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Original poster

Bedrooms with en-suite

93 replies

cartooncharacter · 29/12/2023 16:42

I live in a modern 3 bedroomed house, by myself, have an upstairs bathroom, loo, washbasin and a combined shower bath, fairly high-end, plus a downstairs loo and wash basin.

I know there is no need for en-sute, especially on my own, but I am the only person among my relatives who has never had one, or got one.

Are they a make or break decision maker that people consider when buying and selling houses these days, as so many houses these days are en-suite?

Do any of you know of any downsides to en-suites or never wanted one?

I value your input.

Thanks.

OP posts:
mikulkin · 29/12/2023 17:32

For me and DH not having en-suite is no go in the house. It is just two of us but having en-suite and separate bathroom allows us to have relatives and adult children to stay with no-inconvenience to us. We have a small house but en-suite in our bedroom, family bathroom and downstairs loo. When we looked to buy that was a non-negotiable. But we might be in minority.

CountTo10 · 29/12/2023 17:33

If you've got a downstairs loo I don't see the massive need for an en-suite. I live in a one bathroom house and am seriously considering putting in a downstairs loo and possibly shower. Having only one toilet which is in the bathroom is a major pita especially when you have children.

kitsuneghost · 29/12/2023 17:35

I am not a fan
It feels a bit hotel room
My bedroom is a bedroom. Not a toilet.
I would value extra space more. Maybe a walk in wardrobe.
Besides 1 bathroom makes cleaning easier, but there is only two of us.

Ineedanewsofa · 29/12/2023 17:41

In any house I’d be looking for a loo on each floor at a minimum, whether one was an en-suite would depend on the layout of the house - our bedroom is at one end of the house and the bathroom is at the other so I’m glad of our en-suite now. In our old house we didn’t need one as the upstairs was smaller and it wasn’t far to walk to the loo in the night!

Andthereyougo · 29/12/2023 17:44

I have quite a large en-suite with walk in shower, loo and basin in a unit. Plus a family bathroom with bath, shower, loo and basin. And there’s only me.
I did toy with the idea of having the en-suite ripped out and having it as a walk in wardrobe/dressing room but have left it as it is for the resale value. Because of how the house is built it’s not made the bedroom smaller.

AllTheOtherCats · 29/12/2023 17:45

Personally I dislike them. I hate the idea of having a toilet in my bedroom. When I was house-hunting some years ago, an en-suite that had been fitted into the bedroom actually put me off buying that particular property. So many are also poorly fitted/squeezed in. I've just never liked the idea of a toilet in my bedroom.

bellac11 · 29/12/2023 17:46

It depends on how big your bedrooms are, can you give the ft x ft measurements?

Im not keen on the trend for en suites, particuarly when the bedrooms are small or average

In your case you have a downstairs loo which is a huge bonus, I would like one of these

Hairychristmas · 29/12/2023 17:48

EdithStourton · 29/12/2023 16:52

I can't be the only person in the country who doesn't get the obsession with en suites. I look at new-builds where the 3rd bedroom is minute owing to an ensuite being crammed in when there is already a downstairs loo as well as a family bathroom.

So no, I'd rather not have an en suite if I was buying a 3-bedroomed house - unless the house was big enough that nothing felt cramped and the en suite had an actual window.

I completely agree with this! The 3 bed new builds in my town all have this bathroom/bedroom arrangement and I can't believe most people would want it!

OP, I'm not bothered either way about en suites, I've never had one, but if I was moving I wouldn't rule out a house because it had one, if that makes sense. I would rule out houses with tiny bedrooms though, which often seems to be the case where there is an en suite.

HideousKinky · 29/12/2023 17:54

When we bought our house (Georgian/Victorian) in 1998 there were 6 bedrooms but only one bathroom upstairs, so we immediately turned the smallest bedroom into a bathroom in order to have 5 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms which has been adequate for our family of 5 as the children grew up.

However over the years I have often wondered if this still falls short of expectations for the number of bathrooms there should be for 5 bedrooms these days and also whether any one considering buying the house would expect an ensuite?

HideousKinky · 29/12/2023 17:55

We also have a downstairs loo

MagpiePi · 29/12/2023 17:57

I just find the thought of a lavatory right next to your bedroom a bit disgusting, and a shower with all the steam and damp going into the bedroom too.
I’d choose a downstairs lavatory over an en-suite.

caringcarer · 29/12/2023 17:58

I've got an en suite with bath and shower over, toilet and wash basin. I use the loo in the night and shower in the morning. DH showers in the family bathroom at the same time. I also have a second floor shower room and downstairs cloakroom so 4 toilets. I wouldn't buy a house without an ensuite, family bathroom and downstairs cloakroom as they are all used everyday. MiL only has 1 family bathroom with shower over bath and when 5 people want to shower and no one can use the loo it's a nightmare.

HideousKinky · 29/12/2023 17:58

The main bedroom is spacious with a lovely large window and a walk-in wardrobe which would have to go if an en-suite was fitted in

bellac11 · 29/12/2023 17:58

I rarely see them with proper and adequate ventilation because they usually just have extractor fans. They are rarely sufficient

You need a window and often they are just a square box in the corner of the bedroom

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 29/12/2023 17:59

We have two en suites, a seperate bathroom and a downstairs loo (3 bed townhouse). It’s one of the reasons we brought it and in a house with two teens they are godsends. There’s always a loo/ shower available.

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 29/12/2023 18:01

Oh and all rooms are doubles so
no compromise on size.

Those of you saying you find the thought of going loo so close to your bedroom. It’s the same as if they bathroom was next door to your bedroom. En-suites do have doors and even windows.

WashItTomorrow · 29/12/2023 18:02

I don’t like en suites and wouldn’t want one, unless it was spacious and didn’t adversely affect the layout or room sizes. Two loos are a good thing, but you have that already. Or a second bathroom off a landing would be good, just not en suite.

Kwasi · 29/12/2023 18:04

There's one in my house and it's totally tiny! DH can't shower in it. Personally, I would rather have the closet space.

RoseMarigoldViolet · 29/12/2023 18:05

We have never had one, and never wanted one. We live in an area where they are rare in the period housing stock.

SALWARP2023 · 29/12/2023 18:07

Not a fan. An extra bathroom but most ensuites are small. I think a walk in wardrobe would be just as popular tbh. My MIL has a modern 3 bed semi with an ensuite, bathroom with no shower and a downstairs loo but too little storage. I wouldn't bother.

cloudteabublecvoe · 29/12/2023 18:11

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 29/12/2023 18:01

Oh and all rooms are doubles so
no compromise on size.

Those of you saying you find the thought of going loo so close to your bedroom. It’s the same as if they bathroom was next door to your bedroom. En-suites do have doors and even windows.

It's much harder to dampen sound between two rooms, one of which is inside the other. Compared to completely separate rooms.
Of course, walls can be thin so that it doesn't matter but loads of places the bathroom doesn't make noise. I've never slept anywhere where I wasn't woken up by the sound of flushing in an en-suite.

I'd love an en-suite if it was a good size, soundless and odourless but I'd need a footballer mansion for that I suppose.

Aquamarine1029 · 29/12/2023 18:12

Absolutely love my ensuite and I wouldn't be without one. My bedroom is quite large and my ensuite is large as well, but I can understand it wouldn't be desirable if the ensuite were a small, windowless box.

mrsbyers · 29/12/2023 18:13

My en-suite is large and much loved , after 20 plus years with Crohn’s a few steps to the loo overnight really helps and plus it’s mine to use alone , husband has the main bathroom

Toddlerteaplease · 29/12/2023 18:18

My friend has a house with an en-suite in every bedroom. But he has lots of guests, so it makes sense. But otherwise I don't see the point. My parents moved into a new build last week. That has one, but they don't use the master bedroom themselves, so I used it. Because of its design there is loads of wasted space that could have been better used as storage for the bedroom.

LenaLamont · 29/12/2023 18:18

In a 3 bedroom with a downstairs toilet I wouldn't bother.

In a 5 bedroom house it's great having an en suite for two of us to use when getting ready in the morning, but with fewer bedrooms there's no need.