The Unusual Bathroom Feature You Might Find In Homes (& What It Could Mean)

Dumbwaiters, milk doors, laundry chutes, and even servants' call buttons on the floors of old houses: most quirky and outdated home "conveniences" have obvious purposes. If not, there are usually online resources that delve into the bizarre features you might find in old homes and what they were used for. However, one strange fixture in '70s and '80s bathrooms has sparked much debate on forums and social media. Placed next to a standard-size soaking tub, some bathrooms from this period also boast a faucet-less, drain-less mini tub. While there are plenty of imaginative ways you could make the most of your own micro-tub, what the heck was it meant for?

The web forums are rife with speculation, with some posters offering their opinions with absolute certainty. The suggestions that have racked up the most votes are foot bath, plant holder, and basin for icing drinks to enjoy during baths. Without a faucet or drain, holding water in any form wasn't likely part of the original plan.

However, this occasional 20th-century bathroom accessory was meant to hold plants. Whether faux or for-real, a tub full of greenery seems to fit in with plant-rich decor trends of both the '70s and the '80s. If you're lucky enough to have a bathroom with this element, tuck in some greenery, or find a truly novel use for this strange little basin.

The indoor plant trend doesn't have an expiration date. You might have the ideal spot for nurturing green things right next to your bathtub. There are plenty of moisture-loving houseplants perfect for your bathroom. If your room is short on natural light, try some faux foliage. Make them as believable as possible with this simple TikTok hack that will make your fake plants look more realistic.

One major plus to these mini tubs is how close they sit to their full-size counterparts. Fill it with a cluster of rolled towels and washcloths, you'll have all you need close at hand as you scrub up or step out of the tub. Stock it with a candle, bath salts, a loofah, and luxurious soaps to make your bathroom feel like a spa.

An extremely festive possibility shared by a hefty number of forum participants was to morph the tub into a drinks cooler by filling it with ice and the beverages of your choice. The fact that it had no drain didn't dissuade those who imagined topping off their glasses with chilled prosecco mid-bath. Although the best solution isn't immediately obvious, fans of this option thought that removing the melted ice post-bath would be a small price to pay for sipping while soaking. Perhaps the lowest-effort way to remove water from this bath-time beverage cooler is to line it with a plastic bag. No matter these mini tubs' intended function, these ideas are just a jumping-off point for limitless creativity.