Removing (too small) downstairs loo and replacing it with a coats cupboard?

[ThatThereWoman]

I live in a Victorian Terrace house which currently has a tiny downstairs toilet at the end of the passage. It's so small that only the children can sit down - and even they prefer to go upstairs (the hand washbasin is too close - I suppose it could be repositioned).

We also have a lot of coats and shoes in the passage way, and a plethora of brushes, mops etc in the kitchen.

I am wondering whether I could repurpose the loo into a multipurpose cupboard. And achieve my dream of a clutter free hallway.

The question isn't whether it would be a problem for my family, but if/when I sell the house on? There are 6 bedrooms, so I assume people would expect there to be a loo downstairs.

Maybe I'm just overthinking it.

I'm generally of the thinking that if you are going to live in a house, then do what suits you, but as you say you are looking to move in a couple of years then I definitely wouldn't get rid of a downstairs toilet.
I wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs toilet now, unless it was apparent it would be easy to put one in somewhere (and that was reflected in the price).
Obviously I realise you can't be that fussy when buying a first home, but I'm guessing if you have a 6 bedroomed house, then you won't be selling to first time buyers, so most of your potential buyers would probably be expecting a downstairs toilet.

We did this about a year ago! Victorian Terrace also and it has been great. I do miss the loo occasionally but it was so small in there it was unpleasant and our house looks SO much tidier now. Go for it!

Yeah, sorry everyone!
The toilet and Coat shit cupboard photo, the first one, was mine.

Sorry. Was only trying to show OP what our house had, no confuse everyone!

Those coats would drive me nuts although I get the comment re value for selling.

@palacegirl77 no poos allowed in the downstairs loo! But yes, most people prefer to go upstairs.

The coats do drive me nuts - and it's tidy today! M y 7yo can't reach an puts her coat on the bannister, so that makes it even more crowded. And I hid the basket full of crap for the purpose of the photo.

Yes a buyer is likely to do the side return I think.

The top of the cellar is tiny - I store the hoover, ironing board, clothes airer there.

Break a leg, sprain your ankle badly, hurt your back...you’ll appreciate a downstairs loo. Keep it. It’s way bigger than the one I had in a similar (though probably smaller) house.

yes you've got a point, although i'm too tall to sit on it without banging my knee. I think I hve to make it more attractive and welcoming.

So if I keep it, what's the solution for the coats, shoes, dog leads, hats, gloves, random balls, umbrellas and stuff?

A downstairs toilet is worth its weight in gold

you must of course have a modern, quiet extractor fan, coming on with the light switch and preferably with a 10-minute timed run-on. If it has a typical 80 cu.m per hour extract rate, it will create enough suction to prevent odour drift into the house, and will give air changes at the rate of about ten an hour.

You can get a low-quality noisy Manrose fan if you want to drown out sound.

How far does your toilet project? You can get short projection toilets that only stick 48cm out from the wall if you go for a high cistern or can put the cistern behind the wall.

There isn't an extractor fan - I've just realised - which is a surprise because the builders did put them in the other bathrooms.

So a shorter toilet is a possibility. Plus fan. And nicer paint/accessories. And move the washbasin.

But then I still have the coat/shoe issue.

Technically you shouldn't remove a downstairs loo if it already exists as it's contrary to building regulations.

I was expecting something smaller from what you described, it looks a fairly standard sort of size. I think just turning the sink 90 degrees could be helpful

Oh. I didn't know that.

Yes I thought of that about moving the washbasin to the other side.

Presumably it's also in breach of regs not to have an extractor fan? (Although I remember the inspector coming round I think).

I'm going to explore shallower loos. I never thought my life could get so exciting.

For the coats etc, we just have a wardrobe, downstairs. Is there anywhere that you could put one?

I live in an area with very high house prices. Having a downstairs loo makes no difference to the price.

It’s the total area size that counts.

Our small toilet measures 84cm x 118cm. We have a mini toilet and sink in it- cheap from Amazon. The previous owners had a full size toilet and adults had to sit squint to avoid bashing their knees.

www.amazon.co.uk/Square-Ceramic-Cloakroom-Bathroom-Projection/dp/B01K2EPLOS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=Square+Ceramic+Cloakroom+Basin+Bathroom+Sink+%2B+Short+Projection+Toilet+Suite&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1579555680&sr=8-1

I bought something similar to this

You can take out loo if it's part M you are thinking of, the regs only apply to new dwellings, then you can do whatever you like. I found that out recently and it's clear from the wording even if it seems bizarre.

OP: "I never thought my life could get so exciting."

The joys of MN. Shorter loos's and hat stands!

Villeroy & Boch Subway 2.0 Compact loo is very short whilst still looking and feeling like a normal loo.

I wouldn’t get one of those loos with the sink above the cistern, I’d hate to wash my hands leaning over the loo and I think you have space for a normal sink.

You may be able to semi recess the sink into the side stud wall to buy some space - should be a fairly easy job if you are changing the sink anyway.

Is there any spare space in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house for ironing board, hoover etc? So then coats could go at top of cellar? Plus some coats could go on the back of loo and cellar doors.

Or, this is a bit of an odd one perhaps but is there space for a cupboard in your front room which could hold coats? It doesn’t need to be full wardrobe depth, a shallow cupboard in an alcove with pegs at the back would work (two levels for adults and children)

You can also put some shelves and baskets on the wall above the loo which could hold dog leads, balls, hats gloves etc. This is a very easy and quick fix so do this in any event!

HOWEVER I still reckon that if any buyer will do the side return, they will not be too fussed about the absence of a loo (especially if you get the estate agent to say the plumbing is all there already) so do what suits you.

If you’re going to change it all you could have a break before putting new one in and see if you prefer getting rid of coats from hall.

If you feel it is making a difference to value but like it wait until selling and make a loo again.

How many people live in the house? Cant you keep your shoes and coats in your wardrobes and only have hanging the ones you're using day to day. Also as a pp said, ikea have open wardrobes that work well as coat storage and keeping it neat and tidy

I wouldn't take out the loo - it is bigger than I thought from your description. Measurements would really help if you can find your tape measure, but a couple of suggestions:
Replace the loo with a corner one to go on the left hand side. This would give more space for knees. You could also take out the cupboard under the sink, which will make it feel more spacious. Depends what's in the cupboard but those never hold very much and spare loo rolls can go on a stand. And yes to a mirror above the basin, as large as you can.

I’d definitely keep the downstairs toilet.
I’d change the basin first to a tiny corner version. That may be all you need to do to create more space. If necessary, then you could swap the loo for a corner one (I think Ideal Standard make one), so that they both face diagonally towards the door.

We used to live in a similar house with a narrow hall, and bought a wardrobe for coats which we kept in an alcove in the kitchen. That worked well for us.

I'd keep the loo and add some IKEA storage for coats etc.
How wide is your hall?