Would you rather have a downstairs toilet or laundry room?

[hereismydog]

As above, we have a downstairs toilet that nobody has used in well over a year because the seat is broken and has proved impossible to replace due to its awkward shape and internal fixings.

We haven’t really missed it, so have been toying with the idea of turning it into an all-in-one laundry cupboard, as our washing machine and tumble dryer are in separate areas of the house, but we are worried about resale value if we completely scrap the toilet. There are two other toilets in the house, so we feel three is probably a bit excessive (3-bed house).

So, which would you rather have?

It's a hard call, I can see the appeal of the laundry room - I want to rejig my house to get a utility room in too - but as your circumstances are changing, you really will need a lavatory on both floors. Obviously you've managed without thus far, but when you have the baby you won't want to be traipsing up and down every time you need the loo. You won't want to be traipsing up and down when toilet training them. Or when you are ill but still have to look after the infant and need the loo in a hurry. Or when Junior needs the loo in a hurry. Or one of their little friends do...

I did think that houses are now expected to have a lavatory on the ground floor and that seems sensible. I put one in under the stairs in our previous house and never stopped blessing the day I did. Our current house also has a loo under the stairs but it's only accessible from outside. It's far from ideal - quite a few times I've had to desperately dash outside to use it because DS is in the bathroom - but I'm glad we still have two, even if one is inconveniently situated.

Not totally on topic, but I always wonder why laundry set ups are usually downstairs.

I think it dates back to when there were no tumble dryers and it all dried outside. But a friend ( she’s in London, no garden just a tiny patio) has their “ laundry cupboard “ upstairs. It’s a sliding door in the hallway with sink, stacked whiteware, foldout ironing board and a worktop for folding etc - a bit like those motel kitchens in a cupboard. I always think it’s brilliant as the laundry doesn’t need to be lugged up and down stairs; it just pops sideways across the hall back into everyone’s wardrobes.

Whichever you use most.

Toilet with a sink.

toilet, combination with laundry if poss, if not then toilet

I took the downstairs toilet out to make a laundry room. We have two bathrooms upstairs though

I’ll take a photo tomorrow of the current washing machine setup as it’s hard to describe how truly shit and impractical it is 😂 might help explain why I’m so torn over what to do!

We removed a downstairs loo some time ago and a couple of years later when doing more work on the house, there was a problem with building regs/planning when they discovered the house no longer had a downstairs loo.

Laundry room, 100%. I've never lived anywhere with a downstairs toilet and can't say I've ever found it an inconvenience in any way, but inconveniently placed washer/dryer plus lack of space to fold my washing drives me insane.

I'd get one of the washer/dryer stackers with the pull out drawers/laundry shelf between the two.

When my children were little I’d have said Laundry Room.
With older relatives and arthritis, it’s now Downstairs Toilet.

Laundry room

We have washing machine and tumble drier in the downstairs toilet. Not much room for anything else but it keeps it out of the kitchen

Laundry room; turned the en-suite into a laundry room because two bathrooms was definitely one too many for two of us. Haven't regretted it once.

I live in a bungalow so a laundry room. Especially as my washing machine is outside in the shed. Although I suppose it does have its perks cos I can do a wash late at night or early morning and not have to worry about waking the neighbours up. The downside is having to go outside in the rain to empty the washing machine.

Laundry room.

I vote replace the toilet with one that works. We have two loos upstairs and it was just fine until we had kids and now it is really annoying not having a downstairs loo and we are putting one in. Also our parents are getting less mobile, so they will benefit too.

If I had another toilet, we have 3 Ibs sufferers in the house so 2 toilets is a must, a laundry room would be nice…

Down stairs loo with baby on the way.

If you have a functional washing machine elsewhere. Then the downstairs toilet is invaluable with little ones. Also if have a section, stairs are awful afterwards.

I don't live i a house but if I did I would go for an extra loo. My bladder would thank me!!!

I have a lootility - actually it is a purpose-built shower room with washing machine and tumble dryer in a cupboard. If I couldn't combine the two I would have a downstairs loo, definitely.

We’ve decided to do it for now after DP has yet again hit his head on the ceiling of the cramped little washing machine cupboard whilst loading it 😅

My best friend is an estate agent so asked her advice re whether it would devalue the house or make it harder to sell and she advised just capping off the soil pipe rather than removing it so we can easily put a cheap toilet back in whenever we come to sell in the future.

Glad you’ve made a decision. I was watching the thread waiting for the picture you promised of the current washing machine setup though!

I wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo so it might put people off.

Ooh, I did forget didn’t I! I’ll show you when I get home

Fab .

If you can include your husband in it rubbing his head, all the better. Back view for anonymity of course 😂