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Original poster

Sacrificing main bathroom for more en-suite space?

76 replies

PeggyPoggle · 23/07/2023 19:36

We live in a fairly large 4 bed house. Our master bedroom has a tiny en-suite. We'd like it to have two sinks and a larger walk-in shower. At the other side of the en-suite is the main bathroom.
If we made the main bathroom smaller, by essentially moving the wall about 60cm over, we could still fit in a bath, sink and toilet. It would be a little cramped but it would be fine for guests/older kids to use while giving ourselves a larger, more luxurious en-suite!

Would this put off potential buyers do you think? Having a medium size en-suite and medium/small main bathroom compared to a tiny en-suite and large main bathroom?

Thanks.

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters · 23/07/2023 19:51

Nope do it if it suits you.

25sheets · 23/07/2023 20:58

Having 2 sinks in a bathroom would put me off. I've had it when we've rented and it's such a waste of space (and a bit wankerish IMO).

You might be talking to the wrong person through as I don't like en-suites.

Incognito2023 · 23/07/2023 21:06

I think 2 sinks in any bathroom (en suite or family) is excessive. But I would enjoy a large walk-in shower

The main thing to me would be is the family bathroom large enough to deal with a couple of toddlers? Eg/ one in bath, one wrapped in a towel being dried, or maybe having new nappy/ sleep suit being put on…?

SophiaElise · 23/07/2023 21:09

I don't like en suites so yes that would put me off.

Trees6 · 23/07/2023 21:14

I’m put off when en-suites take up too much room. I’ve seen 3-bed semis advertised with en-suites but where the third bedroom is a paltry 6’ x 6’. I’d rather have no en-suite and a better third bedroom. In your scenario, I’d rather have a small en-suite and a larger main bathroom. But I’m another one who dislikes them - in your position I’d rather get rid and have a big wardrobe! So I’m not the best one to comment either !

whereeverilaymycat · 23/07/2023 21:46

Do they both get to keep a window? I've seen a few houses that steal from the main bathroom and the main bathroom ends up with no window at all. That's what would put me off, but it's all very personal. As long as both spaces do what you need them to, I think you should please yourself.

Vikingmama79 · 23/07/2023 22:01

Firm believer in doing what suits you now instead of worrying about a stranger may or may not prefer some point in the future. We’ve given up a bedroom for a dressing room which on paper devalues the house I’m sure but certainly better use of the space for us. Our main bathroom is only small (and shock horror windowless) but we’ve made the most of it and it is a lovely space, as long as it fits the essentials in and is designed well sure stealing a bit of space for your en suite won’t matter.

Toffeebythesea · 23/07/2023 22:28

We had the option of adding an en-suite when we extended but choose a bigger family bathroom instead. I'm not keen on en-suites so wouldn't suit me at all

choppolata · 23/07/2023 22:35

I have two sinks in my ensuite (house came with two) and to be honest it's a pain. Twice the cleaning, as dp never keeps his tidy.

calmcoco · 23/07/2023 22:38

Yes it'd put me off, I'd prefer a bigger main bathroom and smaller en suite.

TizerorFizz · 23/07/2023 23:16

@PeggyPoggle We don’t have a huge main bathroom in quite a large house. We have a freestanding bath, mid size sink and loo. It’s a relaxing space and looks great.

We have three ensuites. One has two sinks. However the counter they stand on is the whole width available. So this is streamlined and looks great. Cleaning? Takes no time at all! I would not go for two completely separate sinks with pedestals. Counter top mounted, wall mounted or fitted to a storage unit works best. In another en suite we have a long single sink. This is great too. It’s a Duravit and around 1m long (or 1200) with two taps. Mounted on one of their storage units with two drawers and a towel shelf.

That's in a big ensuite with bath and walk in shower. However it also has two cupboards for storage. If you are short of space, think about a smaller sink and add a cupboard. Makes a huge difference to storing smaller towels, toiletries, loo rolls etc: few bathrooms have them.

So on balance, the en suite should be bigger and I probably would reduce the main bathroom but definitely include storage and think about whether a big sink (or 2) is really the best use of space.

BreadInCaptivity · 23/07/2023 23:40

I think it would put some families off in the future who plan to use the main bathroom more frequently than you plan to.

That said how long do you intend to stay in the house.

If it for the next 10/15 years I do what you want as by that time the bathrooms will be ready for a refurb anyway....

Original poster
PeggyPoggle · 23/07/2023 23:45

Thanks for all your thoughts.

It's not our forever home, but it could be if the money we spend on it drastically improves it.

I personally love en-suites. If I was looking for a house I'd definitely want one, the bigger the better. Interestingly how a few on here say they don't. Have they gone out of fashion?

The main bathroom would be 1.7m by 2m once reduced, something like that.

The problem is we hardly use our main bathroom. Just seems daft to have such a large bathroom which is barely used and cram ourselves into the en-suite every night. We like our en suite because it's close!

OP posts:
Original poster
PeggyPoggle · 23/07/2023 23:49

@TizerorFizz Excellent suggestions thank you.
A long sink with two taps is a really good idea.
We're definitely going for vanity units with built in sinks.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 23/07/2023 23:54

1.7 is very small for a bath. If it’s going on that wall. I would try and go for 1.9. You are quite tight on the 2m dimension but it’s just about ok with a 700mm wide bath.

If there’s space, en suites are wonderful! Are you sure you cannot take 600mm from your bedroom?

Original poster
PeggyPoggle · 24/07/2023 00:16

TizerorFizz · 23/07/2023 23:54

1.7 is very small for a bath. If it’s going on that wall. I would try and go for 1.9. You are quite tight on the 2m dimension but it’s just about ok with a 700mm wide bath.

If there’s space, en suites are wonderful! Are you sure you cannot take 600mm from your bedroom?

A standard bath is around 1.7m long isn't it?

Could take a little from the bedroom but it wouldn't add much.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 24/07/2023 00:17

Mine are 1800. I think some might be smaller!

Original poster
PeggyPoggle · 24/07/2023 00:21

I can put it down the 2m wall but would mean toilet and sink bit squashed in. It's fine though.
I guess my biggest concern is families with 2-3 kids where the kids would be sharing the main bathroom.
We are planning on converting one of the bedrooms to a dressing room potentially, which means it's not an attractive house for families with 3+ kids anyway.

We have an only child so it'd be her bathroom solely. It's big enough for 1.

OP posts:
QueenCamilla · 24/07/2023 00:50

No ensuite love from me either.
I lived at 5 bed, 5 bath. The ensuites were effin up the use of space everywhere. All that expense to end up with a home that feels like 1980s B&B at worst or a hotel at best.

I can see the benefits of a guest room with a bathroom but wouldn't want one in my bedroom.

But I'm just not the audience then. plenty of other people I'm sure will love/ won't mind a large ensuite.

TizerorFizz · 24/07/2023 08:26

@PeggyPoggle I think it would be slightly wierd to have a big dressing room but small bathrooms. Make sure you can access the dressing room from the main bedroom. If you are doing this, I don’t think it affects resale. Buyers can remove the storage.

Ginmonkeyagain · 24/07/2023 08:32

Outside of hotels I also dislike ensuites. I think they always make bedrooms smell a bit odd. Better to have two larger separate bathrooms

Also what two sinks? Are you planning for regular simultaneous sink usage?

Original poster
PeggyPoggle · 24/07/2023 08:37

@TizerorFizz food for thought. I suppose part of me thinks if the setup would really suit us, it'll probably suit someone else.
Probably why there's so many weird house setups on right move 😂.

@Ginmonkeyagain I massively disagree about the comments about en-suites. I'm not getting rid of it put it that way!
Yes my DH and I often want to brush our teeth at the same time so two sinks would be great!

OP posts:
Sally543 · 24/07/2023 08:51

We have a big 4 bed with a tiny bathroom without a bath and no en-suite . There just wasn’t space for a bigger bathroom or en-suite without loosing a bedroom. ( we do have a second loo downstairs) Although this will put some people of it will work for others like it works for us . Unless you’re planning on moving in the next couple of years I’d make the house work for you and enjoy leaving there. I really miss my big bathroom and en-suite but every house has a compromise and I don’t miss it enough to give up a guest bedroom.

fgfhds · 24/07/2023 08:52

Interestingly how a few on here say they don't. Have they gone out of fashion?

It's a MN reverse snobbery thing, think they're still popular in the majority, and new and modernised homes are still very much opting to build them (and the fact they spend money doing so shows they're obviously the preference still).

I wouldn't lose space from the main bathroom for the sake of 2 sinks in the en-suite tbh, I'd rather build a good sized vanity, I would do it to have a bath in my en-suite though, I'd love my own shut away bath!

whereeverilaymycat · 24/07/2023 09:00

Everyone I know likes an en suite and if I ever do the loft I'll delightedly add an en suite up there!

It is so personal so you really do need to please yourself. If you were suggesting removing the roof so the upstairs could satisfy your need to sleep under the stars, you'd rightly be told it would hinder selling! But you're not actually being that radical really. As a poster up thread shows, my dislike of no windows hasn't bothered them at all. Unless it's an extreme change that's difficult to undo, I'd live how you want to.