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Original poster

No Shower in Family Bathroom?

52 replies

Glitterlikeawinner · 11/09/2021 20:34

Hello fellow MN - wanting to get your thoughts on a potential renovation of our family bathroom.

We are having an extension above the garage with an en suite - it wont be a tiny ensuite so I'm hoping to fit a reasonable size shower unit. For me, its showers all the way, for my husband he loves a nice bath.

While the project is here we will need to renew our family bathroom as there is some remodelling which will affect this (blocking current window and repositioning it). I thought we could get a nice standalone bath in the family bathroom and then my nice shower in the en suite so we both have nice / luxury ish versions of both.

We have two children, 5 and 8 and I'm starting to think long term, teenagers wanting showers etc and if i'll be happy for them coming into our bedroom to use the en suite.

Would we be mad not to have a shower in the main family bathroom (standalone bath would have the shower attachment but realistically not for standing and showering in)?

The bathroom is not big enough to have both and the compromise would be a shower in the bath (maybe L shaped).

What are your thoughts??

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/09/2021 10:53

For many years we’ve had 2 baths with proper showers over - they suit everybody. Personally I don’t like standalone baths - awkward for cleaning under and (to me) smack of style over substance. I know they look nice though!

Hadjab · 12/09/2021 13:45

I’ve got a shower over the bath, which is extremely practical when you have little kids that need a good wash, but I detest it. I’m now going to get the wall between the toilet and the bathroom knocked through so that I can add a walk in shower.

Aquamarine1029 · 12/09/2021 13:48

Definitely put a shower in the family bathroom. You will regret it if you don't.

VeganVeal · 12/09/2021 14:08

@Glitterlikeawinner

Good point about visitors, although we rarely have anyone stay over, we have a very small family and they all live local.

Its the teenage years that i just think it might become an annoyance, right now it would be fine, but long term possibly not :-(

Definitely a pain with teenagers and you never know with visitors, some one has an emergency and has to spend a few nights with you

We were in a similar situation, and fitted a L bath and shower, really well worth it.

SoupDragon · 12/09/2021 14:12

We only have a shower in my ensuite. It's a pain in the arse TBH.

When I get round to re-doing the family bathroom it will have one of those L baths with a proper shower in it. I don't think I can fit a separate one in without serious moving about.

SoupDragon · 12/09/2021 14:14

@Glitterlikeawinner

Good point about visitors, although we rarely have anyone stay over, we have a very small family and they all live local.

Its the teenage years that i just think it might become an annoyance, right now it would be fine, but long term possibly not :-(

When they become teenagers they being partners over to stay. That's when it becomes awkward! I have no issue with my kids using my ensuite at all but it is embarrassing when girlfriends stay.
SaturdaySpread · 12/09/2021 14:16

Yes you need a shower for teenagers. An over bath shower is fine, but you do need a shower

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 12/09/2021 14:20

When we bought our current house the only shower was in our bedroom and the bathroom only had a bath. We took a sliver of space off one of the bedrooms to accommodate a bath plus separate shower in the main bathroom. I hated having children and visitors traipsing in and out of our bedroom.

Our old house only had a shower when we moved in, due to space we fitted a bath with overhead shower.

Both solutions worked well.

crumpet · 12/09/2021 14:23

A stand alone bath is fine if it’s not the only option. If the only other option is via an en-suite it’s not ideal. Much better to have the flexibility of a shower over the bath, in addition for the en suite. Appreciate this does away with the stand alone, but there are some really good against-the-wall baths

namechange786578 · 12/09/2021 14:33

Selling point to us for our house was the family bathroom having a stand-alone shower. I don't want the kids (or guests) traipsing through our bedroom for the shower.

caringcarer · 12/09/2021 14:38

For practical reasons you need a shower over bath on main bathroom especially as kids grow older. Just a nice shower in en suite is ok.

Milkbottlelegs · 12/09/2021 14:40

This is a really bad idea.

Vaselike · 12/09/2021 14:44

I have a house with two showers, but the bath (room) didn’t have a shower over it, it’s a real pain for cleaning the bath/kids/etc

Howshouldibehave · 12/09/2021 14:51

We have two showers and don’t know what we’d do without them! I definitely wouldn’t have a bathroom without one if you plan to live there with teenagers.

Daftasabroom · 12/09/2021 14:55

We have a dedicated shower room and a dedicated bathroom and spare shower downstairs in the utility room for apres sports etc. no en suites. Works for us.

BuffyFanForever · 12/09/2021 15:06

@Glitterlikeawinner

hmmm could be a compromise......Hmm
Love that! It has the best of both worlds!
sunshinesupermum · 12/09/2021 15:10

We put a decent shower in over the bath in the 'family' bathroom for DD2 and her other half to use when they stay over to avoid them using our en suite shower. Best investment!

Briony123 · 12/09/2021 15:10

Shower over the bath is fairly normal, no need for a weird shaped bath even. Just be aware that elderly people often can't get in/ out easily so you'll need to grant them access to your shower room - or accept they will have a cup of tea and leave early morning!

Fifipop185 · 12/09/2021 15:27

Another vote for shower over the bath in main bathroom.

I don't mind the teens using our shower but they prefer to have the power shower over the bath than the rainfall walk in shower we've got. At least that way only one bathroom gets totally trashed after each use Hmm

liveforsummer · 12/09/2021 16:16

You definitely need a shower and bath in the family bathroom. Shower over bath is fine.

JaninaDuszejko · 12/09/2021 17:50

why do people have this obsession with love for freestanding baths. They look good in the right setting but are woefully impractical! Whenever I've been in one, they're not that different to a generously sized fitted bath (or whatever you call them) so just don't seem worth it to me.

They are for bathrooms with enough room for a bath and a separate shower. If there is not room for both I think most people would prefer a shower but with small children and just one bathroom then a shower over the bath is the compromise solution.

TwoLeftElbows · 12/09/2021 21:02

Get a shower over the bath. Personally if you're using the bath daily still I wouldn't get a L-shaped/P shaped one as they take longer to fill. They're more suitable for occasional baths than daily ones.

But then the best shower in our house is the one over the bath, so I can't really see why you wouldn't.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 12/09/2021 21:06

Shower over bath now, in 15 years and your children are grown and bathrooms ready to be redone again go for your luxurious bath if you like.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 12/09/2021 21:07

I'm also partial to havi g at least o e electric shower incase your boiler goes so atleast you have one shower that works, especially with a busy family.

indignatio · 12/09/2021 21:10

In the main bathroom we fitted a bath, because that was the norm. 20 years later we changed it for a shower. The shower has had more use in the last 6 months than the bath had in 30 years. (Other shower /bathrooms were available)