Downstairs loo without a window - problem or not?

[iknowimcoming]

We have pp to build a new house, a surprise issue has meant a slight redesign and the most obvious solution is to move the position of the downstairs loo which would leave it without a window although more generously sized. If we leave it where it is with a window we end up with some dead space in the form of a short corridor to the loo and a smaller utility room. Wwyd? I'm thinking naice lighting around a mirror above a sink with a posh unit underneath would make up for the lack of a window, but would it be odd and would it put you off buying it?

[orangepudding]

My downstairs loo doesn't have a window. We have a ceiling fan for 'freshness'. Doesn't bother me not to have a window.

[rallytog1]

Don't think it's an issue at all. A lot of houses have a loo under the stairs. The most important thing is that you've got one!

[Agiraffeisnotacat]

Our downstairs loo doesn't have a window and is fine. I would insist that there is good ventilation though as ours has none. We get round it by lighting a lot of candles when guests come round but it's not ideal.

Ventilation is the only issue though, the lighting is fine.

[YelloDraw]

Normal! Most new build house sand flats have no window in the bathrooms and that is much worse for freshness and steam. You'll need a fan,

[Tubbyinthehottub]

Mine doesn't have a window. The light comes on automatically when you go in, which activates the extractor fan. It's not an issue. Light goes off after you've left.

[ByeByeLilSebastian]

Ours doesn't have a window but does have a vent and it's fine, rarely smells. I don't think I would be keen if it had no way of ventilation.

[iknowimcoming]

Will definitely have an extractor fan (don't think it would get through building regs without one) so ventilation should be fine, I was worried about it being gloomy but don't really know why and youve all reassured me thanks! Just need to convince DH now .....

[ByeByeLilSebastian]

It won't be gloomy with the right lighting. And you hopefully won't be spending a lot of time in there for it to bother you too much!

[user1475955902]

We're moving to a new build without a window so have the same issue. Had an idea of something reflective where a window would "naturally" be like this to help Dunelm

[downwardfacingdog]

Been in lots of downstairs loos with no windows. It's fine imo.

[HerRoyalNotness]

Ourdis under the stairs, but if I had the opportunity to have it on an outside wall, I'd keep the window and have the corridor option. Can you utilisé this with built in cupboard for some extra storage?

[MigsSlippers]

We bought this house with no window, as did most of the PPs. It's not ideal, ours is a bit gloomy, but it's a worthy sacrifice for a bigger utility IMO. Depends on layout though. I actually quite like the idea of a corridor to the loo if it makes it a bit more private.

[hanban89]

We are in a new build with living room at the front of the house , then a door way leading to a hallway with access to a downstairs bathroom no window and a cupboard, then in yo kitchen with a small utility room. I hate it! We are actually looking at adding on a porch like extension to the front where we can put a toilet to take it away from the middle of the house. Does this sound similar? Not having a window isn't a problem but I personally hate the bathroom in the middle between the living room and kitchen. Seems like a lot of wasted space:-/

[iknowimcoming]

Thanks everyone, we are going with the no window option although I have realised we could in fact put a false window or a light tube in there as one of the walls is onto a stairwell to the basement which has a window (the window which was originally in the loo) so it could steal some light from there, not sure if that's weirder than no window though

[MerryMarigold]

For me, it's more about ventilation (as our downstairs loo tends to be the toilet of choice for poos), but if you've already decided...

[MistyMeena]

Make sure it's a 'wee only' toilet.

[RoganJosh]

We thought about getting a door with frosted glass in for ours. We didn't in the end because we found it hard to get the right size of reclaimed door but it was an option.

[iknowimcoming]

How many of you and your family actually open the window in the loo if you've errr made a bad smell? Only asking because it occurs to me that no one in my family does (the window in our current loo is quite high and above the loo so quite difficult to open) although I accept that we are really slovenly. So I guess in that respect having an extractor fan coming on automatically with the light will actually mean it's more pleasant than what I have now WITH a window!

[MerryMarigold]

Misty, . Here is a poem for the door:

Dear visitor, if you please
This toilet may only be used for wees
It has no window, so twice just think
Anything else will cause a stink.

With thanks and appreciation, iknowimcoming & family

[blueskyinmarch]

I have never had a downstairs loo with a window, just a fan. If we pop and it smells we pop some toilet cleaner down. Or use air freshener. It has never been an issue and my loos always smell fresh.

[MerryMarigold]

iknow, we either leave it open (in the past when it was a high one) or open it and close it later (now we have a low one). But there's 5 in our family and we're all stinkers.

[PurpleWithRed]

No problem at all. Have had houses with and without, internal ones do have to have an externally ducted fan which as you say is a very efficient solution to stink! If there is such a thing as a more premium, quieter internal fan it would probably be a wise investment.

Never had a problem with gloom. Light your bathroom mirrors with a pair of lights either side of the mirror at the level of your eyes and then a ceiling downlight halfway between your nose and the mirror. Perfect for makeup.

Sigh. I'd love to do another self-build but DH would have a conniption.

[Tropezienne]

The new people downstairs from me just had their under-stairs WC removed. No window but an extractor, They said it was very 'unpractical', meaning, it stank.

I often could smell it in my flat.I did once complain by asking them - if there was a problem with the communal drains?

[MrsNuckyThompson]

I think LOTS of downstairs WCs are internal, because they are typically just shoved into spaces where they fit. We're about to build one under the stairs and it won't have a loo, though it will have an extractor. I think it's fine.

[Tropezienne]

There is some planning law that says the actual Commode has to be certain distance from the common walkway area (passage or hallway). I'm not sure what distance it is, but it seems plenty of them aren't legal (so to speak). Or conform to planning laws. As you said, they are often just shoved anywhere they fit.