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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Is it really such a big deal? Guest bedroom/bathroom related.

23 replies

ShyOyster · 09/04/2018 23:28

There’s this property that I think I like. It has everything I’m after. There’s this issue though: it’s over 3 floors and what would be a guest bedroom is on the 1st floor. There’s a toilet and a shower room on the ground floor and then en suite and a family bathroom on the second floor. If you were my guest, staying for a few days, would you find it REALLY annoying? I think I would and it’s putting me off a bit.. which is a shame because I like everything else about the property. DP says I’m exaggerating a bit. Am I? I’m prepared to be told I’m being a diva.

OP posts:

Bobbiepin · 09/04/2018 23:37

So the guest bedroom is on a floor with no bathroom? Annoying yes but if it ticks every other box I wouldn't mind.

MarklahMarklah · 09/04/2018 23:37

I can't see this as a major problem. If there was a real need, I'd put the houseguest in the room with the ensuite whilst they were staying.

Angryosaurus · 09/04/2018 23:38

Not a huge deal for ne

TroubledLichen · 09/04/2018 23:42

So the guest can either go down to the shower room or up to the family bathroom? I would think that’s absolutely fine! If the house works for you in every other way then go for it. Buy a house with your everyday life mind, not the couple of days/weeks a year you have guests.

Original poster

ShyOyster · 09/04/2018 23:42

I just have it in my head that someone’s going to fall downstairs trying to get to the toilet, half asleep, or feel that they need to try and discreetly get from the shower to their bedroom but that will involve going up or down a floor.
I’m selfish and don’t want to be giving the en suite to anyone. I don’t like people staying in my bedroom

OP posts:

BerylStreep · 09/04/2018 23:42

I don't think it is a big deal. Is there potential for you to add a small en-suite to the guest room? If not, I would shift any guests to the en suite bedroom and decamp to the top floor one.

We do this all the time. We have two bedrooms with a Jack & Jill en suite. The kids use both these bedrooms normally. The guest room would need to use the family bathroom, which also double as our en suite (two different doors into it), so if guests come to stay the kids give up their rooms and shift to other bedrooms then use the family bathroom. IYSWIM

TammyWhyNot · 09/04/2018 23:46

Depends on your guests. Wouldn’t bother me in tne least, but my most frequent guests are my Mum and Dad and as they are getting a bit frail and go to the loo in tne night, it wouldn’t be ideal. But then I might have a day bed / sofa bed to turn the family room into a spare room.

I like town houses. If it ticks your other boxes I don’t think this should be a deal breaker for you.

Madcatter · 09/04/2018 23:47

Assuming your guests are people you like and who like you I doubt they'll be bothered. Surely friends should be more concerned about visiting you than whether the bathroom is 100% convenient (assuming they're able bodied and stairs aren't an issue).

Maybe it'd be thoughtful to provide guests with a dressing gown so they don't have to go and from the bathroom in a towel, but if a friend was giving me a bed I'd be grateful not moaning the bathroom was too far.

MacaroniPenguin · 09/04/2018 23:48

If it works for all the people who actually live there, that's a tiny compromise to make. You could argue they get a whole floor to the selves at night, so lots of privacy!

Original poster

ShyOyster · 09/04/2018 23:49

It’s gorgeous otherwise! We’re currently in a new build and I’m not a fan.

OP posts:

TroubledLichen · 09/04/2018 23:49

They can just get dressed in the bathroom if they’re worried about being discreet no?! Or go up to the family bathroom rather than down to the shower if it would involve traipsing across the kitchen in their nighty? Going up stairs to a floor with only bedrooms and a bathroom is really not all that different to going down the corridor. And leave a night light in the hall so they can find their way to the loo overnight without tripping (DPs used to do this for DGPs). Unless you say have an elderly mother who stays a lot and couldn’t manage the stairs then it’s not something I’d personally worry about.

MyOtherProfile · 09/04/2018 23:49

How often do you have guests? Presumably not as often as you don't have guests? In which case go with what works for you as a family. If I was staying with friends I'd think I was lucky to get my own bathroom even if it was the floor below.

DairyisClosed · 09/04/2018 23:50

Not even remotely

BackforGood · 09/04/2018 23:53

What Tammy said.
It would depend a bit on who you anticipate using the room, and how often, and how long for.
If you have elderly relatives staying for a week, every month, you might want to factor it in - thinking of them falling on the stairs in the middle of the night. However, other than that, I really wouldn't plan my house buying around someone who might stay 2 nights once a year, even if it were an issue to have to go up or downstairs for the bathroom.

Original poster

ShyOyster · 09/04/2018 23:53

Ok, so I’m clearly overcomplicating things. I promise my heart is in the right place, I just hate to make people uncomfortable. We have my family visiting quite often and they’re not ungrateful or demanding, I just want to make things lovely for them.

OP posts:

Wittow · 09/04/2018 23:54

Kids are dying in Syria. Get a life.

Original poster

ShyOyster · 09/04/2018 23:55

Constructive input, thank you.

OP posts:

PickAChew · 09/04/2018 23:57

It would be your home. If guests didn't like it then I'm sure there's hotels around.

PinkAvocado · 10/04/2018 00:03

Aside from this, how does the layout over three floors suit your everyday life? The ones we have seen have the kitchen and living room on different floors which I would find more annoying for example.

For family staying, you could make the bathroom really luxurious and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind it being on a different floor.

Original poster

ShyOyster · 10/04/2018 00:12

I would want to join the kitchen and dining room into one open plan area, with a couple of sofas etc. I can’t see myself dragging endless supplies of tea and coffee upstairs.

OP posts:

PinkAvocado · 10/04/2018 00:15

That’s exactly what we thought-didn’t want to be carrying drinks up and down but sounds like you can sort that part out.

WhyteKnyght · 10/04/2018 13:28

For healthy young guests, I don't think it's a huge issue. For older guests, not ideal. Can you add a little en suite? If not, and if it's perfect otherwise, then I would just buy it but be prepared to have to move yourselves or the kids out of your normal bedrooms to make way for older or less able-bodied guests.

TheOneWhoKnocks · 13/04/2018 14:17

Wouldn't worry me at all! As a guest, I'd appreciate a washstand in the room (sink, mirror, towel) to minimise the scurrying-around-between-floors without my makeup on, plus the landing light left on overnight to avoid going base-over-apex down the stairs. Even those accommodations aren't absolutely necessary, but they would make things more comfortable and could be a good middle-ground for you.

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