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Original poster

Should I bother getting an ensuite or manage with one bathroom for four people?

98 replies

Soihaveagoat · 08/04/2022 17:39

We are in a nice three bed semi. We have two kids aged 14 and 6. The house has one bathroom with a bath, shower and toilet and a separate room with a toilet and sink only.

At the moment we have an informal bathroom rota on my work days. I go in first then husband then teen son. Six yr old doesn't shower on a morning just has a bath on a night a few times a week.

Our bedroom is large so we thought we could add an ensuite to it thinking that it will get tight for bathroom use when the youngest starts wanting a shower on a morning as well as the rest of us. Had a few quotes for a nice bathroom with obviously a stud wall built, fully tiled, black fittings for around £4500.

My husband says this is a waste of money. We already have two toilets and we will manage the shower situation. Eldest isn't planning to go to uni so we are not expecting him to move out at 18.

Does anyone have any experience of living as a family of four who all need showers on a morning? I grew up with three bathrooms between five of us so I've never had to think of this before.

OP posts:
Tdetfrgrgf · 08/04/2022 21:26

It absolutely blows my mind that this could be considered a problem. I grew up as part of a family of four with one bathroom, and none of my friends lived in a house with an en-suite. Only in my early 30s so fairly recently. It is perfectly manageable. You shower, brush your teeth etc., then leave the bathroom and finish getting dressed in your bedroom.

That said, if I had the choice, I'd always opt for an en-suite. But I don't think not having one would present any real difficulties.

Wilma55 · 08/04/2022 21:33

Black fittings?
I wouldn't turn separate loo into storage room.

InsufficientOven · 08/04/2022 21:35

When I was growing up(and I'm only 29- not 329!) we had one bathroom between 6 and managed fine🤷🏻‍♀️

Northernsoullover · 08/04/2022 21:38

I have an ensuite. We can't use two showers at the same time due to water pressure so make sure you account for that. Otherwise its a bit pointless.

DuesToTheDirt · 08/04/2022 21:40

We have this setup and don't have a problem, but we don't all have morning showers and we don't all get up at the same time.

Xmasbaby11 · 08/04/2022 21:45

I think it's worth getting an en suite as that sounds like good value and I love ours.

Kite22 · 08/04/2022 21:47

The existing toilet and sink room doesn't have room for a shower or that would have been an easier option. The quote includes removing that toilet and sink and installing shelves to make it a storage room also replacing the radiator in the big bathroom

Oh, hang on. This changes it.
I wouldn't lose a toilet that everyone can access, for one people would have to go through my bedroom to use.
No way.

Is it possible to make the 2nd bathroom accessible from the landing, rather than the bedroom?

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2022 21:50

two WCs are vital for a house that contains more than one person

And yet somehow thousands of people cope!

I have a teen DD and preteen DS and a DH. We only have one toilet and we are going to put in another as part of other work we are having done. An extra shower we don't need, but a toilet would be useful.

DH was one of 4 children, plus 2 adults and they had 3 showers. They only ever used one of them and MIL always said it was wasted space to have the two extras.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 08/04/2022 21:54

There are 5 of us in our house, 2 adults, 2 teens and a younger child. We gutted and renovated this house and put 3 towers and showers in. An ensuite with shower, family bathroom and then a shower and loo downstairs in the basement.

Bloody worth it. No queues, no having someone come have a poo when you are in the bath.

dumdumduuuummmmm · 08/04/2022 21:55

@InsufficientOven

When I was growing up(and I'm only 29- not 329!) we had one bathroom between 6 and managed fine🤷🏻‍♀️
We can all 'manage' will lots of unpleasant or less than par things. Why would anyone put up with so many people sharing if they could easily afford not to?
OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 08/04/2022 21:56

I should say, I think you get used to what you have. I love all our bathrooms but equally I grew up in a house with just one bathroom in a family of 4 and we managed just fine.

TikTokCat · 08/04/2022 21:58

My kids shower in the evenings and we shower in the mornings. They are night owls

Calandor · 08/04/2022 22:00

Get the en-suite. We're fine with one bathroom
For two of us, but when I'm hit by IBS pain and DP is in the loo... we'll. let's say that eating meals all at the same time leads to lots of painful clashes.

LizzieMacQueen · 08/04/2022 22:00

I think regardless of how many bathrooms you have, would you not need to restrict the use of showers; For instance, can two people shower at the same time without affecting each other?

B0J0ker · 08/04/2022 22:05

I think I'd be tempted, especially as you don't think the 18yr old will move out soon.

Once he brings a girl/boyfriend over to stay it'll be even worse than it is now, especially if the younger DC wants to shower too.

We were 1 adult and 2 DS with 1 bathroom and never really had an issue until they were older and their girlfriends came to stay. One memorable time I ended up having to pee in a bucket in my bedroom (I've never told anyone that before Blush)

Go for the en-suite, or see if the extra toilet/sink room can become a wet room. Either would add value to your house long term and make life loads easier.

FudgeFlake · 08/04/2022 22:06

The important thing is to have at least two different places where people can have a poo in privacy.

Kite22 · 08/04/2022 22:06

I am very surprised you can get all that work done for that price though, and I am usually someone who deducts at least 30% from prices for things that get quoted on MN,

BungleandGeorge · 08/04/2022 22:08

Many of us made do with one bathroom growing up but honestly it’s much more convenient to have more and it’s much more common now so people expect it. It will definitely add value to your house. Keep the downstairs loo too, much better that visitors don’t have to go upstairs to the loo. I personally probably wouldn’t buy a house without downstairs loo

B0J0ker · 08/04/2022 22:09

Sorry, just read the full thread - even if you have the en-suite I think I'd still keep the extra toilet! Makes more sense than having storage I think.

Original poster
Soihaveagoat · 08/04/2022 23:06

This house has literally no storage other than the cellar so that was the reason for the conversion of the extra toilet room into a storage room.

I grew up with an airing cupboard for towels, bedding etc and that's what we'd use it for. We have nowhere to keep the hoover or any out of season clothes. I don't see the point in keeping a third toilet in a three bedroom house. Guests can use the main bathroom
We don't have a downstairs bathroom and manage fine..
Those mentioning the price, we're in the North East. You'd be surprised how much cheaper it is to get work done here. My jaw drops at what people pay on here.

We're also getting a 3m by 2m porch with composite door, fully insulated with pitched roof for 3.5k.

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 09/04/2022 08:54

two WCs are vital for a house that contains more than one person.

You realise hundreds of thousands - possibly millions- of people in the UK live in flats or houses with only one toilet and manage just fine, myself included. I mean of course it's handy to have more than one loo but it's far from 'vital'.

It does sound a good idea in your case though OP, especially as you have the money specifically saved. Also get your need for storage over having 3 toilets.

pilates · 09/04/2022 09:01

Definitely add en-suite.

It will be a plus when you come to sell too.

RidingMyBike · 09/04/2022 09:13

It's relative, isn't it. My Mum grew up in a house that didn't even have an inside toilet until she was 16. Let alone a bathroom of any description! Loo was in a hut at the bottom of the garden and bath was a weekly tin tub in the kitchen.

She's now widowed and mid-70s, downsized into a bungalow with only one loo and hates this - it's fine when she's there on her own but struggles when she has guests. If she needs to go, she needs to go. She's also planning renovation work in the bathroom which will mean the loo being out of use for several days and one overnight. Bit of a problem then with only one.

WellTidy · 09/04/2022 09:18

We have one upstairs family bathroom and a downstairs loo between four of us. We don’t even shower at the same time (DC have baths in the evening, as do I generally but later than them, and DH has a shower in the morning) but it’s the all eating to use the bathroom sink in the morning at pretty much the same time that is a pain. I also long for a bathroom where I’m not looking at bath toys, matey bubbles etc when trying to relax Smile

We have a relatively large bedroom too and are looking to take some of it, and maybe some of the adjoining bedroom too, to make an en suite/jack and Jill bathroom. I’ve not got as far as getting quotes but I’m imagining in the region of £10k+.

I’d do it.

HorribleHerstory · 09/04/2022 09:23

Yes I grew up in a house of five with one bathroom. It didn’t have a shower. There was no separate loo just one for the house. We all got baths. There was never a problem I can remember.

Now living in a house of four with one shower and teens. Not encountered any issues here either. We do have a separate loo. I would not consider an en suite, I dislike them due to proximity and noises and smells and it’s just a no from me.