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Property/DIY

Tiny en-suite - loo and sink or shower and sink?

49 replies

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:12

The previous owners of my house created a tiny en-suite from the space above the stairs and installed a shower and toilet in a very cramped, very bodged, doorless en-suite off the bedroom. The shower has never really worked and is ugly.

The toilet got broken during the renovation, plus I didn't fancy a loo 4 ft from my head in bed staring through the open door way so replaced with a tiny basin. I didn't have the money at that point to fix it up nicely so left it for a few years unused.

I've now finally fitted a door over the opening and am considering re-doing it so it's functional. There's a soil pipe right by it so a loo in the place of the shower cubicle would be possible, with a sink and cupboard. Alternatively, I could fit a new, working shower and a new, nicer sink and cupboard. There isn't room for all three bits so it will never be a full en-suite.

My house is 2 beds and has a family bathroom at the opposite end of the top floor. That's the only loo in the house

My questions:

  1. which would be more useful?
  2. would either be better in terms of resale or rental?
  3. would either add value, or is this something that's nice to have but makes little difference?
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Standstilling · 20/08/2020 15:16

Diagram! With measurements please.

And have you seen that you can get a toilet with a sink on top of the back bit?

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Standstilling · 20/08/2020 15:17
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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/08/2020 15:17

For me I would want a shower. I wouldn't want a toilet off my bedroom, never saw the appeal of an en-suite, but I do like a long shower on an evening and a quick shower first thing so a shower off my bedroom would be well used.

Can't speak for the value bit - I've no idea. But I'd only consider that if I was planning on selling in a couple of years.

I'd suspect a loo squeezed in downstairs would add more value than a second loo upstairs.

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Persipan · 20/08/2020 15:20

Is there absolutely no way for all three with a bit of cunning? Because personally an en suite lacking either a toilet or a shower would just really annoy me. If forced to choose at gunpoint, I'd probably go for the shower, but I'd grudge every night-time wee...

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:22

I wish I could have a downstairs loo but the under stairs cupboard is right by the dining table and it would horrify me if a guest nipped in to use it while we were eating! There isn't really anywhere else I could squeeze one in.

I'm not keen on the idea of a loo in the bedroom either - it would be fine for me (living alone) to have a wee in the night but if boyfriend decided to go to the loo while I was in bed that would be ugh.

Everything is relatively small. Am on holiday at the moment so can't do measurements but the shower that's in there at the moment is a smallish square and is okay for height. I guess likely to be the smallest of the standard sizes.

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Comfyonion · 20/08/2020 15:24

I rented a flat which had a little ensuite with just a toilet and sink in. It was great for brushing teeth and using the toilet just before bed, plus middle of the night wees. So after living with this I'd go for that arrangement every time if you couldn't fit all three in.

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:24

The issue with squeezing in all three, even with a loo/sink combo, is that the narrowness of the space (staircase width, the current shower fills it) means that the shower would need to be at the end and the loo would have to face the door. Which just seems a bit ick.

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starlight36 · 20/08/2020 15:29

The combined toilet and sink doesn't look as odd as I thought they would! I would go for that and a shower. Our en suite gets used a lot more than I thought it would.

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starlight36 · 20/08/2020 15:29

The combined toilet and sink doesn't look as odd as I thought they would! I would go for that and a shower. Our en suite gets used a lot more than I thought it would.

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FlumpetCrumpet · 20/08/2020 15:32

We only have one bathroom in our current house, we are forever cursing not having more than one loo and having 1 toilet is a deal breaker for our next house, we've never had a problem with just 1 shower. Banging on the door needing a poo whilst DH watches youtube videos in the bath (and admittedly vice versa) is no joke! 😂

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:33

I've managed my first diagram!
A is the shower cubicle as it is at the moment
B is the space where there currently is a little sink and a place to stand
C is a bloody annoying floor to ceiling window with frosted glass that makes the whole thing more difficult. It's about 2'6" wide and 5'-6' long, at a guess.

Tiny en-suite - loo and sink or shower and sink?
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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:33

It's not that clear when I see it blown up - finger-drawing is hard. The little half moon is the sink and the window is on the end wall.

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AyeCorona1 · 20/08/2020 15:37

Do you really want/need an en-suite OP?

You live on your own, so I imagine space isn't a problem, but how about a really swanky walk-in wardrobe, or a laundry room with plumbing for washing machine/dryer etc?

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LolaSmiles · 20/08/2020 15:38

Could you not do it as a compact wet room and have shower, sink and toilet? Without a bulky shower cubicle there's no reason you couldn't have all 3.

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Zebrahooves · 20/08/2020 15:42

I've seen the toilet and sink combo and it could work. You only have to fit in two things instead of 3, but would still have all 3.

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/08/2020 15:43

Hmm....If you live alone, it would make an amazing walk in closet!

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PotholePalace · 20/08/2020 15:44

Could you have a door that automatically swings shut, then you could have the loo but wouldn't be left staring at it
?

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/08/2020 15:45

I definitely don't need it as an en-suite myself, but I'm likely to want to rent it out or sell it in the next year or so and am thinking ahead to that. I want it to look nice and be useful but not cost too much.

I do like the idea of a laundry area - if I were to move back in permanently I might think of that for myself. I think a renter might prefer more bathroominess though.

Based on the size of the house and the area I'd expect it to be rented either to a couple or a family with one child, rather than house-sharers.

Thank you all for comments and suggestions so far - it's been really useful!

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Flynn999 · 20/08/2020 15:45

Could you block the bottom half of the window so you have additional space for the bathroom, alternatively would it work if you cut into the bedroom so you could have more space for the bathroom?

A shower and sink would work well, perfect for getting ready in the morning.

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titchy · 20/08/2020 15:50

C needs sorting out regardless. Replace the bottom half with plasterboard.

If you plan to rent it out then I'd put a loo in. You could just squeeze a compact loo under the window and tiny sink on the right. Otherwise a combo loo/sink, or wet room.

Move the bed!

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Patch23042 · 20/08/2020 15:50

It’s a small house and you live alone (is that right?) so it doesn’t seem necessary to have a second bathroom of any kind. I’d go for the walk-in wardrobe. I dislike en suites though.

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onlyk · 20/08/2020 15:51

Wet room also consider getting a pocket door rather than a normal door as will feel less awkward.

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Ylvamoon · 20/08/2020 15:51

If you have a look at pinterest, there are some really good "tiny wetroom" ideas.

Otherwise, for a 2 bed, I would convert into a walk in wardrobe. I find storage space trumps in this case!

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Jojobythesea · 20/08/2020 15:52

Those toilet sink combos are ingenious 😮

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SunshineChatter · 20/08/2020 15:52

For resale value, do not turn it into a walk-in closet. It wouldn't be that impressive anyway.

A wet room would be ideal although it may be more expensive because of the extra work the floor would require.

Otherwise I'd have a shower and basin. That way in the evenings you can use the 'other' toilet, then go to your room and remove your make up, wash your face, clean your teeth and shower, all in the comfort of your room/en suite.

Although I must say I use my en suite toilet more than I use my en suite shower (you pee more than you shower, right?)...

So maybe the toilet/sink combo is indeed the winner.

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