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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Utility Vs Ensuite ...

45 replies

Elfblossom · 14/07/2022 15:13

I've spent the last few months looking at a LOT of house listings! and I'm noticing a trend for new builds particularly, even the 2, 3 & 4 bedroom ones to expect a washing machine to go in the kitchen but still have a 'master bed' ensuite.

So I'm wondering, if you can only choose one, are you YANBU - give me a utility so I don't have to juggle food prep & dirty undies in the same kitchen space OR YUBU - Eeew I don't want to share a bathroom with family members.

YANBU - VOTE UTILITY ROOM
YABU - VOTE MASTER ENSUITE

OP posts:
Mapletreelane · 15/07/2022 18:12

I love my utility room, but having two teenagers in the house an ensuite is a godsend and I can't even imagine the arguments in the morning if we only had one bathroom! In fact I'm working out how we can plan in a second ensuite/another bathroom.

grlwhowrites · 15/07/2022 18:14

Utility ALL THE WAY! It blows my mind that so many new builds don't consider a proper space to wash and dry your clothes. The hygiene aspect is obviously huge but also, in a country that rains so much, getting things dry is hard. I don't want a clothes horse constantly set up in my living room or spare bedroom! I DREAM of having a utility room.

BeaLola · 15/07/2022 18:22

Love my utility room but love my en-suite even more - I love escaping to it with a long soak in the tub , the Archers on and a glass of wine plus no one eg teenager or MiL would disturb me there

kegofcoffee · 15/07/2022 18:24

Utility

SignOnTheWindow · 15/07/2022 18:40

Utility room every time. Nothing beats having somewhere to rinse muddy clothes and clean pet stuff. Plus, I really don't want to be woken up by the sound of DH pissing. Or worse.

Roselilly36 · 15/07/2022 18:45

I had both in my last property, we have downsized now, but I still have an en-suite, not bothered about a utility room.

TamSamLam · 15/07/2022 18:48

It's the choice between an extra room to clean, and a room to hide the cleaning. I don't like cleaning.

stormelf · 15/07/2022 18:59

We had this dilemma when extending. We went for utility in the end. Which I'm so grateful for. We now have best of both worlds with bathroom at back of utility where downstairs toilet previously was. I'm not that bothered about having an en suite, mainly wanted a second bathroom as got three kids and DH always woke them up getting ready for his early shifts

Mindymomo · 15/07/2022 19:14

As someone who lives with 3 men and only one bathroom, I would love an en-suite.

Anonymous48 · 15/07/2022 19:17

Elfblossom · 14/07/2022 17:45

I should have stated in my OP that there is always a downstairs loo in these houses so it's never a one Loo of doom situation.

I'm loving that so many of you are like minded and going for utility room.

I used to work in an early years setting and the threat of bum worms was enough to make me never, ever want a washing machine IN my kitchen again, ever.

Why are new build kitchens getting smaller (from what I've seen) when we're all cooking, baking and entertaining more at home?

Bum worms?

Anonymous48 · 15/07/2022 19:20

I don't understand what one has to do with the other. I love having an en suite bathroom in the main bedroom, so if I absolutely had to pick an en suite or a separate utility room, I'd go for the bathroom.

Are there no other options other than the washing machine and dryer being in the kitchen though? Basement? Garage?

TheNoodlesIncident · 15/07/2022 19:21

I want a loo-tility. Best of both worlds! We do have another loo but it's only accessible from the garden, it's not the same... although when we've got home from somewhere and I've baggsied the bathroom, DH can and has gone straight for the outside loo, so it works for us.

My dream is to extend the bottom end of the kitchen and garden room to make one bigger space and take some space from the top part of kitchen for a lootility. Lavatory, sink, washing machine and tumble drier, sorted.

There's only the three of us so I don't feel we need an en-suite. Might be different if there were more of us.

comfortablyfrumpy · 15/07/2022 19:26

Utility every time!

DashboardConfessional · 15/07/2022 19:29

En suite. I always need a wee after sex and no way am I getting dressed to go for one.

DinosaursEatMan · 15/07/2022 19:29

Utility. Far more useful and I hate en-suites.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/07/2022 19:30

An en-suite does nothing for me- particularly in rooms with little room for a decent wardrobe.
Utility is my dream

Clevs · 15/07/2022 19:35

I've never had either but would love a utility.

TheTeddyBears · 15/07/2022 21:58

YABU

I have both but I'd still pick en-suite over utility room by quite a bit. Especially if there's only 1 other bathroom upstairs and u have kids. Oh and it's very needed when there's a sickness bug in the house!

NotSorry · 15/07/2022 22:31

TheNoodlesIncident · 15/07/2022 19:21

I want a loo-tility. Best of both worlds! We do have another loo but it's only accessible from the garden, it's not the same... although when we've got home from somewhere and I've baggsied the bathroom, DH can and has gone straight for the outside loo, so it works for us.

My dream is to extend the bottom end of the kitchen and garden room to make one bigger space and take some space from the top part of kitchen for a lootility. Lavatory, sink, washing machine and tumble drier, sorted.

There's only the three of us so I don't feel we need an en-suite. Might be different if there were more of us.

We have this! Our downstairs shower room is massive and has the washing machine and tumble dryer in it as well - we also have a family bathroom upstairs and one of the bedrooms has a teeny tiny en-suite - in our defence we have 4 adult children, 3 of whom still live at home so three bathrooms is a godsend

Anonymous48 · 16/07/2022 13:10

DinosaursEatMan · 15/07/2022 19:29

Utility. Far more useful and I hate en-suites.

Fair enough if given the choice you would prefer a utility room, and it's even reasonable not to be bothered about having an en-suite. But how can you actively hate en-suites?

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