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Original poster

What to do? Take shower out of downstairs loo, or not?

26 replies

sydenhamhiller · 13/02/2012 11:37

We've been dithering about this for about 3 years, but now we've finally saved up some money to 'do' our bathroom, we have to decide!

Back story: moved into 1960s house with a 19702 avocado downstairs loo and shower, and the original daffodil yellow bathroom (tiles and suite!) w/out shower upstairs.

Now we have money to put a shower in upstairs - hooray! - and we're thinking of getting rid of the shower, and having somewhere to hang coats, stash wellies, snow boots, etc. Would LOVE the storage.

However, that would mean we are getting rid of a 'bathroom' as such...does that 'devalue' a property? (Although it is downstairs - hardly ensuite!) And we have 2 kids and one on the way. To be honest, I grew up with 2 siblings, and we had downstairs loo, but only one bathroom and it was fine...

Advice/ experience gratefully received!

OP posts:

PandaG · 13/02/2012 11:41

personally I'd keep the second shower. YOu might not need it now, but once the kids are teens you will be pleased to have the extra one.

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 13/02/2012 11:43

keep it. might not be much use now, but when the dc are older, or as guest bathroom.

Original poster

sydenhamhiller · 13/02/2012 11:51

Awww, thanks for feedback...this is what head had been telling me, while heart has been saying - "somewhere to hang coats, stash shoes, ditch the shower!" :)

OP posts:

witchwithallthetrimmings · 13/02/2012 11:56

i say ditch the shower, especially if you are thinking of resale. If you don't use it it will look mouldly if and if do it will make the whole downstairs feel damp. It also conveys the impression that it is the only bathroom (which is a minus for prospective buyers) even if they are put right it will put them off. A proper clock room will be much better

herhonesty · 13/02/2012 12:05

How many bedrooms do you have upstairs, will you still have a loo downstairs?

alemci · 13/02/2012 12:17

i would keep the shower unless you are going to do another bathroom upstairs. It is really useful but even if you dont keep the shower, definitely keep the loo as it is useful to have a downstairs toilet and then people dont have to keep going upstairs etc.

Original poster

sydenhamhiller · 13/02/2012 12:22

We have 4 bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs - but not looking to sell, so maybe should be thinking about what works for us... Would leave downstairs loo and sink, but taking shower out of alcove would leave perfect space to put railing across and hang up coats!

OP posts:

LIZS · 13/02/2012 12:24

Unless you have an occasional bedroom on that level I'd take it out.

Scholes34 · 13/02/2012 12:29

Ooh, difficult. I would want both. We've a shower and toilet downstairs, a bath with shower over it on first floor, plus toilet, and then a toilet and sink in the loft. I really miss having somewhere to stash coats and shoes. We've just put a car port on the side of the house, so keep walking boots, wellies and smelly football boots out there.

I've three DCs and the two bathrooms is proving invaluable, now we've hit the ages of 14, 13 and 11. Are you thinking of moving, or are you staying for the foreseeable future? If the latter, you need to think of your family's needs, rather than anything to do with selling. Is there any other space that can be used to make a cloakroom? Space for a cupboard in the hallway?

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 13/02/2012 12:33

think of the dc taking up a messy hobby. would be great then to just 'hose them down' in the downstair shower before carrying the mess through the whole house...

Rhubarbgarden · 13/02/2012 12:34

I think I'd go for coats and welly space. You will use that a lot more over the next ten years I reckon.

FannyPriceless · 13/02/2012 12:34

If you are not going to sell for a while, why not make it into a fab cloak room now, but keep the plumbing in place? By the time you come to sell you can get advice on whether to put a shower back in there. By that time you would want to update it anyway, so may as well use the space as you want it now.

Definitely keep the downstairs loo though.

Scholes34 · 13/02/2012 12:34

Oh, yes. Football in the winter. A muddy football players comes in the front door and straight into the shower.

Scholes34 · 13/02/2012 12:35

Our downstairs shower room works well with the sofa bed in the lounge for any guests who may stay in there.

Original poster

sydenhamhiller · 14/02/2012 09:34

thanks guys. Think concensus seems to be keep it... All our family lives elsewhere in UK, so usually stay on sofa bed downstairs, and quite nice to have them 'contained' (inhospitable? Me?) downstairs if they have access to a downstairs shower.

But a cloakroom... sigh....

OP posts:

LittlePandaBear · 14/02/2012 11:01

Maybe put a rail up in the shower, put coats and boots in there, and when guests come to stay take them out and there you go, you have a shower room and storage all in one

[gets her coat]

[from the shower room]

GrendelsMum · 14/02/2012 11:08

I'd do whatever you personally prefer, tbh. What's the point of having a shower if you've got piles of coats all over the place, making you miserable? I think Fanny's idea about leaving the plumbing but removing the shower is a very good compromise.

irregularegular · 14/02/2012 11:18

I always think (probably irrationally) that downstairs showers are rather yucky. We actually have one, but we have a funny layout generally: the only other bathroom is our en-suite and our guest-room is downstairs. Otherwise, I'd rather guests could use a downstairs loo without having to visit our shower-room. On the other hand, I think a decent cloakroom space is invaluable. So, I think the effect on value is debatable.

Given that, and given you're sticking around for a while, I'd do what you want to do, which seems to be to get rid of it. You can always change your mind again in a few years, especially if the plumbing is in place.

ExitPursuedByaBear · 14/02/2012 11:43

When we moved in to our current house the downstairs shower didn't work so we used it for storage - twas fab. But we had a new shower put it and it is the best shower we have, so when I wash my hair I use the downstairs shower and have to tramp up two flights of stairs to get dressed.

I do miss hiding stuff in there though.

londonlottie · 14/02/2012 11:46

Interested in this - we are looking into doing an extension but my main priority is to turn our 3-bed/1-bath house into a 4-bed/2-bath. I instinctively also think downstairs showers don't really work - I would be loathe to traipse down 2 flights of stairs to use it and know that our neighbours (who have similar) end up just using the room as a dumping ground. Which leaves me with the dilemma of where the bloody hell we could feasibly fit one in...

alemci · 14/02/2012 11:49

we have a downstairs shower room/toilet. It works really well as I have 3 teenagers.

they sometimes have friends sleeping over and they can use the downstairs SR and don't have to come upstairs where we sleep.

I don't think we would manage if we all had to share a shower in the morning.

It is definitely not a dumping ground as i won't allow it. (Just looks around at all the other dumping areas in proximity)

Thetokengirl · 14/02/2012 11:49

If you keep the shower, do you have anywhere else to put coats and boots?
I agree that you should do what is right for you and your family rather than thinking resale value, if you intending being there for a longish time.

Ponders · 14/02/2012 11:52

do you have a combi boiler? if so 2 people can't have a shower at the same time anyway because the pressure isn't enough.

(if showers are electric or power showers this is irrelevant of course )

Is there nowhere else for the coats & boots & stuff? no porch? big cupboard in hall? section of garage? (A friend used to live in a house where one way in was via a huge fully tiled mud/wet room with a shower one end - useful for dogs as well as people - it was fab)

BackforGood · 14/02/2012 12:09

If you are planning to live in the house, and not sell in the next couple of years, then do what suits you.
Trust me, you will want another shower room when they are teens and live in there but that's a long way off. Why not have your house as you want it for the forthcoming 10 years until that problem rears it's head ?
I'd take the shower cubicle out, but leave the plumbing in tact so you can convert it easily when they are teens and don't wear coats

Lightofthemoon · 14/02/2012 13:13

Get rid, my parents had a downstairs shower and no-one ever used it as they didn't want to trapse upstairs in their towel. I agree with the poster that they are yucky, a downstairs loo would be much nicer without one!

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