Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To not think an ensuite is better than a walk in wardrobe

89 replies

WestendVBroadway · 22/10/2022 11:04

Posted in Aibu for most traffic🤔 Advice needed please. Just moved to larger house. Main bedroom has what is listed as a large storage/wardrobe. A few similar houses in the cul de sac have converted it to an ensuite. We are tied between this conversion or a walk in wardrobe/ dressing room. It is not huge, approximately 2m x 1.8m. I have googled minimum space needed for ensuite shower room, and it is apparently 1.8m x 0.8m , so space is adequate. I have seen lots of posts on here about not liking a bathroom so close to bedroomWho needs partner's poo smells and loo flusing while trying to kip?
I would love a walk in wardrobe, although due to size of bedroom there is more than enough room for storage within. So wise forum folk what would you suggest. I think a dressing room is a good idea, so I don't disturb DH when I get up early for work and he is trying to lie in.

OP posts:

AnotherDelphinium · 22/10/2022 11:28

En-suite. I love it. If it was a small and poky room I’d maybe choose walk in wardrobe if there wasn’t space for a fitted, but it’s so nice having my own bathroom that’s not shared!

Also, I’d look into getting the largest shower size you can.

Whistlesandbell · 22/10/2022 11:29

I’ve had two en-suites for the last 25 years in three different houses so I’d have to say an ensuite. If you’ve never had one then either are a good choice.

Smartish · 22/10/2022 11:30

We have a dark, windowless en suite and we are going to turn it into a wardrobe/storage and build a downstairs loo and shower room instead. Just as soon as we've saved up.....
It gets mouldy because there's no proper ventilation. Our bedroom is really cramped.

5128gap · 22/10/2022 11:30

If it has a window and you can have a proper plumbed in toilet, en suite, no question.
If there's only one other bathroom, also en suite.
If its windowless, and you have at least two toilets already, dressing room.
If you'd need a macerator, dressing room.

CornedBeef451 · 22/10/2022 11:31

I have an en-suite for the first time and I'm not keen. DH was surprised that he woke me at 3am by peeing like a racehorse a few feet from the bed.

If you have enough bathrooms then a dressing room would be better.

Womencanlift · 22/10/2022 11:31

I moved into my house at end of last year, the en suite has not been used once. Complete waste of space. Would rather have that space as storage

My bathroom is huge so prefer to use that than be squashed in my en suite

woff45 · 22/10/2022 11:32

En-suite for me, our bedroom is big enough for wardrobes but even in our last house with less storage space I'd never have gotten rid of the en-suite. I like to have my own private bathroom (DH uses the main bathroom).

Birthdaycake25 · 22/10/2022 11:34

Id rather have a bathroom. Especially if you end up with health conditions/bed rest or when elderly, bathroom close by is so useful. People who need extra storage usually have too much stuff! I purposely bought a smaller wardrobe because I have too many clothes.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 22/10/2022 11:39

I have both, I would say ensuite is better. But only if its a proper bathroom with a window. I had one years ago that was windowless and hated it! A walk in is a nice to have, but decent fitted wardrobes are almost as good.

AloysiusBear · 22/10/2022 11:45

I never understand the loathing for ensuites. People refer to them as "windowless cupboards etc". I can only assume these are poor quality conversions where someone has tried to carve a tiny bathroom out of a bedroom that isn't big enough to do that.

A proper en suite means the house layout provided for a normal sized bathroom, accessible directly from a bedroom rather than a hallway. Mine is about 2.5 x 3m, full window etc. There are no smells drifting into the bedroom because a) the door is shut b) the window is opened when necessary.

Its just an extra bathroom!!

AloysiusBear · 22/10/2022 11:46

Womencanlift

My ensuite is bigger than the family bathroom!!

Octomore · 22/10/2022 11:47

YANBU

I used to have both at my last house, now I have neither. I don't miss the en-suite really at all, but I do really miss having a separate dressing area.

SallyWD · 22/10/2022 11:49

We have an en-suite and I love it. We do have a lot of overnight guests and it makes such a difference not having 8 people all sharing the same bathroom. I love having our own private bathroom. It feels like a luxury. And it's not small and dark - it's spacious and light.

RitaFires · 22/10/2022 12:01

I think it's a really personal choice that comes down to your own preferences and lifestyle. For resale an ensuite is probably better as a lot of people expect them now. If you're not looking to sell soon just suit yourself.

Itisbetter · 22/10/2022 12:04

En-suite any day of the week for me, but I love a quick shower when I change clothes and don’t like other people perusing my toiletries

TrickyD · 22/10/2022 12:12

We have both, but the most important one for me is the en-suite, I always use it, DH uses the family bathroom across the landing, except when we have guests staying and then he transfers all his shaving and tooth stuff into ‘my’ en-suite.,
I hate it when he trespasses onto my territory like this.

tulips27 · 22/10/2022 12:18

I can't stand ensuites and people filling their bedrooms, somewhere that should be clean and nice, with faecal germs and smells.

DoraSpenlow · 22/10/2022 12:25

En suite for me. Absolute godsend when we have visitors. Also whenn we aae bth gettiig ready too go out. One uses the bathroom and one the shower room.

When we are on our own it's an unwritten rule that we don't use it during the night and wake the other one up.

ItsFlippingBoiling · 22/10/2022 12:30

An amazing bath and sink with no loo?
Chaise longue or chair, plants etc

Mine has this bath and I love it
williamholland.com/baths/bateau-bath/?config=2000-COP-C

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 22/10/2022 12:34

I don't like a toilet within earshot of the bed, so ensuites hold no appeal.

Extra storage always helps streamline life and stay organized

Blossomandbee · 22/10/2022 12:35

Depends on your current bathroom and family situation. I think two toilets in the house is desirable for most people these days, so if the en suite is a third then it might be a luxury you can do without. Plus if you don't have Dc or a small family you might not need it.
We have an en suite, I didn't think we would use it much having never had one before we moved in (and the DC were small) but now the DC are older it's a godsend. I have teenagers that are never out the main bathroom. Mornings would be a nightmare without it.
There's a lot of odd ideas around en suites on here, neither me or DH use it for number 2's whilst the other is in bed!

PinkPrettyAndPointed · 22/10/2022 12:36

FakingMemories · 22/10/2022 11:17

Tough choice. We have both a dressing room and an en-suite bathroom and I wouldn’t want to give either of them up. Is there enough space in the bedroom to modify to fit both in?

Me too and I'd be hard pressed to give up either.

We're a family of 4 and no way would I want a house with only bathroom. So that would decide it for me.

Babygirlnameq · 22/10/2022 12:39

If you’re likely to have guests to stay, I’d say an en-suite.

But I really like en-suites in general! Perfect for when you have guests. No sharing the bathroom.

shoopypoos · 22/10/2022 13:06

I have both in my bedroom. I would hands down choose the en-suite. But also if you have a spare room you can put a bigger wardrobe in that and use it. I do this as well as my walk in wardrobe as sadly my dh thought he was entitled to use half of ours. The cheek so I use another wardrobe as well in a different room for clothes I don't use so much and the walk in has all the clothes I regularly wear.

Anyway, the en-suite is great. I love love love getting out the shower drying off and strolling into my bedroom to get dressed. I also like the midnight wees that don't involve going far from bed.

BetsyBigNose · 22/10/2022 13:07

There's not much I wouldn't do for an en suite in our place. We only have one loo, which is in the bathroom and DH and I have 2 teenage DDs, so someone is always queuing! If you already have one separate toilet, then depending on how many of you there are and the likelihood of more than one of you wanting a shower at the same time, then it sounds like a dressing room might be a better bet for you.

Flip

1 2 3 4