Enjoy a spa-style body massage in this tub from Kasch; (Above) Pamper your senses in a Takiyu tub that comes with a waterfall effect

What’s the best way to relax after a long, hard day at office? Would you like to sink into a bathtub which has 21 jets of water gently massaging every part of your body? Or, would you rather lie back in a Jacuzzi with the water swishing gently back and forth?

Indian bathrooms have always been starkly utilitarian — and usually squishy and small. Now, those who can afford it are splashing out and building bigger, luxury-oriented bathrooms. Getting the right bathtub is a key part of the new high-on-style luxury bathroom. “Bathtubs today stand for elegance matched with a superb technology. Gone are the days when tubs were purely functional. Now you can go for bathtubs that are style statements,” says Rita Dalmi, store manager, FCML, a Delhi-based speciality home store.

What’s astonishing about today’s bathtubs is the sheer range of choice — in terms of size and materials. Pick a Victorian-style, freestanding, high-sided tub with claw legs or a large three-sided tub if you have room for more than one. Or soak in a sunken tub (they are called drop-down tubs) with a distinctly five-star look. If all that isn’t enough, how about a ‘waterfall’ bathtub where the water is constantly circulating?

And if you really want to dip your toes into the premium end of the market, there are whirlpool or jetted bathtubs that promise a daily ‘spa-style experience’. Whirlpool tubs have a pump that mixes air with water and forces the mixture out from the jets creating massaging bubbles. These jets are usually programmed and you can choose the kind of massage and regulate the water pressure accordingly with a remote.

There are extra fittings too that were never part of bathrooms or bathtubs earlier. You can now get tubs with special coloured lights for a soothing touch. And at the top end of the market, there are even tubs with small TVs attached.

Knief&Co’s chic Victorian-style, claw-legged tub is made for luxury-oriented bathrooms; (above) Make a style statement with this copper-plated bathtub

The New Age bathtubs come in a variety of unusual materials too. Unlike in the old days when they were invariably made from cast iron, bathtubs today come in anything from stone to acrylic or even fibre-glass. But stone tubs are heavy and tough to maintain. Acrylic tubs are particularly popular because they are scratchproof and durable. But there are other exotic choices too. “If you want to make a tub statement, go for copper or stainless steel tubs,” says Varun Gupta, director, Bathline in Delhi.

Bathline also offers solid surface bathtubs, which look similar to marble and are easy to maintain. There are also cultured marble, granite and onyx tubs that are thicker than acrylic. Bathline offers chic tub styles from high-end European brands like Knief & Co and Kasch.

However, it’s the whirlpools that have caught the attention of homemakers. If you are fitting a whirlpool bathtub, first decide whether you want a one-person or two-person tub to go with the overall décor of the bathroom. Then choose the number of jets you want — for instance a neck-jet, back-jet, side-jets and foot-jets.

A fully-loaded whirlpool comes with 21 jets and add-on features like mood-lighting, champagne effect (because of the bubbles created in water) and customised massage settings. Or you can choose a waterfall effect — a stream of hot water falling from a height.

A bathtub with multiple jets at FCML

Why are tubs making a comeback? “Bathtubs are not for your quick morning showers. They are for those who want pampering in the form of massages,” says Shruti Khanna, general manager, Aquaarius Bath Solutions, Mumbai. Khanna adds: “People want to slow down after a stressful day and one way to do it is with a relaxing bath in a tub.” Take your pick from some of the most famous European brands like Villeroy & Boch, Kohler and Jacuzzi at Aquaarius.

The damage? Needless to say these tubs will burn a deep hole in your pocket. “Generally, bathtubs are customised depending on a client’s requirement and the size of the bathroom,” says Girish Shah, director, Belleza store, Mumbai. A fully-loaded whirlpool can set you back by a mind-boggling Rs 10 lakh to Rs 18 lakh. “More and more people are opting for bathtubs to get a spa effect in their homes,” says Shah.

If you want something less fancy, prices are likely to start at about Rs 70,000 and can go up to several lakhs. These prices don’t include installation charges. Belleza has brands like Hans Grohe, Kasch and Knief & Co. Considering the steep price of these tubs, they come with a 10-year guarantee.

From being strictly utilitarian to being ultra-glam — go ahead and make your tub the centre of attraction.