Family bathroom plus ensuite, or two family bathrooms?

[CurrerBell]

Which would you prefer?

We have plans for an extension and will be adding a new double bedroom plus ensuite. The ensuite will be taking up one side/corner of the room, but it's struck me that we could just move the door and make both rooms separately accessible from the hall. This would make the layout more flexible (e.g. we could keep our current bedroom as the master bedroom without having to move rooms).

But could the lack of ensuite put potential buyers off in the future?

Also, both our bathrooms will be front facing - could that be a problem? Obviously we will have frosted windows & blinds. We are pretty overlooked from the back too (well, from everywhere as we are on a corner plot!).

[Reminder]

I would go for the two separate bathrooms but I really don't get en-suites. I think you are probably right re en-suite being more desirable for most buyers.

Can't think why though. Why would you want steam from the shower, smells from the toilet or noises from your DH's ablutions in your bedroom?!

I think front facing bathrooms would be unusual and might raise some eyebrows but I can't see it putting me off what would otherwise be a perfect house iyswim

[LondonGirl83]

Either is fine. It's the number of bathrooms that matters more than if they are ensuite as such I think.

[littlecrystal]

If the bathrooms are on the same floor, I would prefer en-suite.
But do what is best for your family.

[MummytoMog]

Do you want to keep your room as the master particularly? I get that, we love our current room and would rather have that as the master than the new bedroom in the extension with an en suite (although we're moving into the loft as it happens). But we often have a live in/guests/lodgers and I am more comfortable not prancing across a communal landing in my towel, or doing a four in the morning loo run. Thankfully our new en suite is large. With a window. That I will be making OH open.

[neepsandtatties]

jack and jill doors, to keep it flexible for future buyers? or at least arange the sanitary ware so future buyers can switch it if they dislike how you have it.

I would think though that 9/10 would prefer an en-suite rather than another house bathroom

[starballbunny]

one bathroom and a big walk in wardrobe, but we are probably the only family on the planet who doesn't get this insertion with showering four times a day and having loads of bathrooms to clean.

[CurrerBell]

Thanks all. We've never had an ensuite but the thought of the noise and smells (from DH!) is definitely making me think twice about it! Still, it would have a window!

The new bedroom would be a similar size to ours so I guess moving rooms wouldn't be such a problem... On the plus side, having an ensuite would be a more private space for us once the kids are older, and when we have guests.

Ahh, jack and jill doors might work! There is no sanitary wear in the way so we can have doors on either side of the corner.

[CurrerBell]

sanitary ware

[ContentedSidewinder]

I never understand people's aversion to en-suites, has no-one stayed in a hotel? Or do you stay somewhere where the bathroom is across the landing?

We have an en-suite so the bathroom is the children's bathroom. When we have guests staying the bathroom becomes theirs and the children use our en-suite.

Personally, I like the privacy of the en-suite and smells are retained in the en-suite by the extractor fan and the window. After a shower you just close the door of the en-suite and the steam leaves via the extractor or the window.

[Reminder]

Contented, its from staying in hotels that i know i don't want that arrangement at home. I wouldn't choose to have breakfast in a room full of strangers or to work and sleep in the same room at home either.

[BackforGood]

We put our 2nd bathroom in with the door onto the landing. Much better. Since then, we've had changes around of who sleeps where, that were not thought of before putting in the bathroom, and it's re-confirmed it was the right decision, as the bathroom is accessible to anyone who needs it without having them traipse through our bedroom.
No contest, definitely 2 family bathrooms.

[MerylStrop]

I'd prefer two bathrooms

Without a shadow of a doubt

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

We're not ensuite fans either, but lots of people seem keen.

I like the idea of putting 2 doors in if possible so you can lock one and have ensuite or family.

[Vickiyumyum]

I'd prefer two bathrooms. I've got an en suite and I hate it and it's only me that uses it. Because it's a smallish space it has an extractor fan that takes forever to switch off after the light has been turned off. So I tend to find my way in the dark to the loo.

Even though on the same floor two bathrooms would have been preferable. Or a bathroom with shower over bath and a shower room.

[HappyHippyChick]

I have 5 kids so two bathrooms would get my vote, so they're not traipsing through my room to get ready on a Saturday night!

[MrsCampbellBlack]

2 bathrooms for sure. I loathe en suites for all the reasons mentioned above.

[Philoslothy]

We built our own house. We have ensuite a for the bedrooms however to create a buffer between the bathroom and our bedroom we have walk through dressing rooms between the two.

[Bowlersarm]

Definitely an en suite.

Really love ours. Wouldn't live anywhere without one now.

[Sinkingfeeling]

I'd go for two bathrooms too - much more flexibility in terms of how they can be used. Never been keen on en suite bathrooms and can't really understand why the majority of the UK population see them as so desirable.

[Philoslothy]

I don't want to share a bathroom with my children or guests. I don't want my children dipping their fingers in face creams and makeup, I don't want my older children helping themselves to my makeup etc.

It makes sense to have my clothes near where I shower and get dressed rather than traipsing through the house in my towel.

My bath and shower are huge, we shag them a lot.

[Artandco]

X2 bathrooms. Hate ensuites. If one adults wakes early for work then the other would be disturbed by shower etc in en suite. With x2 then an adult can use one, teens use another, and anyone who doesn't have to be up can sleep. Same in the eve.
If you have children/ teens also its easier when older as they can get ready in Eve's between 2 bathrooms without killing each other!

[MoreBeta]

We used to have an ensuite in our other house and I didnt really like it that much. We had proper bathrooms also.

Now in our new house we have a proper bathroom with a bath but also having a proper really nice shower room built right next to our bedroom but not a door inside leading into the bedroom. The door is in the corridor right outside at right angles to our bedroom door. It means more people can use the shower room and we still have a lot of convenience. We also have a WC on the upper floor and shower/WC off the utility room too so everyone has access to a WC on every floor no matter how many guests.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Wow, philoslothy you really do like your ensuite

[potoftea]

When we built an extension, we put in an ensuite. It is now my favourite aspect of the house! I love the privacy of it and how I can have anything on show there knowing no visitors are going to have a nosy around.
I love the nearness of it if I am ill and knowing there won't be anyone else using that bathroom if I need to run for it.
I find it useful for cleanups after sex because we can pop in there naked, whereas would have to cover up to run across the landing to family bathroom.
And now that our children are all young adults who have friends stay sometimes, I love that I can shut my bedroom door and have total privacy until morning when I am showered, dressed and with my makeup on before I venture out into the rest of the house.
If your children are young, you may be thinking that 2 family bathrooms is more useful, but very quickly they will be adults and that aspect of life is totally different.

[Bowlersarm]

Exactly potoftea

How can anyone not want an en suite?

There are only advantages.

It's so lovely to have a little bit of a sanctuary from the turmoil which is, family life - lovely though it is, it's great to have some privacy and no one banging on the door hurrying you up.

All your lovely bath oils, soaps, shampoos, extraordinary expensive lotions and potions, lined up and untouched by anyone else.

Or having to tidy it all up because guests will use it.

Or having to put clothes on whilst you nip to the loo in the night.

Best room in the house . Wouldn't be without it.