tiny bathroom and toilet, unsure what to do

[buildmeabuttercup]

Hi everyone.
So we have a very tiny toilet and bathroom. The bathroom is about 1.8m x 1.7 wide, with the floor space to walk on being about 80-90cm wide. Its tiny , but we manage. We also have a separate toilet next door, again being about 80-90cm wide (the whole toilet is the same width as the door).

We have the opportunity to knock the wall down between the bathroom and toilet making obviously making one big room instead. There will be more room to move etc however it is the only toilet in the house and some are arguing the toilet is better off separate due to privacy issues.

So need some advice, WWYD? Does a bigger room trump no completely private toilet? Stuck!

[wowfudge]

Make it one room. How often do you have someone making use of the bathroom while someone else is in the loo (and what does the loo user do about washing hands?!).

With that wall gone it will be much easier to make good use of the space.

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

I really would think carefully if it's the only loo in the house. If someone wants to have a long, leisurely bath then anyone else in the house can't use the loo for that time.

[PigletJohn]

And vice-versa.

[meadowquark]

Do you have children? If yes, I would keep it separate. My DC spend ages on the toilet. My 6yo started locking the door after him. If I had to wait, I would be late everywhere.

[roneik]

If somebody wants a leisurely dump and somebody wants to have a leisurely bath, you have a either somebody having an accident or someone smashing the bathroom door down. Or of course if the weather permitted they could have their dump behind the shed . The neighbors might object but hey it's only nature taking it's course. They could run desperately through the streets clutching their bums until they found a loo

[Floggingmolly]

We have only one bathroom... @ privacy issues, tbh. It's never been much of an issue here, we rarely have more than one person in at a time

[roneik]

Ah but what if some long lost granny was to visit and needed the loo? Or the man from the lottery to tell you your winning ticket is a forgery

[bluevanman]

We had same size separate rooms. Knocked both walls down, put the door in middle of new wall and made enough room for a shower unit too!

[wowfudge]

Surely the simple, and polite, solution is anyone who wants to take a bath or shower asks the other people in the house if they need to use the loo before they embark on their ablutions? I have lived in houses and flats with one bathroom all my life and it has never been an issue. The extra space will be worth it.

[Shakey1500]

Is there any scope to build a loo anywhere else in the house? Even a tiny one understairs etc? There's some genius space savers out there somewhere

[Spindelina]

How many people in your household? I'd be happy with the only loo being in the bathroom if it was just DH and me, but less so if I had several teenagers around.

[iwantgin]

I would make it into one larger bathroom.

Is there a handwash sink in the toilet - or do you have to go into the bathroom anyway to wash hands afterwards?

I, and most people I know, grew up in a house with only one bathroom/loo and managed fine. As stated - if someone is going to go and have a long bath, then ask the others in the house if they want to toilet first then go in and lock the door.

[LineRunner]

I have only one loo in a small bathroom, and it was fine when the DCs were little (and no-one cared so much about privacy) but as they grew into teenagers and there is a lock on the door, it has become a real problem.

And there are only three of us.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

I've lived in lots of houses with just one bathroom and always managed to cope.

Personally I hate rooms with just a loo (small, poky, smelly) and would double hate a small bathroom and a small loo room - no brainer for me to take that wall down, open them up and get some decent storage in.

[Shakey1500]

Like this

[MrPickles123]

I'd personally prefer it as one room. Our bathroom is small too- but large window which does let in a fair amount of light. We loved the stone type tiles, but went for white with red accessories to keep it bright and it feels much bigger. Also have a curved bath, ie. one end is wider and no way could we fit separate bath and shower.

Any possibility you can put in a loo downstairs- some interesting ideas on pinterest, such as converting under stairs cupboard to toilet with small sink?

[MrPickles123]

Shakey- exactly what I meant from pinterest!

[addictedtosugar]

Have you got a sink in the toilet?
If not, please knock it through. I HATE toilets without a sink.

If there is a sink in both rooms, I'm not fussed by the walls arangement.

[Pipbin]

Knock it through. Most people grew up in or live in houses with one loo in the house. I did and DH did, and he is one of four!
I don't get this thing with modern houses that there has to be a zillion loos. In the future people will look back and wonder if people from the 2000 all had bowel problems.
And I would rather have under stairs storage than a loo.

[LineRunner]

Yes, we have to ask if anyone wants the loo before having a bath / shower! It's not great with visitors, though.

[Artandco]

I would knock through. A toilet without a sink is a pain anyway, and a larger main bathroom much better as can then put nick sink with built in storage in that area . Can then store towels etc under the sink in storage cupboard so free up space elsewhere

Same as above, could you look at putting a toilet and sink under the stairs?

[MummytoMog]

We had a bathroom and loo that had been knocked together. It was bloody awful, especially once the kids were potty training. We went a bit mad when extending and now have four loos. It's heaven (although a bit more bleach is required in the weekly shop). Unless you're planning to add another loo in the near future, I would leave it.

[Floggingmolly]

Who needs four loos??

[buildmeabuttercup]

Right I'm back.
3 people in the household, just me, DP and DD who is 2, but we do have regular guests over. After the toilet, we have to go into the bathroom anyway to wash hands, its just literally the toilet in there and nothing else.

I wanted to knock the wall down, DP didn't. I don't think I can squeeze a toilet anywhere as under the stairs is the kitchen iyswim, the house is quite small in general.

However, once I pointed out you still have to go into the bathroom to wash hands anyway, he conceded and I think the wall is coming down. Thanks everyone :-)