Imitating a zero-edge pool, the two-person sok tub by Kohler spills water into an overflow channel. It also offers chromatherapy, effervescent bubbles, and molded seats for comfort.

Once purely utilitarian, today’s hottest bathtubs are more like works of art. Whether free-standing or built-in, these functional fixtures can be found in a variety of innovative designs and materials. While the standard white tub is adopting sleeker shapes by the minute, you now can relax in versions clad in leather or fashioned from wood or metal. It’s all about beautifying a part of the home that traditionally has been a place to lather up rather than display personal style. Soak up the latest trends in tubs on the following pages.