The Most Unhinged (and Brilliant) Garden Project We've Ever Seen

Somewhere on the internet, someone took a gander at their garden and thought, “I could go for a bath here.” And, apparently, they actually went through with it. When I spotted it during my nightly scroll time, I realized I also really wanted one. I mean, it’s a bathtub in a garden, who wouldn’t want this? (Just make sure none of your neighbors have prying eyes.)

A video, currently doing the rounds on Instagram, shows the most glorious bathing setup I’ve ever seen. A vintage-style, steel, clawfoot bathtub sitting on top of a rectangle of cinderblocks, with a wood fire burning underneath to heat the water (basically like a little fondue cup), all set in the middle of a stunning garden full of wildflowers. Basically, it’s a fever dream in real life, and it looks like the best DIY spa evening anyone has ever had. Here's how to do it yourself.

What You'll Need

• A steel bathtub is non-negotiable here. It should be cast iron or enameled steel only – never attempt this with an acrylic or fiberglass tub, which will warp, melt, or even worse. Vintage steel clawfoot tubs turn up regularly on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and architectural salvage yards, often for very reasonable prices since they're heavy and people are desperate to get rid of them. That weight, by the way, is actually a key feature here, and it holds the heat perfectly.
• Cinder blocks are your base. You'll need enough to build a stable, level square or rectangle that elevates the tub high enough to build a decent fire underneath (roughly two to three blocks high works well). Make sure your base is completely level before the tub goes on, and place it on flat, stable ground. This is not optional. You definitely don’t want a tipping bathtub full of hot water as a feature in your garden.
• Firewood, kindling, and a reliable way to light a fire. Hardwoods like oak or ash burn longer and more steadily than softwoods, which is what you want here. You're heating a large volume of water, and you need sustained heat rather than a quick burn.
• An old curtain, a piece of muslin, or even a fitted sheet to drape over the top while the water heats up. This keeps bugs, leaves, and general garden debris out of your bath water. It’s not the most glamorous thing, but neither are bugs in your water.
• Check the temperature before you get in (seriously, it can also be too hot.) Use a thermometer if you have one, and make sure the temperature is around 100-104 F (38-40 C). Any hotter, and you’ll come out looking like a hot dog.
• Amazon sells mostly baby bath thermometers (but they work the same), which means they come in all kinds of cute shapes, like this one.
• Extras: A bath tray with snacks, an iPad, a candle, and anything else that brings you into an ASMR-fueled world of pure bliss.
• This Bamboo Bathtub Caddy from Target is expandable, and friendly on your wallet. To really get into the spa feeling, throw in this Da Bomb bath fizzer, also available at Target.

A Few Sensible Notes

• Keep the fire going at a gentle level while you're in the tub to maintain the temperature. However, you don’t want the flames to be climbing up over the sides; this isn’t a bonfire situation.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to manage the fire if necessary, and make sure nothing flammable is near the cinderblock base.
• Perhaps let a loved one know what you’re doing (kind of like an emergency contact). This is the kind of project that probably warrants the occasional check-in.

Is a Bathtub In Your Garden Practical?

Is this practical? That’s up for debate. But, is it romantic, eccentric, joyful, and a fun use of your garden on a free Saturday afternoon? Absolutely.

There’s a reason people like hot tubs so much. There is something so magical about sitting in hot water, surrounded by flowers with a crackling fire underneath you. It's the kind of thing that sounds completely crazy when you describe it and completely obvious once you're in it.