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

[QuentininQuarantino]

Our lovely first home has two bathrooms (bathtubs) which are extremely outdated.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.

We have a shower and a bath in the family bathroom and a shower in the ensuite. The bath gets used occasionally. Usually when dd or ds have been playing sport/dancing and ache.

As kids get older they tend to prefer showers I find.

We have a shower room with large walk-in shower. And a bathroom to chill and relax. We also have a downstairs shower in the utility for apres sport or emergency. It works for us.

In last renovation (large 4 bed) we chose one family bathroom & 2 large double sized rainfall shower in ensuites instead of bath there. Loved it & doing exactly the same again in new renovation which will be one family bathroom, master ensuite with large rainfall shower (taking out the bath) & a downstairs wet room. We have one DS aged 3.5 & a baby on the way, def don't lose anything by taking out a second bath I think it's more modern

We have a very large family bathroom. It has a bath and a separate shower.
Then we also have a tiny en-suite. This has a shower.
Both showers are on a pump so powerful.

The bedroom with en-suite is actually used as a guest room/office. Therefore most of time that shower is not used.

This works well for us as a small household of 3 at the moment. The big family bathroom is fine for the 3 of us. We don’t experience queues and if we did someone can nip to the en-suite. Plus, when guests stay they get their own bathroom and don’t have to use ours.

If we were a larger family of 4+ the en-suite would probably be in use and we’d be in that room.
Guests would then end up using the family bathroom with the children. That would be fine as occasional use.

En-suites work well for those who like the privacy, aren’t bothered about loo in bedroom thing, and also for smaller households, where ther aren’t too many others to use the family bathroom, esp if there are just 2 loos in the house.
2 separate bathrooms (neither en-suite) become better the larger the household.

I agree that most people these days are looking for 2 Bath/shower rooms in a 3 bed plus and certainly in a 4 bed+. If this can’t be had, 2 loos are expected by most these days and even smaller houses have often crammed an extra one in. En-suite can often be crammed in more easily, and often it’s a needs-must for space.

New builds with 2 shower/bathrooms always have one that is en-suite. This is probably partly due to space issues but also a reflection of demand, it is what most people want. New builds always have a downstairs loo too, so visitors can use that and family bathroom/en-suite not accessed by visitors unless over-nighters. I know lots have a horror of visitors in their bathroom.

Don’t forget the vast amount of 3 bed older housing stock with just 1 loo/bathroom which can’t have an extra loo or bathroom. Families continue to manage fine, but where it’s possible, people squeeze at least a loo in. Expectations rise over time.

Where there’s an en-suite, it’s good if the family bathroom has a bath and separate shower. I know lots aren’t big enough for this. But, most people showering prefer not to use a shower in the bath. Given an en-suite is for private use, the rest of family use the family bathroom and if there’s a walk in shower, that makes the main bathroom more attractive. It certainly stops anyone trying to use the en-suite, which is a bit annoying.

This also requires all showers to be decent…no weeedy ones, becaue if there is a crap one, no-one will use it and instead head to the good one, wasting the other bathroom.

I love having an ensuite and would definitely want one if we moved. Having a bath in the ensuite and a shower in the family bathroom was fine when the DC were small but is not good now they are older.

Vast majority of en suites I know have shower in en-suite and bath with shower over (or separate) in family bathroom. Principally because little kids have baths, grown ups tend to have showers, and the en suite might be more restricted in terms of space. Definitely 90% of the terraced houses around here have the master in the converted loft with shower en suite.
I do have a friend who did the reverse, and even though her kids are now mid teens to early 20s, has put a bath back in the family bathroom.

@onedayoranother

Vast majority of en suites I know have shower in en-suite and bath with shower over (or separate) in family bathroom. Principally because little kids have baths, grown ups tend to have showers, and the en suite might be more restricted in terms of space. Definitely 90% of the terraced houses around here have the master in the converted loft with shower en suite. I do have a friend who did the reverse, and even though her kids are now mid teens to early 20s, has put a bath back in the family bathroom.

We only have a bath in our en-suite. It’s bigger than the family bathroom and our DCs rarely have baths so appreciate the bigger walk-in shower. If they want a bath we’re happy for them to use our en-suite. DD does this sometimes on a Sunday evening, it’s a treat for her - scented candles etc.

When I moved into my house it had two showers as the elderly couple before me had removed the bath as it was easier for them. The estate agent told me that if it was him, he would put a bath back in as the house is in catchment for an excellent school and families tend to prefer baths. Therefore I have an en suite with a walk in shower and a bathroom with bath and shower over it.

Had a drencher head shower in an old house and HATED it! If I didn't want to wash my hair it was a nightmare and always dripped cold water when it wasn't on. My husband and sons loved it though.

From experience I'd say family bathroom with bath and over bath shower, or separate shower if you have space (really useful if you have guests staying over/kids who like a shower) and en suite shower room (you can always use the bath in the main bathroom). Alternatively two bathrooms, both with shower facilities. If you go for an ensuite don't put facilities in there that aren't available in the main bathroom or it'll be invaded by kids and guests

I'd prefer two family bathrooms rather than an ensuite. That way when one child is in the bath they don't traipse through your bedroom. I think children tend to switch from baths to showers at some point so I wouldn't have just a bath in the only family bathroom if you do go down the ensuite route.

The other things which means the answer often differs, is how many floors the house has.

Many new builds and also Victorian houses have a loft conversion which comprises of 1 bedroom and a bathroom. When there is just the one room up there, an en-suite works well. Typically the other family members won’t use it if their bedroom is on the floor below. Victorian houses which have a loft conversion usually do t have space for another bathroom on the first floor. Only larger properties have space for that, and when all the bedrooms are in the same floor, there is a stringer case for an extra family bathroom, as it’s location makes it easier for all to access.

New builds tend to have small footprints. Many are town houses an no individual floor is very big. There will often be a ground floor loo, a family bathroom on middle floor and an en-suite for the top bedroom. Talking about instead having 2 family bathrooms is meaningless in this situation.

Houses which have 2 family bathrooms tend to be bigger properties. They’ tend o be detached which gives them a bigger footprint and they are more likely to have all bedrooms on one floor. Those that can extend into the loft and make 2 decent sized bedrooms, also tend to be bigger houses. In this case, 2 loft bedrooms may well suit a bathroom which both bedrooms can use rather than an en-suite.

So, my point is, that house design, layout and number of floors often determines what is possible and what makes sense, rather than just personal preference for or against en-suite and for or against baths/showers etc.

@womaninatightspot

I'd prefer two family bathrooms rather than an ensuite. That way when one child is in the bath they don't traipse through your bedroom. I think children tend to switch from baths to showers at some point so I wouldn't have just a bath in the only family bathroom if you do go down the ensuite route.

No-one has ever traipsed through my bedroom if the bath was in use. People wait for the bathroom, just like they do in houses that only have one bathroom.

I remember moving into our first house with an en suite to our bed room and it was wonderful (there was still a famliy bathroom with shower over it the children could use). So I would probably go for en suite with shower for the parents and keep the other family bathroom and have a bath.

Where we now live our family bathroom has a bath AND a separate shower as it is large enough for that (as does my en suite actually too).

We have b but I would choose c if given the choice .

The reality is that you have a toilet in your bedroom.

What nonsense. Our en suite toilet is in the en suite bathroom, with a door between the bathroom and the bedroom. It also has an extractor fan and a window that opens. Quite frankly, I don’t understand the mumsnet angst about en suite bathrooms. How do people who hate en suites cope when staying in a hotel?

Our last house had two bathrooms, one being right next to our bedroom. It wasn’t en suite, but it might well have been.

We have a no poo in the ensuite rule

Pretty sensible IMO.

@Voice0fReason

My children are clearly impatient. I've been known to send one across the yard to use the bothy loo when others are lounging in the baths.

In my main bathroom I have a bath and walk in shower. In the en-suite just a shower (and loo and sink). Though actually I only really use the bath.

@WombatChocolate

The other things which means the answer often differs, is how many floors the house has.

Many new builds and also Victorian houses have a loft conversion which comprises of 1 bedroom and a bathroom. When there is just the one room up there, an en-suite works well. Typically the other family members won’t use it if their bedroom is on the floor below. Victorian houses which have a loft conversion usually do t have space for another bathroom on the first floor. Only larger properties have space for that, and when all the bedrooms are in the same floor, there is a stringer case for an extra family bathroom, as it’s location makes it easier for all to access.

New builds tend to have small footprints. Many are town houses an no individual floor is very big. There will often be a ground floor loo, a family bathroom on middle floor and an en-suite for the top bedroom. Talking about instead having 2 family bathrooms is meaningless in this situation.

Houses which have 2 family bathrooms tend to be bigger properties. They’ tend o be detached which gives them a bigger footprint and they are more likely to have all bedrooms on one floor. Those that can extend into the loft and make 2 decent sized bedrooms, also tend to be bigger houses. In this case, 2 loft bedrooms may well suit a bathroom which both bedrooms can use rather than an en-suite.

So, my point is, that house design, layout and number of floors often determines what is possible and what makes sense, rather than just personal preference for or against en-suite and for or against baths/showers etc.

Good points

As others have said. It all depends on house layout and ages of DCs.

Also, if you have visitors, I don’t want to be bumping into them on the landing in the middle of the night.

We don’t poo in the en-suite if the other is the bedroom, but it is useful to use at other times for extra privacy

We don’t poo in the en-suite if the other is the bedroom, but it is useful to use at other times for extra privacy

This is how our en suite is used as well. The en suite haters on here must all have partners who have a poo just before bed, and who never shut the door between the bathroom and bedroom.

I wouldn't have an en suite. I've got a family bathroom, en suite shower room and a separate toilet downstairs.

I changed the bath taps to those with a shower attachment and put shower wall panels above the tiles/a shower curtain up (hate the shower curtain but a glass bath panel wasn't an option). So I've now got two workable showers (there's me and a teen here).

The en suite is accessed through what's the spare room. I purposely didn't choose that room as my room because of the en suite.

Pre the shower installation above the bath no one could have a shower if someone was staying in the spare room.

I'm single but I wouldn't want to listen to my XH on the loo in the en suite while I was in bed either.

I have considered adding a door to the en suite from a hallway, this would give it two doors - one from the bedroom and one from the hallway, it would make it more useable.

DH and I are quite happy to have a wee in front of each other and it’s useful to exit the en-suite naked. I mean, we have sex so why not!

Actually, our best conversations are often had whilst one is showering, washing etc and the other also in there or in bed. He will pass me a warm towel. Thinking about it, I like the extra privacy away from the family and also the extra intimacy with DH.

I would always choose an en-suite. They are so much easier in the night and for getting ready to go out.

We went to bed early last night and DH read in bed whilst I lounged in the bath (door open). It’s nice to have that time together