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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:
crazycatladie · 29/12/2023 18:21

I think because you've got a loo downstairs and bathroom upstairs no en-suite is necessary.

Hopealong · 29/12/2023 18:22

It's a must for me. We have a lot of guests as live abroad and admit I find it stressful. I love having my own suite as just feels that I can have a bit of time without connecting with anyone else.

Personally just don't like sharing a bathroom with anyone other than my husband. So only circumstances where I'd happily not have one would be if we never had guests staying and had a second toilet downstairs for people dropping in.

BooBooBaloo · 29/12/2023 18:23

I wouldn't want an en suite so one would be a big downside for me. I'd probably rip it out in favour of a decent size wardrobe anyway

Bobbotgegrinch · 29/12/2023 18:23

We've got an en suite in our little new build, to be honest I don't see the point of it.

It's only a three bedroom, and it's got a downstairs toilet as well, so it seems a bit pointless.

To be honest, I'd rather have the extra bedroom space, and if we were going to be here long term I'd probably take it out and extend the bedroom, but we're only going to be here a couple more years until DD finishes school.

Harrysmummy246 · 29/12/2023 18:26

We couldn't fit another bathroom in upstairs in our period house without losing more space than would be really ideal and huge amounts of plumbing adjustments. The existing bathroom isn't big enough really, and that's in a first floor extension already. The downstairs loo is the necessary compromise, and to be fair, when potty training with ds, was vital

We manage ok and whilst mil suggested when we bought, it's not practical.

SquashPenguin · 29/12/2023 18:26

I have one in my 5 bed house, the main bathroom is the other end of the hallway to my bedroom and we have a WC downstairs. It was a nice extra when we bought this house. I need a wee about 4 times a night, so I love it!

shivawn · 29/12/2023 18:31

It's not make or break for me, I'm currently selling our house with an ensuite to buy one without one.

I will definitely miss having it, it's one of the downsides to the new house, but as long as there's an upstairs and a downstairs bathroom then it's not a necessity.

Oldraver · 29/12/2023 18:34

I looked at a house a few years ago that had a cloakroom on the ground floor, bathroom and two bedrooms on the first floor and a 'master' in the eaves but it only had loo and basin.

I dismissed it as you would have to go downstairs to shower. I now realise it's the loo I want not far from me, so would I'd been ok with this.

I do like having a loo I have sole use of and not be bothering others

angela1952 · 29/12/2023 18:49

When we had children at home we added an ensuite in a boxroom, it made a huge difference in the morning. I think that many families would look for an ensuite when buying.
Now we've downsized to a two storey flat and have added an ensuite shower in a guest bedroom partly because there wasn't room for a proper shower in the main bathroom. We asked our estate agent and our neighbours before our renovation and this seems to be what most people wanted to do.

There are only two of us living here and we don't often have guests, so we've incorporated the main bathroom into to our bedroom as an ensuite. We simply moved our bedroom door further out into the hall, beyond the bathroom door. It's easily accessed from the hallway if we have people visiting.

angela1952 · 29/12/2023 18:56

Bobbotgegrinch · 29/12/2023 18:23

We've got an en suite in our little new build, to be honest I don't see the point of it.

It's only a three bedroom, and it's got a downstairs toilet as well, so it seems a bit pointless.

To be honest, I'd rather have the extra bedroom space, and if we were going to be here long term I'd probably take it out and extend the bedroom, but we're only going to be here a couple more years until DD finishes school.

A lot of developers in this area build flats with two bedrooms and two bath or shower rooms, and sometimes a cloakroom. I suppose it's good if you plan to use it as a flatshare, but the size of the rooms is definitely compromised. Since many reception rooms are also kitchens it often means there is not room for much of a dining table. The show flats always have extra small sofas and breakfast bars, and the bedrooms have 4' beds to make them look larger.

ChimChimeny · 29/12/2023 19:22

For a 3 bed house as long as you have a second loo, adding an ensuite would be a waste.
I'd much rather have 3 decent sized bedrooms than an inner second bathroom

LER83 · 29/12/2023 19:46

We live in a 3 bed terrace house and I couldn't be without my ensuite! Especially with 3 children (2 tween/teens). Couldn't imagine all trying to get ready in the morning with only 1 bathroom! We are lucky though that all 3 bedrooms are a really good size, as is the ensuite, which has a full size window and goes over the stairs so doesn't take up any space in the actual room. We also have a downstairs loo.

tomatoontoast · 29/12/2023 20:18

We discounted houses when looking that had en-suites.

Original poster
cartooncharacter · 01/01/2024 16:24

My brother's 4 bedroom house has an en suite next to the master bedroom, as in a separate room on the side of his bedroom, without making the bedroom smaller, if that makes sense.

Is an en-suite like that ALWAYS a plus, or something which not everybody would especially look for when buying?

OP posts:
ChristmasinBurrRidge · 01/01/2024 16:28

Definitely make or break for me but I would be unwilling to compromise on size - needs to be spacious and defintely no combined shower/bath.

ChristmasinBurrRidge · 01/01/2024 16:30

BooBooBaloo · 29/12/2023 18:23

I wouldn't want an en suite so one would be a big downside for me. I'd probably rip it out in favour of a decent size wardrobe anyway

A separate dressing room is also an essential part of the master suite for me

SallyWD · 01/01/2024 16:34

If I lived alone and had no intention of moving it wouldn't occur to me that I should get a en-suite. I think I'd only consider it if I wanted to sell it as a family home or had loads of overnight guests.
We have one and it's invaluable as we have so many people staying. I love not having to share a bathroom with my guests.

ButterfliesandMoths · 01/01/2024 16:36

Haven't got one and wouldn't want one. Would be nice to have another bathroom/shower room but not as a en suite.

Floralnomad · 01/01/2024 16:39

We have a 4 bed with a large family bathroom and an en-suite that has a bath ( shower over ) , wc and full sized washbasin . I don’t get all the comments about ‘smelly toilets’ next to the bed . Our en-suite is a separate room at the opposite end of my bedroom to the bed and has a fully functioning door and window . I’m fairly certain some people sleep closer to their main bathroom than I do to my en suite . Having at one point shared my home with 2 teenagers I wouldn’t be without it . In your position @cartooncharacter i wouldn’t change anything .

cozycat1 · 01/01/2024 16:41

I would not be bothered without an en suite.i often look a floor plans of new build and think there no storage, small bedrooms but a flippin 3 or 4 bathoom/toilets. We have one main bathroom and a separate cloakroom size toilet and whb.perfectly fine for a family of 4, but then we do have non standard working patterns. I read somewhere having an ensuite is like shitting in a wardrobe which I can imagine in your average small to medium new build it is.

cloudteabublecvoe · 01/01/2024 16:44

cartooncharacter · 01/01/2024 16:24

My brother's 4 bedroom house has an en suite next to the master bedroom, as in a separate room on the side of his bedroom, without making the bedroom smaller, if that makes sense.

Is an en-suite like that ALWAYS a plus, or something which not everybody would especially look for when buying?

2 bathrooms in general are a plus. Many won't consider buying a 4 bed with only one bathroom (ours has one bathroom but also a W.C).
An en-suite as opposed to two 'family bathrooms'? Not always a plus. Some might prefer the latter over the former.

I prefer all 'general' bathrooms because I don't want other people walking through our bedroom. That means only two of us could ever use the en-suite.
I'd re-consider if the en-suite had a separate entry door!

Other people hate sharing bathrooms and would see it as a plus. Although in one household people do tend to use the same bathrooms anyway.

Aroundthewaygirl · 01/01/2024 17:01

An ensuite is a requirement for me. I have to use the toilet multiple times a night and I would hate to get dressed to go outside of the room. As long as the door is closed you can't smell anything but I also have a half bath on the main floor if someone is over and they need to stink it up. I also have a full bath upstairs for the secondary bedrooms.

ThreeRingCircus · 01/01/2024 17:18

I don't think it's a requirement in a 3 bedroom house at all. In a 4 bed or more then yes.

We're in a 4 bed and have an ensuite but I don't like the fact that the loo is so close to the bed. In an ideal world we'd have a family bathroom upstairs and a downstairs loo big enough for a shower cubicle. Having two toilets and showers is invaluable with guests or teenage children.

Globules · 01/01/2024 17:44

I had an ensuite 2001-2021. This was across 4 houses. All had windows. All were separate rooms, not cut into the bedroom. The first was pretty small, but workable.

I love them. XH and I had an agreement that smelly loo times had to be done in the main bathroom, as they do stink out the bathroom. You have to be vigilant to shut the door to avoid getting a damp feeling bedroom.

My current house doesn't have an ensuite. I'm glad, as the house couldn't cope with it. I've got used to sharing a bathroom again, although it annoys me when the children leave it a mess. I'm enjoying not having an extra bathroom to clean.

I was looking for an ensuite, but all the houses I saw had ensuites making the bedroom small. I went for a decent sized main bedroom with no ensuite over a tiny main bedroom with an ensuite. XPs house, he can't fit a chest of drawers, nor wardrobe in his main bedroom. Big ensuite though. Awful design.

So the very long answer to your question is that I thought having an ensuite would be a deal breaker when I started my house hunt, but as things progressed, bedroom size took priority over having an ensuite. It's all about the right house overall rather than having an ensuite.

Pickles2023 · 01/01/2024 17:59

Im not bothered. Even before kids, i only lived with people i dont mind sharing with..

Although two bathrooms whereever located is handy when everyone needs the loo or get ready at once..(although thats pointless if you have old plumbing we have when the minute another tap turns on in the house the shower goes freezing)