to convert the en-suite to a walk-in wardrobe?

[binthebathroom]

I've grown to hate our en-suite and would much prefer to have some extra storage and a lovely walk-in wardrobe instead. It's windowless, right by our bed and I really don't like or want or need it! But these days everyone seems to want bathrooms in their bedrooms and I don't particularly want to do something that will make the house harder to sell when it comes to it.

For info, the house has 4 beds (officially 5 but it's a tiny box room), a loo on the ground floor, a family bathroom with bath and over-bath shower serving two bedrooms on the first floor and another bathroom with a large walk-in shower on the second floor, plus our en-suite.

Most of the time it's only dh and I. DD uses the 1st floor bathroom when she's back from uni, as do guests when they stay overnight. I really can't see what would be lost from converting it but I've got a nagging doubt that an en-suite is just 'expected' in a master bedroom these days!

WWYD?

@withmycoffee because I want my bedroom for sleeping, relaxing, etc....not shitting in a glorified cupboard in the corner. Dh’s shits stink the bathroom and landing out, I don’t want my bedroom being stunk out.

If I lived by myself I’d probably be happy with one. Maybe if we had one I’d just ban dh from using it.

I wouldn’t, it will cost you money and likely reduce the value of your house.

I like an en-suite!

@CovidCorvid couldn’t agree more!!

@thebillyotea

How long are you planning on living there?

I would, I hate en-suite and more storage sounds ideal.

As far as I am concerned, en-suite only have their place in guests rooms/ You might as well enjoy the house you live in!

How can you categorically state that you hate all en-suite? They are all different. It's like saying you hate all cars. Maybe you've only seen shit ones. Mine has double aspect windows, dual basins and enormous bath and walk in huge shower. It's all spa like. What's so detestable?

Every time I look at floor plans, when I'm planning my dream house move, I instantly convert the en-suites to a walk-in wardrobe.

I had an en-suite in my old flat and it really didn't bother me when we moved out. I'd rather have the storage space.

@Womencanlift

To me en suite’s are pretty disgusting and would never buy a house with one. A walk in wardrobe is much more appealing and I would love to find that if I was looking for a house

Again, what is this about people thinking all en-suites are awful. Mine is spectacular. Large and luxurious. It opens to the side of my L shaped bedroom so you enter it from the part of the bedroom with wardrobes. It's fab. Not sure what scuzzy honed you've been inhabiting.

OK, OK we get it @withmycoffee, you have the world's most amazing, beautiful, spa-like en-suite perfumed by the farts of angels.

Anyway, I think the general consensus is convert which is great!

Interested to know whether converting it would really affect the price of the house - many people in this thread seem to think the wardrobe / storage idea would be a positive?

How can you categorically state that you hate all en-suite? They are all different. It's like saying you hate all cars. Maybe you've only seen shit ones. Mine has double aspect windows, dual basins and enormous bath and walk in huge shower. It's all spa like. What's so detestable?

Well good for you! You must realise that for the vast majority of normal people who can afford a house with an en suite that they’re not like yours. I’d happily live with an en suite like yours which is probably bigger than the entire upstairs of my house. Mostly they’re converted corners of bedrooms or glorified cupboards as a PP said and essentially involve going to the toilet in the corner of your bedroom.

I don't like en-suites and given you have two bathrooms, plus an extra loo, sounds like it ticks the boxes. Convert away! your house should work for you.

As for the (ever so slightly tetchy) 'why don't you like en-suites...well, possibly the same reason I don't like open plan living. I don't want my kitchen to flow into my sitting room into my office space into my 'dining zone'. I like walls and doors and separate rooms for separate functions. I don't want my husband taking a nice comfy dump or gargling merrily two metres from our calm, elegant retreat of a bedroom. Each to their own.

How can you categorically state that you hate all en-suite? They are all different. It's like saying you hate all cars. Maybe you've only seen shit ones. Mine has double aspect windows, dual basins and enormous bath and walk in huge shower. It's all spa like. What's so detestable?

Like that: I hate en-suite. See, it's easy.

Such a shame your spa-like bathroom is ruined by going straight into your bedroom. We all have to compromise with our properties I suppose...

this is really interesting as I am considering the same, we live in an apartment but it is just me and dh, we have just had our bathroom updated and its wonderful, what i am thinking about is getting rid of the ensuite shower (its so bloody small that if you bend over to pick up the shampoo your bum sticks to the door) and having one of those steaming/cleaning/dry clean cupboards along with more hanging rail space and storage cupboards/come sort of airing cupboard, tbh I think that would suit our lifestyle more and I also agree with pp, I have a strange aversion to the thought of pooing in a corner of the bedroom, its just a bit ugh!

En suites are marmite, you either couldn’t live without one or you can’t bear the idea of one.

I personally don’t like windowless bathrooms so that would put me off. A walk in wardrobe would be much more attractive as a buyer.

You can’t please everyone all of the time so please yourself and convert it to what you want.

I'd definitely prefer the walk-in wardrobe. You could always cap off the plumbing so that in future it could be easily converted back into a bathroom in the event that a purchaser wanted to install an en suite.

Your home should work for you in any case, so unless you're looking to sell up soon I'd change it to suit yourself.

@thebillyotea my spa like en-suite goes into the wardrobe portion of my L shaped bedroom so not into the bed portion. So don't worry fir me petal. No farty smells or sounds when I reside

Definitely. I’d kill for a walk in wardrobe.

I’m another anti ensuite type. A windowless one sounds foul and I’d get rid anyway.

I’d never buy a house without an en-suite or the potential to put one in. If the bathroom on your floor serves 3 rooms, you might have a houseful of guests sometimes so you’d be sharing. Or if you sell the buyers might disregard because there’s no en suite.

Lots of people want the extra privacy of an en-suite for various reasons (including people who need to wee a lot in the night, people with lots of kids, lots of guests or have health conditions that cause them to vomit or have diarrhoea unexpectedly).

It’s sort of expected nowadays I think?

I’d convert it.
My parents had a pointless en-suite they never used because it was old and they had another bathroom they used. I always thought it would make much more sense to be a big storage space.

No ensuite for me either, though I find a spa equally as unappealing, so maybe I just have no need for excessive ablution related facilities. I would LOVE a walk in wardrobe.

Also many en suites are lovely, not a ‘corner of the bedroom’. Ours is the other end of a long bedroom, accessed through a dressing room. It has a double shower, big windows, lots of storage for things like make up and personal grooming stuff.

It feels quite private even if DH is in bed.

I hate going out of the bedroom to wee in the night, especially if we have guests over.

What’s more distasteful

A) using an en-suite where the loo is maybe 3m from your pillow albeit behind a door, or

B) going on about your fabulous bedroom / dressing room / bathroom palace

Convert the en suite OP. The dressing room sounds fab.

I don’t have any strong feelings either way about en suites in general. But I don’t like bathrooms with no windows, so I would convert it on that basis alone.

I hate all ensuits! I also do not like small hotel rooms that effectively are like ensuits. I do not want to listen to anyone else, even my most treasured loved one, going about his toileting. Luckily, in our house, the 2nd main bedroom was good size so we use that as our bedroom. The double aspect beautiful ensuit is now adjacent to our walk in wardrobe and office, while I sleep on undisturbed. Live your best life OP!

I'm absolutely cringing over @withmycoffee's frantic need to ensure everyone knows that they have an en suite just off their L-shaped bedroom.

OP convert the room and leave the plumbing, potentially losing a few grand off the home when you come to selling will pale in comparison to the enjoyment you'll have from a space you love. I'm not sure there'll be any loss in your case anyway.

[quote withmycoffee]@thebillyotea my spa like en-suite goes into the wardrobe portion of my L shaped bedroom so not into the bed portion. So don't worry fir me petal. No farty smells or sounds when I reside [/quote]
You seem to be missing the point. I couldn't care less if you have an en-suite, or even a bathtube in the middle of your bedroom.

I don't like en-suite and wouldn't have one anywhere else than in my guest bedroom.

Some people like to have wardrobes in their bedroom, others prefer a separate walk-in closet. And no en-suite.

I'm absolutely cringing over @withmycoffee's frantic need to ensure everyone knows that they have an en suite just off their L-shaped bedroom.

don't... it's an anonymous forum remember