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Original poster

Would you buy a house with a toilet in an open-plan room?

232 replies

lostinspace00 · 14/09/2026 15:30

Hope to find some sensible opinions here before I (possibly) waste loads of money (and so sorry i just posted this on an existing thread by mistake).

My house has a separate dining room and kitchen with a hallway between the two leading to a toilet. I want to knock the walls down to create one large room but keep the toilet as it’s very useful. To cover all bases:
1 no I can’t afford to put the toilet anywhere else it would make the job too expensive

  1. I want to keep the toilet (it’s a shower too) rather than get rid of it as it’s useful.

would you buy a house with a toilet in the middle of a big open plan room?

I’ve created some excellent architectural designs to show you what I mean (by excellent I mean a bit shit)

Thank you to anyone who can be bothered to respond

[image removed by MNHQ at OP's request]

OP posts:
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10
plumming · 14/09/2026 15:31

Presumably the big room will be a kitchen diner? I have to say I wouldn’t like a toilet being in the kitchen like that I’m afraid

Catsonskis · 14/09/2026 15:32

Honestly no, I wouldn’t. But if you extended that toilet/shower room up into the dining room making one long thing toilet shower /utility/bootilty room and a slightly smaller dining room, I would

plumming · 14/09/2026 15:33

Catsonskis · 14/09/2026 15:32

Honestly no, I wouldn’t. But if you extended that toilet/shower room up into the dining room making one long thing toilet shower /utility/bootilty room and a slightly smaller dining room, I would

That’s a good idea

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 14/09/2026 15:34

I’m assuming there will be walls around the toilet? If it works for you, I think it’s fine. But if you’re planning to move in the next few years I wouldn’t do it - I think it would put people off.

Whoops75 · 14/09/2026 15:34

I would if the door opened into a utility space first. So extend the space and move the door to create an area for storage, washer & loo.

SecretDressAgent · 14/09/2026 15:35

Imagine going into it and other people in the room watching you enter and leave and hearing the flush.

Chilltme · 14/09/2026 15:35

I agree if you combine it into a bigger room like utility and boot room then maybe and it would flow better. As it stands just parked in the middle, that would put me off as I’d have to spend money fixing it

Keroppi · 14/09/2026 15:36

No it would look silly in the middle of the room. You should try and think about making it longer into a mini hallway/door out the back/small utility with bathroom attached?

SethTrek · 14/09/2026 15:36

I don't think that would pass building regs. A toilet can't be directly off a kitchen. You need 2 doors between the kitchen sink and the loo

TheOlderIGetTheStayerIHome · 14/09/2026 15:37

I wouldn’t even view a house with that set up, let alone buy it.

How handy is a toilet if it’s going to be in an open plan kitchen diner? Who would ever use it in that set up?

MarmiteMaiden · 14/09/2026 15:37

I saw exactly this in a new build recently - a downstairs loo straight off a kitchen - and I thought it was weird. The builders must’ve done it for space saving purposes but tbh I just thought it wasn’t good from a hygiene point of view. Very off-putting.

AnnesPuffedSleeves · 14/09/2026 15:39

That’s really bizarre and I wouldn’t want that, sorry! I wouldn’t even view the house (and I say this as someone who had a downstairs bathroom off the kitchen in a Victorian Terrace).

AnnesPuffedSleeves · 14/09/2026 15:40

SethTrek · 14/09/2026 15:36

I don't think that would pass building regs. A toilet can't be directly off a kitchen. You need 2 doors between the kitchen sink and the loo

You don’t. That is no longer current legislation.

SethTrek · 14/09/2026 15:42

AnnesPuffedSleeves · 14/09/2026 15:40

You don’t. That is no longer current legislation.

Show quote history

Yeah, I just went googling. 1992 that law changed! 🤣 Still feels a bit off putting though.

fancytoes · 14/09/2026 15:44

Make the toilet bigger with entry from the kitchen turning it into a utility/boot room plus toilet?

But ideally you’d move the toilet and utility to the bottom right corner (and still make it a utility/WC so that you have a proper clear rectangle to make an open plan diner with an island etc.

Would you buy a house with a toilet in an open-plan room?
Would you buy a house with a toilet in an open-plan room?
chirrupybird · 14/09/2026 15:45

could you run the toilet front wall (where the corridor was down the kitchen to form a utility/toilet/shower room at the back end of the kitchen so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Don't know how big the rooms are, but would look more like it was intended, put the washing machine and dishwasher in there, there must be plumbing there already.

Waitingforthetimetopass · 14/09/2026 15:46

I am pretty sure that a toilet is not allowed to open into a kitchen. At least if you live in England that is. I would personally have major reservations as well.

PurpleThistle7 · 14/09/2026 15:46

My cousin has something like this and it’s awful. Toilet right off the kitchen so everyone gets to listen to everyone and you walk past the dining table and pop into the toilet. Was like that when she bought the house and she hates it.

DinoLil · 14/09/2026 15:46

No. Posting as someone with an open plan lounge/diner with stairs off (no toilet!), heating alone is a nightmare.

RitaFires · 14/09/2026 15:47

I'm not as precious as some people are about toilets but I don't like that layout and would absolutely consider it as a negative if I was looking to buy. But if it was expanded to be a utility that blended in to the room better then I would consider it a positive.

TimetoPour · 14/09/2026 15:48

Nope. Definitely looks a bit shit 😂.
A discreet lavatory would be much more desirable. This is like a stage for each time someone needs to perform.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 14/09/2026 15:48

Waitingforthetimetopass · 14/09/2026 15:46

I am pretty sure that a toilet is not allowed to open into a kitchen. At least if you live in England that is. I would personally have major reservations as well.

That rule changed years ago.

CostcoFanofThree · 14/09/2026 15:48

First thing that came to mind was physically a stand alone toilet on the wall of an open planned room.
You mean shower room or washroom it’s a room with walls.
Fine if the design is well planned utility, washer/dryer, with outside venting.

BritsAbroadly · 14/09/2026 15:48

I think you need two doors between a kitchen and loo? It would be properly grim either way and I really wouldn’t.

LibertyLily · 14/09/2026 15:49

BritsAbroadly · 14/09/2026 15:48

I think you need two doors between a kitchen and loo? It would be properly grim either way and I really wouldn’t.

No you don't.

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