was surrounded by three walls, which made it feel like you were showering in a closet. Ducsik took out the wall dividing the tub from the vanity and replaced it with a glass enclosure, which added much-needed light to the bathroom. To save space, she installed a sliding shower door.

“The room feels so much more spacious,” Ducsik says. “We don’t miss the bathtub.”

The bathroom, which has a Jack and Jill entrance, is used by her two teens and as the guest bath.

For their grandparents in their 80s, the shower is easier to get into. “Not having to walk over the bathtub makes it a lot safer and a lot easier to maneuver within the space,” Ducsik says.