Bao Baths Buying Guide
A bath needs to serve two genuinely different roles: command central for a chaotic family bath time, and a single, quiet spot to switch off entirely. Bao Bath focuses specifically on the elements that matter for both, a design that looks considered, materials built to last, and a shape that's genuinely comfortable to spend time in.
What makes Bao distinctive
Bao avoids over-designed, trend-chasing shapes in favour of clean, elegant forms intended to suit a home for years rather than looking dated within a single season. The range isn't trying to be everything to everyone; instead, it focuses on a smaller, well-considered selection that balances a genuinely elevated look with everyday practicality.
Where a Bao bath fits in your home
A master ensuite with room to spare suits a freestanding Bao bath particularly well, giving the room a genuine sense of retreat. A busy family bathroom suits a back-to-wall or built-in model instead, keeping the same clean lines while remaining practical and easy to clean around, without an awkward gap behind the tub collecting dust. Even a smaller guest bathroom can accommodate a compact Bao shower bath, giving the practicality of both a shower and a bath within one footprint.
Choosing an installation type
Freestanding baths can be installed anywhere in the room, off the walls, since all sides are fully sealed, and remain the clearest way to make a bath the genuine centrepiece of a bathroom.
Back-to-wall baths can be installed against a single wall, with the two sides and front sealed, giving much of a freestanding bath's clean look while saving genuine floor space and simplifying cleaning behind the tub.
Back-to-corner baths suit a small space particularly well, installed into a corner with the back and one side flush against the walls, making efficient use of an area that might otherwise go unused.
Built-in baths, set into a tiled frame or hob, remain a dependable, practical classic, giving a neat, integrated look along with a ready-made ledge for shampoo bottles, well suited to a family with young children.
Shower baths solve the challenge of fitting both functions into one space, with a wider end for showering that doesn't feel like a compromise.
Island baths sit within a larger tiled platform, giving a genuinely grand, hotel-like feel with useful surface area surrounding the tub itself.
Spa baths bring built-in jets for a proper massage, turning the bathroom into a genuine wellness space.
Fluted baths bring vertical grooves down the tub's side, adding texture and a considered play of light and shadow to the room.
Choosing a shape
Oval baths are naturally comfortable to lie in, with soft curves that read as elegant and welcoming, particularly popular for a freestanding installation.
Rectangular baths remain the most space-efficient shape, with clean lines suited to a modern bathroom and the default choice for most built-in and shower bath installations.
Round baths prioritise experience over space efficiency, making a genuine visual statement and suiting a deep, more meditative soak.
Slipper baths carry a raised backrest at one end, a classic detail genuinely suited to anyone who likes to lean back and properly relax, or read in the bath.
Square baths bring a bold, geometric form well suited to a minimalist or Japanese-inspired bathroom, often offering greater soaking depth than a rectangular bath of a similar footprint.
Choosing a size
Baö's range spans genuinely compact through to expansive lengths. 1200mm suits the tightest bathrooms, under a window or within a combined laundry-bathroom space. 1300mm gives slightly more internal room while remaining compact, suited to apartment living. 1400mm works well in a smaller family bathroom, big enough for children without consuming excessive floor space. 1500mm has long been a default Australian bath size, offering a decent soak for an average adult and a common replacement size for an older tub. 1600mm (or 1650mm) is worth considering where space allows, for genuinely more room to stretch out. 1700mm suits a main bathroom or ensuite well, long enough for a taller person to sit comfortably. Baths over 1700mm suit a larger bathroom prioritising a genuinely spacious, indulgent soak above all else.
The Bao Elegant range
The Bao Elegant range brings a timeless, classic design, with a shadow-line base and soft curves giving genuine grace and sophistication. Available in freestanding, back-to-wall and back-to-corner configurations, in both 1500mm and 1700mm lengths without an overflow, this range suits both classical and modern interiors, and particularly a traditional or Hamptons-style home. The Elegant range comes in a gloss white finish.
The Bao Fluted range
The Bao Fluted range brings stylish V-groove fluting in a matte white finish, adding genuine textural character to the bathroom. Available in the same freestanding, back-to-wall and back-to-corner configurations, and the same 1500mm and 1700mm lengths without an overflow, this range's recessed base gives the impression the bath is floating while also making cleaning genuinely more practical. This range suits a bathroom wanting a sophisticated, statement-making centrepiece.
The genuine benefits of a Bao bath
Considered design gives Bao its lasting appeal: an architectural but never sterile look, with clean, well-proportioned shapes that read as classic rather than fashion-driven, unlikely to feel dated within a few years.
Built for daily life, Bao uses sanitary-grade materials suited to genuine daily use, resisting staining and colour fade over time, giving real peace of mind for a busy household.
Genuine comfort matters as much as appearance: a gentle back slope, sufficient depth for a proper soak, and a smooth material surface all combine to make the bath a place worth spending time in.
A curated, simplified range makes choosing considerably easier than facing an overwhelming catalogue, since Bao has focused on a smaller set of genuinely useful, well-considered options rather than an exhaustive list of near-identical models.
A few things worth considering
Tapware pairing depends on the bath's installation type: a freestanding tub needs either floor-mounted taps rising beside it or a wall-mounted set with a longer spout, while a built-in tub has more flexibility, suiting either wall-mounted or deck-mounted taps. Deciding whether the tapware should be a genuine feature, in matte black, for instance, or blend in with classic chrome, is worth settling early.
Weight and flooring matter considerably for a stone bath specifically, given its genuine weight. Installing on an upper floor or a timber floor structure needs a builder's confirmation that the structure can support the load, a quick check that avoids a significant problem later.
Cleaning and care stays straightforward across the range: a soft cloth and gentle liquid cleaner handle daily maintenance, with gritty, abrasive powders or scouring pads avoided to prevent surface scratching.
How do I select the ideal Bao bath for my bathroom?
Choosing the right Bao bath involves assessing the bathroom's layout, personal aesthetic preference, and practical requirements including size and desired features. Bao's range spans various spaces and styles, so considering which aspects of design and functionality matter most helps narrow the decision.
What is the difference between freestanding, back-to-wall and back-to-corner?
Freestanding baths can be installed anywhere in the bathroom, away from the walls, since all sides are fully sealed. Back-to-wall baths install against a single wall, with the two sides and front sealed. Back-to-corner baths suit a small space best, installed into a corner with the back and one side flush against it.
Is a plug and waste included with my Bao bath?
No. Plugs, wastes and flexible connectors are sold separately, allowing a wider choice of plug and waste styles to suit the specific bathroom or installation requirements.
Completing the bathroom
A Bao bath is easiest to finalise alongside its tapware and waste, since installation type and finish both depend on those earlier decisions. The Blue Space's Bathroom Taps and Wastes & Traps collections are worth reviewing alongside a Bao bath selection to bring the full room together.
