Small Renovations To Make Your Bathroom Shine: How A New Tub Filler Can Be A Game Changer

Major remodels can be prohibitively expensive no matter what room you’re doing them in. When you’re looking to update a whole area, the price and scope of a project can get out of hand pretty quickly. But sometimes you’ve gotta do something to keep your home looking fresh – and little details really can go a long way towards transforming the look and feel of a room. In a bathroom, for example changing out your tub faucet is a seemingly small renovation that can end up making a big difference.

Most tub faucets are, well, standard looking. You know the ones I mean, because unless you’ve already remodeled your tub area, you probably have one there now – one of those vaguely rectangular, utterly plain metal spigots like this Belanger Faucet, paired with simple metal or clear plastic handles. But because they are so average looking, swapping one out for another more interesting one will instantly make it a visual focal point of the room.

It’s actually a relatively simple change to make, too – one you could do on your own if you’re feeling bold (and have some tools and plumbing know-how) or at least a project that a plumber or contractor can pull off in an hour or so. Especially if the one you have is old, water stained, or corroded, even just putting on a new standard spigot can really revitalize your tub, but installing something even slightly fancier, like this streamlined modern Axor Bouroullec Spout, is a quick way to really jazz up your bathroom and implement a new style.

Then again, if you already have a pretty nice tub, don’t be afraid to go bold – this Golden Gargoyle styled one immediately transforms your tub from ordinary to extraordinary. The best part? They don’t even need any special hardware, and install just the same as any other faucet.

Really ornate tub spouts, like the golden gargoyle or it’s Silver mate add a unique, fantastical flair to just about any bathroom, and a level of luxury and opulence that even really nice, attractive spigots won’t. Because they look custom and one of a kind, even if they aren’t, they’ll leave a great impression on your guests. And pairing them with a matching sink faucet and other small accessories, like a towel bar will create a theme of elegant luxury throughout your bathroom, rather than simply adding a single focal point that might otherwise be slightly out of place.

That said, a tub filler doesn’t have to be ridiculously ornate to change the vibe of your bathroom. The subtle touch of traditional detailing on this Perrin and Rowe faucet is all you really need to refresh and revitalize your space. It’s important to remember that unless you have a really fancy bathtub, like a roman tub, or an elegant freestanding one that requires special deck mount or  clawfoot tub fillers, most bathtubs look, well, more or less the same… which means it’s the hardware that makes the difference.

Even finding a spigot that simply pours the water differently, like this Axor Massaud Faucet, can turn an average-feeling tub into a relaxing spa experience. While you might not need, want, or be able to afford a full bathroom makeover, swapping out smaller hardware and accessories can easily be enough to reinvent your bathroom. So if your existing fixtures are in pretty good shape, don’t worry about doing a big overhaul, just look for the most prominent (or least attractive) hardware and swap it out, then find a few nice accessories to help bring the new look throughout your whole bathroom.

Of course, the change doesn’t have to be merely aesthetic. Similar to replacing a shower head, installing a new tub filler is a great opportunity not only to improve the functionality and appearance of your bathtub, but is also a good time to add the additional safety feature of an anti scald valve as well. Because they tend to be located directly behind the spigot, when you’re installing your new Tub Filler, have your plumber take a little extra time to install a thermostatic valve, which will ensure that your water stays at a safe temperature.

Are you balking at the idea of a big remodel? Putting off sprucing up your bathroom for a lack of funds? Or are you just looking to get rid of an old, gross faucet? Let me know in the comments!