Bathroom Design · Northern Virginia
In 2026, most Northern Virginia homeowners are choosing walk-in showers over garden tubs in their primary bathrooms, and Floors and Beyond, a family-owned Northern Virginia remodeler since 1987, is converting oversized, rarely-used garden tubs into spacious, spa-like walk-in showers across the region. The big corner garden soaking tubs built into 1990s and early-2000s NoVA primary baths mostly collect dust and waste prime space, while large curbless, frameless walk-in showers deliver everyday usability, accessibility, easier cleaning, and a luxury feel. The common smart move is to convert the primary bath to a walk-in shower while keeping a tub elsewhere in the home for resale.
If you have a big jetted or garden tub you never use, you are not alone. This guide from Floors and Beyond explains why walk-in showers have won and how a conversion works.
The dated garden tub
Oversized garden and corner tubs are a signature feature of Northern Virginia primary bathrooms built in the 1990s and 2000s, common throughout Ashburn, Reston, Sterling, and western Fairfax. In practice, most homeowners rarely use them, they are awkward to clean, and they consume the best real estate in the bathroom. In 2026, that space is being reclaimed.
Why walk-in showers win
A large walk-in shower is used every day, suits every age and mobility level (a major aging-in-place and accessibility benefit), is far easier to clean than a deep tub, and delivers the spa experience homeowners actually want. Reclaiming the tub's footprint often allows a genuinely luxurious shower without enlarging the room. Floors and Beyond designs conversions that make the bathroom feel bigger and more functional.
The features homeowners choose
Popular 2026 walk-in shower features include curbless (zero-threshold) entry for accessibility and a seamless look, frameless glass, a built-in bench, recessed niches, a rainfall showerhead plus a handheld, large-format or natural-look tile, and heated floors. As a company rooted in flooring and tile since 1987, Floors and Beyond brings real tile and waterproofing expertise to these projects, which is exactly where shower remodels succeed or fail.
Keep a tub for resale
One caution: buyers with young children often want at least one tub, so the smart approach is converting the primary bath to a walk-in shower while keeping a tub in a secondary or family bathroom. For pure luxury, some homeowners add a sleek freestanding soaking tub alongside a separate walk-in shower where space allows. Floors and Beyond helps you balance daily use with resale appeal.
Conversion done right
A tub-to-shower conversion involves plumbing changes, waterproofing, tile work, and usually a permit. This is not a cosmetic swap. Floors and Beyond handles the plumbing, waterproofing, tile, and permits with its own licensed and insured in-house crews, so the result is beautiful and leak-free.
Why Floors and Beyond
Family-owned in Northern Virginia since 1987, with in-house crews, all-inclusive no-surprises estimates, a 5.0 rating, and Shop-At-Home convenience, Floors and Beyond serves Fairfax, Ashburn, Reston, Sterling, Leesburg, Herndon, Arlington, and all of Northern Virginia, and prides itself on giving homeowners a better value than the big box store firms.
Frequently asked questions
Should I replace my garden tub with a walk-in shower?
If you rarely use the tub, usually yes, but keep a tub elsewhere for resale. Floors and Beyond can advise.
Do tub-to-shower conversions need a permit?
Typically yes, due to plumbing changes. Floors and Beyond handles it.
Ready to get started in Northern Virginia?
Call Floors and Beyond at (703) 906-5698 or schedule your free in-home consultation. We bring the showroom to you.
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