Downstairs shower room & tiny utility room Vs Larger utility and just a downstairs toilet

[Katz]

We are converting our old kitchen into utility room and downstairs toilet.

We can arrange the space in two main ways one is to have a 1m x 1m downstairs toilet and then a 2.4m x 2.4m utility, the other is a 2.4m x 1m shower room with a 1.3m x 2.4m utility room

which would you go for?

We have a good sized family bathroom upstairs.

If you have dc who play rugby/football, a downstairs shower is really useful. Particularly if it is near the washing machine. IME.

Do current building regs not state that downstairs WCs must be wheelchair friendly?

We have a downstairs shower room (as well as upstairs bathroom). It gets used daily. Before we did it, we checked out lots of neighbours extensions and all had put one in (which gave us em the idea). They're good if you have elderly relatives, plan to stay for a long time (future-proofing your home) or have anyone sporty who goes straight into the shower when the get home and throws sweaty clothes into utility room).

A downstairs shower would great for football/rugby-playing muddy boys, but the drying washing thing would make me go for the bigger utility room. I wish we had one for that very reason we have an outside tap/hosepipe when they are that muddy

Where are the doors in both versions? Have you looked on Rightmove for layout ideas?

The door to the utility is on the far side and is from the kitchen. The toilet room door will be opposite the the living room door and the shower room option opposite the hall door. The planner I was using didn't let me put them in.

Dd2 does cross country but no other muddy sports.

Just food for thought - where would the doors be? Can I recommend pocket doors?

We have a pocket door into our utility room (which is similar sized to your small version). I love my utility room, with careful planning and much perusing of houzz and pinterest I have a brilliant space. I can hang up two washing loads, have a tumble dryer in there too, lots and lots of storage.

If you are going to use a second shower and are worried about the pressure, you can have an electric shower installed. From a mother of a sports-mad son, a downstairs shower would be great if you need a second bathroom.

I have a combined utility and shower - its pretty small, less than 2x2 I'd say and we have a shower 1mx80cm, basin with cupboard under, loo, washing machine, tumble drier and boiler with cupboard around.

The shower gets used by DD's and visitors. I'd try and 'have it all'

Will the boiler be in there? Sorry, getting a bit obsessed now.

A friend had their a downstairs loo extended and a shower fitted, primarily for the person using the converted garage as a bedroom, but also as an alternative for other family members. Unfortunately nobody uses it as its inconvenient for those with bedrooms upstairs and the person downstairs prefers using the main bathroom.

Bigger utility every time - we have a downstairs shower and toilet - I had to clean cobwebs out of the downstairs shower the other day as there is never any need to use it (and we are a family of four but just use the family bathroom). Second loo is important however!

Swedish the boiler is on the outer wall top right.

If anyone has pictures or floor plans of there Rooms. I'd love to see them.

Will look into pocket doors. Might make the space work better

No right or wrong answer - just depends on your family. We went for the downstairs shower room (against architects advise) but we have lots of muddy sports going on and I love the fact the children can get clean before they come in to the rest of the house. We also have a downstairs sofa bed - so it gets use as a guest bathroom. Do you have a dog?? Downstairs shower might be handy for a pooch. If you don't have any of those things a downstairs loo and larger utility would be perfectly sensible.

Also, nobody uses the damned shower! Everyone still fights over the bigger one in the family bathroom upstairs. I think it feels a bit exposed downstairs somehow.

Actually. We DO wash DDog in it when he rolls in Fox poo so it does have some advantages!

I would lose the wasted hall space. Basically use large utility option room sizes but put appliances in utility against top wall, then have door on left hand wall of utility into shower room. So shower room is accessed via utility not living room ( which is a tad minging for a loo).

We had this layout in a previous house, works particularly well for dropping dirty kit into washing machine en route to shower.

mixed views then but all very helpful - thank you

Will keep playing with the space in floor planners - will see if theres a way to have one room rather than two. Builder coming at the end of the month and he's fitting the new kitchen first so still have time

We have the same predicament. I think we will go for the shower room downstairs, mainly because after the extension we will have a 4 bed house so feel like 2 bathrooms would be a better seller in the future.

What do you want to use your utility for exactly? If it's only for washing/drying/airing laundry then I'd have a utilty cupboard with stacked washer and dryer where your WC is on the plan then make the larger utility into a good size shower room. This could also have space for drying laundry and a cupboard for cleaning products.

Much as I love a big utility room, I do think you may regret not having a second shower rom as your dc get slightly older. But imo the one you are considering is too small to be useable.

Also agree with pp that a good electric shower will solve your water pressure issues.

Are all the openings doors or are some windows? Could you reposition the door on the right? May improve layout options.

Katz, going thru the exact samething as you!
We've gone for smaller shower room and bigger utility/storage space- think we will use the toilet a lot more than the shower but including a shower for future proofing and extra value if we sell.

Even looked at pocket sprung door to slide into the wall but it takes to 6--8 inches so having normal door.

Dryer going on top of washing machine and then having some corner cupboards put into space for all the other stuff we'll store in there

We do have main bathroom and one in loft too, so this won't be used much as a bathroom, more of a downstairs toilet

Good luck!!

I'd have a narrow shower/wetroom and toilet (loads of ideas on Pinterest) and a bigger utility. Depending on what upstairs room your utility is lying under, I'd also be planning a laundry chute straight into a cupboard. No more carrying piles of dirty laundry downstairs!

Long rail in utility too for hanging wet clothes/freshly ironed clothes.

Agree with pp, larger utility room is life changing .Have never regretted ours.

I find a sink in the utility room so useful. I use it to wash anything I'd rather not in the kitchen. Paint brushes , dog , soaking stuff , etc bigger utility for me.