Washbasin in a bedroom

[HamAndPlaques]

One of our bedrooms has a washbasin in it. We're redoing upstairs and it's time to decide whether to replace the unit with a modern equivalent (the current sink is peach...) or remove it entirely. it's a guest room.

Would you replace the basin or remove altogether? Part of me thinks that it's quite useful for guests to brush teeth etc, but DH thinks it's very dated and I have to agree that I haven't seen very many modern, stylish examples. We anticipate moving in the next 5-10 years so we have one eye on future marketability.

I personally think it is dated and would just remove it

I would remove it. I never see the point of a washbasin without a toilet. It only encourages unsavoury guests to wee in it!

I would only do it if you intend putting a kettle, coffee and little packets of biscuits for your guests to enjoy away from their host's company.

Seriously though I'd be removing it.

Is the room big enough to build an en suite around it? Only because you already have the plumbing there. Otherwise, washbasins in bedrooms are a bit dated and you should get rid.

I totally disagree and would update it. It's handy for freshening up, teeth cleaning, hair washing etc especially in a guest bedroom. Ie there's more people in the house than normal but still only the same number of bathrooms. It's also a selling point as it says 'hello! Look! Over here. Plumbing already in place.'

Remove it. Makes a house look like a cheap B&B.

I have one in my bedroom at my parents - I love it when there is a houseful and to tecill my glass at night.

I say keep.

Mine is not stylish however. Its peach

I wouldn't have a sink in a bedroom. It's really dated. And I'm pretty old-fashioned.

Food for thought, thank you. The room is reasonably big so I think we could probably box off an ensuite loo and basin, but I don't think we could squeeze in a shower cubicle too without dramatically shrinking the bedroom.

If I was staying as a guest, I think I'd rather have an ensuite shower room with toilet and a smaller bedroom than a larger bedroom. But of course it depends on the exact proportions involved.

We had this problem in our bedroom. It is an Edwardian house and the room is large but quite square so we decided there was no way we could box off an en-suite without making it look like a hotel (obvious box in a corner type of thing).

We decided that the sink was just too useful to do without. When DCs were teenagers and had friends stay over we didn't have to queue up to clean our teeth, etc so we had a unit built in. Our room has some antique furniture and some purpose built fitted furniture that (loosely) matches it. We had a cupboard fitted with a sink that is like a ceramic bowl standing on top of it and a tall tap at the side with a lovely mirror over the top.

It is just a matter of preference though. My friend has a similar house and they have put en-suites on 3 of their bedrooms, she prefers the convenience of that even though they are very small where I prefer the larger bedrooms. Each to their own

I'd keep/update it.
We moved into a house when I was a teenager which had sinks in all the bedrooms - it was absolutely brilliant. Never had queues for the bathroom (we were 4 dc/6 in family). I don't understand why it has never been more of a 'thing' than it has - SO useful.

I think keep it. It may not be common but it is so handy as a guest. I actually like the suggestion of the kettle too I always wake up insanely early in other peoples houses and as soon as I open my eyes I fancy a cup of tea. Handy for freshening up and brushing teeth without extra bathroom queues.
If you were in the market for making it an en suite how about a wet room rather than a separate shower cubicle?

I would get rid (and have done in fact) - very dated imho.

We've moved into a new house that has basins in most of the bedrooms - ex care home. I have mixed feelings about it tbh - they're handier than I expected, especially for kids. It has made bedtimes easier to be able to do toothbrushing in their own rooms. But purely because it's dated it makes the place feel a little oldfashioned.

If your house is smart enough and you replace it with a nice one, I think you'll get away with it, but if there are already lots of things that make it look old fashioned that'll be one more thing.

I suspect this thread will divide those of us who think a practical solution is more important and those who think "the look" is key.

A handy alternative to a penis beaker?

Waaaaah penis sink

A wet room is a very sensible solution but I have an irrational dislike of them. Hmmmmmm.

I kept ours and updated it as the main bathroom was tiny and it was in our bedroom so handy for teeth brushing/make up away from the kids. I would make it an en suite with toilet if we could work out the space.

It's slightly unconventional but wouldn't put me off buying a house if we were happy with everything else.

Or keep the sink as it is and when you get nearer to moving then either do the remove/replace/ensuite option? I really appreciated having a sink in my bedroom when I was living with my parents and then when staying overnight - it means you can take your time over teeth, makeup, contact lenses, etc. without hogging the bathroom. When I moved out my parents turned my bedroom into a bathroom (as someone said, the plumbing was already there) quite easily.