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Original poster

If you have two bathrooms/one bathroom and an ensuite...

206 replies

QuentininQuarantino · 16/01/2022 18:56

Our lovely first home has two bathrooms (bathtubs) which are extremely outdated. Think khaki tiles and yellow bathroom suite, mold and staining... ew.

So, we're saving up to redo them and are at the planning stage. We'd like one to have a bathtub and one to have a biggish shower. The smaller could easily be made into an ensuite by moving where the door is.

For those of you who have lived for a while with two bathrooms, what works best for you? And what do you think we should do? Both to live with and hopefully not to decrease the value of our property (although no plans to leave!). We have DC under 10 if that is relevant. Thank you.

a) bathtub in family bathroom and shower in ensuite
b) shower in family bathroom and bathtub in ensuite
c) two family bathrooms and no ensuite.

OP posts:
Omicrone · 17/01/2022 08:02

Isn't tbe fashion now to have no door on your ensuite and just a wall partition that you walk around into the bathroom? My SIL has one, I'm not sure about that though!

Generally though, thinking ensuites are 'vile' is definitely a MN thing. In the real world they are pretty standard now.

wonkylegs · 17/01/2022 08:18

We have two bathrooms both accessible to everyone - one with a bath and shower, designated and decorated as the 'kids & guests' bathroom and the other with a big fancy shower which is designated and decorated as 'ours'
In reality if we have lots of guests both get used by everybody which is great for flexibility.
I hate ensuites as I am very noise sensitive at night so anyone getting up for a wee in one wakes me up as does drips, fans, flushes etc - the bathrooms are more separate so less of an issue.

cptartapp · 17/01/2022 08:27

A.
We use our en suite all the time and the teens use the main bathroom.
MIL fell stumbling about the landing half asleep to the toilet. As an older person I can imagine an en suite would be invaluable. It certainly is with having teens.

Forgetaboutme · 17/01/2022 08:44

For people saying ensuites are noisy. You should hear the noise my husband makes getting out of bed and feeling his way across the hallway to use our main bathroom. Risking waking up not only me but our kids too. I would much rather he use the ensuite but he doesnt because he has hangups about being heard peeing through the ensuite door.

Maybe my house is smaller than others here but I don't see how using the main bathroom is much quieter.

Blackmagicqueen · 17/01/2022 08:49

'who wants a loo in your bedroom??'

But it's not in your bedroom, it's in a whole separate room.

Mollysocks · 17/01/2022 08:59

@SuPerDoPer

I wouldn't choose an ensuite. I've recently moved into a house that was built in the 80s when having an ensuite was considered pretty posh. The reality is that you have a toilet in your bedroom. I would go for two family bathrooms any day. I also think that probably one bath is sufficient for most families, most adults and older DC prefer a shower.
How do you have a toilet in your bedroom? There’s a door! There’s walls! By that logic most people have a toilet in their hallway/on their landing 🤣
RitaFires · 17/01/2022 09:40

I think the expectation is that a modern home has an ensuite off the master bedroom. I would put a bath with shower over in the family bathroom and a nice big shower in the ensuite. An ensuite works best when there's adequate space for it, it can make the room seem cramped otherwise.

With your layout of 2 bathrooms on the same floor fairly near to each other an ensuite seems like a good idea, is there a way to make the door to the ensuite feel like it's part of a walk through wardrobe area? That could add a feeling of luxury if there's adequate space to do it right.

SuPerDoPer · 17/01/2022 09:44

How do you have a toilet in your bedroom? There’s a door! There’s walls! By that logic most people have a toilet in their hallway/on their landing 🤣

I think the thread has moved on somewhat but yes, it is like having a toilet on the landing. I don't sleep on the landing with my face 2m from the toilet door though so the comparison isn't really a good one.

ABCDEF1234 · 17/01/2022 09:47

A

BonnesVacances · 17/01/2022 09:50

@SuPerDoPer

I wouldn't choose an ensuite. I've recently moved into a house that was built in the 80s when having an ensuite was considered pretty posh. The reality is that you have a toilet in your bedroom. I would go for two family bathrooms any day. I also think that probably one bath is sufficient for most families, most adults and older DC prefer a shower.
I agree with this. I'm not sure why an en-suite is so desirable. It can only realistically be used by the occupants of bedroom 1, while everyone else shares the main bathroom.
MarshaBradyo · 17/01/2022 09:52

My preference is

Bath in one

Shower only in the one that could act as an en-suite but I wouldn’t move the door. Better to have the separation of two doors

mindutopia · 17/01/2022 09:56

I would do A or C depending on your preference. I don't personally like ensuites, unless in a guest room, which I think is more comfortable for guests. I think a bath in the family bathroom is the most ideal, so that kids can bathe and not have to be in your bedroom splashing about. I'd be perfectly happy with two family bathrooms upstairs though.

Blackmagicqueen · 17/01/2022 10:03

"How do you have a toilet in your bedroom? There’s a door! There’s walls! By that logic most people have a toilet in their hallway/on their landing 🤣"

"I think the thread has moved on somewhat but yes, it is like having a toilet on the landing. I don't sleep on the landing with my face 2m from the toilet door though so the comparison isn't really a good one."

That being said I used to live in a house where the landing toilet was directly across the hall from the bedroom. It was infact closer than the ensuite that was right across the large bedroom further away! It really depends on the house! I think unless the toilet is literally feet from your face which I'm yet to see anywhere than it shouldn't be an issue!

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/01/2022 10:10

2 family bathrooms for me.
We have a family bathroom ( soon to be updated with over bath shower) and a second bathroom . The second bathroom is in an extension . It was planned by the architect as an en suite but moving the door has meant a lot more flexibility particularly when we had 3 teenagers in the house.It has a shower over the bath and is bright and spacious.
We have now squeezed a stand alone shower into our downstairs loo which DH and I use.I'm not sure why that is the case so am not sure re separate shower or not for you.I am not a fan of en suites though.

Original poster
QuentininQuarantino · 17/01/2022 10:10

We have a guest room which has a sink in it. But weird but it was already there so we thought, why remove it! It’s handy for private make up removal and teeth brushing, but they do need to use the family bathroom for everything else (I hope they do…)

OP posts:
Crumbs22 · 17/01/2022 10:12

I think if you have the space/choice, I would go for 2 family bathrooms especially with DC under 10. I love my ensuite which is a good size and our bedroom is fairly large so that helps to make it work well.

Mollysocks · 17/01/2022 11:18

@SuPerDoPer

How do you have a toilet in your bedroom? There’s a door! There’s walls! By that logic most people have a toilet in their hallway/on their landing 🤣

I think the thread has moved on somewhat but yes, it is like having a toilet on the landing. I don't sleep on the landing with my face 2m from the toilet door though so the comparison isn't really a good one.

Nor do I 🤣 we are more than 2 metres from the toilet door. Not that it matters. Our spare bedroom is shock right next to the main bathroom with just a wall to separate, so our guests have their face right next to the toilet ShockShockShock 🤣
Oruguita · 17/01/2022 11:36

I'm not sure why an en-suite is so desirable. It can only realistically be used by the occupants of bedroom 1, while everyone else shares the main bathroom.

That’s what makes it desirable! I like not sharing my bathroom Grin

Alwayswonderedwhy · 17/01/2022 11:39

Definitely two family bathrooms, I'm always put off houses with ensuites. One with a bath and one with a large shower.

Zonder · 17/01/2022 12:34

I'm not sure why an en-suite is so desirable. It can only realistically be used by the occupants of bedroom 1, while everyone else shares the main bathroom.

Exactly! That's precisely why it's so desirable.

MarshaBradyo · 17/01/2022 12:36

We still have our own bathroom as on a different floor but I prefer not en-suite

Africa2go · 17/01/2022 12:53

I'm not sure why an en-suite is so desirable. It can only realistically be used by the occupants of bedroom 1, while everyone else shares the main bathroom.

You clearly don't have sporty teenage boys Grin.

Grasping · 17/01/2022 13:10

Are people really that bothered about having to sleep 2m from a toilet Grin

Mollysocks · 17/01/2022 13:12

@Grasping

Are people really that bothered about having to sleep 2m from a toilet Grin
I know most bathrooms are just a wall or a door away from another room unless people have a whole separate floor for their toilets 🤣. Help me understand 😂😂😂
ComtesseDeSpair · 17/01/2022 13:19

@Grasping

Are people really that bothered about having to sleep 2m from a toilet Grin
Given the choice, I’d prefer not to. I wouldn’t want a toilet directly off my living room or dining room, either. I don’t like being seated close to the toilets in a restaurant or cafe.

Others are perfectly entitled to like all of those things. This thread shows opinion is pretty equally divided between those who like en-suites and those who would prefer an xtra family bathroom - and high is great, it shows the OP that whichever option they choose for themselves isn’t going to be a total dealbreaker for every future buyer.