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Original poster

Two bathrooms

22 replies

IzzyU · 19/09/2022 23:56

I've recently bought a 3 bed semi. There is no cloakroom downstairs, upstairs there is one bathroom that has toilet, sink and shower, and another that has toilet, sink and bath.

Would you put a cloakroom downstairs and try and merge the two bathrooms (they're next to each other), or leave it as it is?

OP posts:
Original poster
IzzyU · 19/09/2022 23:57

I should have added that the whole house needs modernising slightly, it was previously owned by an elderly lady.

OP posts:
Kite22 · 20/09/2022 00:20

Why would you merge the 2 bathrooms ?
Surely having the ability for one person to be able to have a shower or use the toilet whilst another is in the bath is a good thing in any house design?

If it were feasible, I would ALWAYS put a downstairs toilet in.

Ponderingwindow · 20/09/2022 00:24

Think about what life will be like if everyone in the household has several days of food poisoning or norovirus. Btdt. Don’t put yourself through that someday.

alphons · 20/09/2022 00:26

Leave it as is. Don’t put a downstairs cloakroom in either. Not necessary having three toilets and three sinks in a 3 bed semi.

Original poster
IzzyU · 20/09/2022 00:34

I meant make the two bathrooms upstairs in to one, and then put a cloakroom downstairs, so there'd be 2 toilets in the house in total.

OP posts:
Felicity42 · 20/09/2022 00:34

Depends if you have kids or how many in your household? I'd definitely put a cloakroom in downstairs. Adds to value of house and if you have toddlers or elderly person then it's a godsend.
Re upstairs again it depends how many are in your household.

Original poster
IzzyU · 20/09/2022 00:35

@Felicity42 Me and 2 children.

OP posts:
EasilyAmused · 20/09/2022 00:47

A large family bathroom upstairs and a WC downstairs is ideal so I think it's a good idea (and as a PP says, it adds value to your house which is a bonus).

DramaAlpaca · 20/09/2022 01:51

I'd leave the two upstairs bathrooms as is, but definitely try to squeeze in a downstairs cloakroom.

Twiglets1 · 20/09/2022 06:13

Depends if the 2 bathrooms are small and located right next to one another? If so you could consider knocking them into one much bigger room, as long as there is space downstairs for a loo and sink.

Oojamaflipp · 20/09/2022 06:21

I would always have a downstairs loo, not least because it saves traipsing upstairs to go to the toilet (and also because I don't feel I have to tidy my upstairs everytime.we have guests, but that's because I am lazy!).

Merging the 2 bathrooms - how big are they currently and would you keep a shower and a bath if you merged them? Personally, if they're a good enough size, I'd be inclined to keep the 2, them you have options for getting ready in the morning when every needs to go through the bathroom at the same time.

DashboardConfessional · 20/09/2022 08:06

I'm assuming the one with the shower is an en-suite? In which case no, don't bash the wall in! I know Mumsnet is weird about them but most people looking for a family home would value one.

Original poster
IzzyU · 20/09/2022 11:21

No the one with the shower is not an en-suite! The one with the bath is a reasonable size, the one with the shower is a bit smaller.

OP posts:
Original poster
IzzyU · 20/09/2022 12:55

@Twiglets1 Yes they are right next to each other!

OP posts:
Kite22 · 20/09/2022 20:22

Even better if not en-suite. It means anyone, from any bedroom can use either, without traipsing through the bedroom.
I mean, as a rule I wouldn't expect a 3 bed house to have 2 bathrooms, but as they are there, I would think "great, what a bonus" and definitely wouldn't be getting rid of them unless you desperately needed a 4th bedroom and that was the only way.

Original poster
IzzyU · 20/09/2022 21:29

@Kite22 So you'd keep the 2 bathrooms and not put a cloakroom in downstairs?

OP posts:
Kite22 · 20/09/2022 21:47

Well, without knowing the layout of the house / the space available / what your budget is it is difficult to say, but, as I said at the top of the thread, a downstairs toilet is so useful for so many reasons on so many different occasions.
I personally wouldn't consider buying a house now unless there was one, or it was easy and within budget to put one in.
So, if the world were perfect, yes, I would have one downstairs and keep both bathrooms. Obviously not many of us live with that sort of budget, and, having 2 bathrooms might mean you would want to use the money you might use for a downstairs toilet for something else. I have no idea what else you have on your wish list for your house.

cocktailclub · 21/09/2022 05:29

I would always keep two bathrooms if possible. Teenagers spend lots of time in the bathroom and if they are with you as young adults you could all be getting ready for work at the same time.

yikesanotherbooboo · 21/09/2022 05:37

I wouldn't merge upstairs bathrooms unless one or other isn't fit for purpose.It is handy but not essential to have two .I would add downstairs loo if it is not prohibitively expensive. It is really convenient for elderly , disabled or very young visitors.I don't think that the two decisions need to be linked.

Frosty1000 · 21/09/2022 09:30

I'd definitely add a downstairs loo for visitors to save them traipsing upstairs. I'd even consider changing one of the bathrooms into an ensuite if it's next to main bedroom as that'll add value and be lovely. Definitely don't go down to one big bathroom upstairs with downstairs loo.

MarianneVos · 21/09/2022 18:38

I would put in a downstairs toilet, leave the bathrooms upstairs as they are apart from adding a shower over the bath in the one with just a bath.

MarianneVos · 21/09/2022 18:39

I would put in a downstairs toilet, leave the bathrooms upstairs as they are apart from adding a shower over the bath in the one with just a bath.

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