Patio tubs: Design focused products for the outdoor room
The growth of outdoor living continues to see consumers asking for more functional spaces. The term ‘staycation’ was created by a movement, which saw an increasing number of consumers spend money on their homes instead of going on lavish vacations.
A well-designed outdoor space not only has areas for entertaining but also space for relaxation and well-being. As the plug-and-play market has developed and grown, many manufactures are looking for new and innovative ways to design products for this growing market of design driven outdoor living. The result of this is a new plug-in-play hot tub category called ‘Patio Tubs.’
The growth of smaller, one-to-four person hot tub designs has resulted in these plug-and-play models being located closer to the home on patios (large and small) and/or decks.
Focus on design
As this trend has grown, so has the need for plug-and-play hot tubs, which offer a better fit and finish with cohesive design elements such as integrated colours and accents. More attention is also being focused on adding elements that allow the hot tub to integrate better into existing patio and outdoor room designs.
To accomplish this, manufacturers are using influences from patio furniture and other outdoor products as a natural way to create a hot tub that looks more integrated into the outdoor space. Traditional plug-and-play designs have been centred on low price and ease of installation; however, as outdoor spaces become more elaborate, plug-and-play hot tub designs, which are more esthetically driven, are a natural fit for today’s outdoor living design trends.
Sometimes referred to as ‘liquid furniture,’ these high-end, plug-and-play patio tubs offer the same basic features as other styles with additional features such as integrated hard covers with built-in lift mechanisms. These locking covers are fully insulated and designed to last the life of the product. Some models also include powder-coated aluminium decorative accents and frames, which allow consumers to match the hot tub with their outdoor decor.
Typical features include:
- GFCI cord;
- 1.5-hp, two-speed pump;
- 3.25 m2 (35 sf) filter;
- Up to eight jets, plus whirlpool jet system;
- Standard interior/exterior LED lighting;
- Fully insulated safety cover with built-in lift mechanism (all models);
- Water management mineral cartridge; and
- Powder-coated aluminium frame and accents.
Vic Walker is the Product Design Manager at Dimension One Spas, a hot tub manufacturer in Vista, Calif. He has almost 20 years experience as an industrial designer and more than 12 years experience in the pool and hot tub industry where he has been awarded more than 15 patents for his contributions. He can be reached via e-mail at vwalker@d1spas.com.
