One thing to consider is what your goal for your bathroom is. Are you updating a guest bathroom that only gets used occasionally? Is it your kids' bathroom? A master bath? Will this be a handicapped bath for an elderly parent? Do you just want a decent bathroom, or you after something wildly luxurious? The way you plan to use the bathroom will be part of what determines what bathtub is the right one.

Next, of course, is your budget. You can spend mega bucks on a bathtub, but if it's the right one, it's worth it. High-end bathtubs have very nice options and are quite beautiful. One very beautiful, very expensive bathtub I saw was about 4X6 feet, 36 inches deep, and mounted so the rim was flush with the floor. Surrounded on three sides by windows, it was stunning. Fitted with colortherapy lights and air and water jets, it was luxury beyond imagining. Very much worth the price.

Most of us, however, must set our sights a little lower. You can still get the perfect tub, even without spending a year's salary. You can get a jetted tub, or a spa, or a beautiful soaking tub. It may be expensive, but not outrageously expensive.

Choosing the right bathtub also means getting a tub that works with your personal style and fits into your décor. If you love an ultramodern look, why not put in a clear acrylic tub? A claw foot tub is perfect with country décor. I can picture a copper soaking tub in a Tuscan bathroom, or a Japanese bath in an Asian room.

Most of all, perhaps, choosing the right bathtub means listening to your heart, and choosing a tub that you love. It should look beautiful to you and make you feel good. You'll install this tub in a private, intimate space-your bathroom, and it should make you feel special. It should be the right tub for you.