En-suite for the master or separate bathroom next door

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What do people this is best?

We currently have a bathroom next door to the master, which is just to be used by the master. Architect wants to knock through to make an en-suite, as thinks a master suite is better. But this involves a bit of structural work to two load bearing walls (and therefore £££). Would having the bathroom next door to the master and accessed by the main landing put you off?

If it helps we will also have a family bathroom and the guest room will have an en-suite

I'd personally prefer an en-suite, but MN hates en-suites despite them being highly rated by anyone I know in RL! I suppose it depends a) what you personally prefer b) if you're worried about value, maybe speak to an estate agent to check it's worth the cost.

I love our en suite. Layout of the house meant we didn’t have a choice (bathroom wouldn’t be accessible from the landing) but I would have chosen it anyway.

I often need a wee in the middle of the night (as I imagine do many people especially as they get older!) and it’s easier and I need to wake up less just having to go to the ensuite.

I also really like it when we have guests staying or kids have friends over as I can shower etc without worrying about bumping into them on the landing.

The issues mentioned above have never bothered me. The ensuite has a door, I don’t need to look at or smell DH on the loo.

However - at the end of the day it’s about what works for you. As you can tell opinions are split so choose what you prefer.

Love our en-suite.
I use it as my personal bathroom while OH uses the family bathroom on the other side of the house (just the two of us). The reason we started doing it that was was that OH would get up before me and likes to listen to radio while shaving, showering etc.
With regards to smells and condensation coming into the bathroom, it just doesn't happen. There is a window but we have always made sure we use the extractor fans and so it isn't an issue (and before anyone mentions noisy fans that isn't an issue either as they are (practically) silent.

I love the idea of having 2 bathrooms, but think en-suites are awful, small rooms with no room to move. I'd much prefer a large separate bathroom and if I was going to have an en-suite it would be off a smaller room (not the master)

I hate en-suites so have got two accessible bathrooms upstairs instead. We've just had a loft conversion done and were advised to put in an en-suite up there for resale purposes so we have done that. Have given that room to DD2 though as I really don't want a toilet so close to my bed.

Depends on size. I would not buy a house without an en suite to the master, but I would expect a walk in robe as well as that is what I am used to. Our en suite has a separate bath and shower and is twice the size of our last family bathroom when we lived in the UK, if the house is small then it is different.

You have to make yourself happy with this decision, there won't be a clear winner. I loathe en suits. The only context in which i think I'd actively like to have one is if i was single in a household with others.

I’m not an en-suite fan. We have one, but I considered structural changes to make two family bathrooms. In the end it wasn’t worth it but given the choice I’d rather have multiple bathrooms with flexible access. Can always give one to guests anyway for the duration of their stay

I personally dislike ensuites but they add a lot of value to your home from a resale point of view.

I agree and would never want an en-suite. Let alone spend a fortune creating one.

I have to say, I can’t think of anyone know with house that has an en suite, off the top of my head. They surely can’t be that common that they are generally expected.

@daisypond suppose it depends on the age of the property, I live in an area where a large proportion of the housing stock is 10/15 years and under, it's pretty standard to have en-suite in all 3 beds. Even 2 beds it's pretty common.

Oh, I see, yes. Everyone I know is in pre-war, post-war or Victorian/Edwardian housing -terraced, semis, the occasional detached. I grew up in a detached four-bed new-build Barrett house on a modern estate, and that still only had one bathroom and no en-suite - and that was the biggest style of house on the development.

@daisypond you'd probably have at least 2 en-suites in a Barratt large 4 bed these days!

I love our en suite. I personally would not spend significant amounts of money on a house without one.

Even if it’s not typical for houses to have one? I mean, would you sacrifice a bedroom to put one in? Or move out of your desired area to find a more modern house that has one? Or be prepared to do a loft extension where you can add an en suite? It depends what you mean by a “significant amount”, I suppose. Would you also want a downstairs loo?

@daisypond I'm of the same opinion as the PP and it's why we have only ever bought modern houses (not just because of the modern layout with multiple bathrooms/toilets, but it's one of the biggest reasons).

(And have never struggled with this criteria!)

Definite NO to en-suite. They always seem tiny and squashed. I’d much rather use a lovely sized family bathroom.

Sperate bathroom every time.
I would be put off buying a house with an en suite.

I'm assuming the size of the bathroom isn't in question here? It'll be the same size it's just a question of whether to access via the bedroom or hallway?

Out of curiosity, I’ve googled new builds near me, and they do have en suites, but they are all flats. A three-bed flat is over a million… I would still rather have a house without an en suite than a flat with an en suite and no garden. Would an en-suite lover not make that choice, and would choose the flat?

@daisypond I suppose I have always lived in post 1990s houses where en suites were as standard but if a larger period house has undergone significant renovation and/or extension to bring it up to date and command a higher price, 9 times out of 10 I'm seeing en suites in there on Rightmove. I think it is desirable for many.

This is an idea that I have just thought of with our house due to the rising building costs making previous plans infeasible currently.
Red bit is to be removed (airing cupboard and useless built in wardrobe)
Thin blue line is a pocket door which will be kept open all the time, unless we have a house full and need the two bathrooms, then it will be the bedroom door.
The green line is the main bedroom door unless the pocket door scenario mentioned above.

We want to put in a shower room in the front main bedroom, and have seen the plans of a house in our road which has done this, it's just the small bedroom that's left that's causing me doubts.

@daisypond it's just not a choice I'd need to make, I'm assuming you live in the SE with that kind of choice? But yes we absolutely do avoid the SE due to not being to afford what we want to live in, and I work in the SE. Detached house, double garage, double driveway, 2 reception rooms plus office and a minimum of 3 toilets were our minimum criteria, we chose to move to where we could afford this rather than compromise on the house.