Renovating a bathroom is a chance to change how the room works, not just how it looks. A freestanding shower is one of the bigger levers available.
The room reads larger
Clear glass and an open enclosure let the eye travel to the far wall. A tub and shower combination behind a curtain stops it dead. In a modest bathroom, that difference is more noticeable than the floor area itself.
Better daily use
Separating the shower from the tub means neither compromises the other. You gain a proper shower footprint, room for a bench or a niche, and a tub you can actually relax in rather than stand in.
Easier to keep clean
Large-format tile and fewer grout lines make a meaningful difference over the years. A curbless entry removes the ledge where water and grime collect.
What it costs you
Floor area, mainly. Splitting the two fixtures needs more of it, and in a small hall bath that may not be the right trade. It also raises the stakes on waterproofing, since an open enclosure gives water more places to go.
Where the space allows, it is one of the few bathroom changes clients mention unprompted a year later.
