Good idea or am I bonkers??

[Ilovemyshoppingtrolley]

I live in a 3 storey house

• ground floor - almost open planned living room/kitchen/diner, downstairs toilet.

• 1st floor - main bedroom with ensuite just inside the bedroom door (toilet, sink and a bath under the stairs), 2nd bedroom and family bathroom (toilet, sink, bath and shower)

• 3rd floor is an attic conversion which is a bedroom with cupboards

To the point, I would love a utility room, I am fed up with clothes airers either in my living room or kitchen. I am just about to give my ensuite a bit of a makeover (new toilet and sink with cupboards) when I suddenly thought about getting rid of the bath and putting my washing machine there instead, there would be enough room for at least 1 airer, although there is no window there is an extractor fan. I'm now thinking do I really need 2 baths and a shower?? Has anyone done anything like this before, I would need to get a plug socket fitted. I do have a garden so in the summer it doesn't bother me as I hang everything outside. I have measured the height of the machine and it would fit under the lowest part of under the stairs. I would keep the toilet and sink.

Any thoughts?

You would definitely need to check whether it would be allowed within electrical regulations for bathrooms, especially if you wanted a shower in there. I would.also look into whether you are potentially reducing the value of your home by dropping a full bathroom in favour of a part one.

It won't have a shower in there, just a toilet and sink with a washing machine where the bath once was.

Any scope to put an en suite in the attic and / or extend to the rear to create space for a utility room?

Instinctively I don't like the idea of a room that is a combination of a bathroom and a utility room. But it's a personal choice. With a 3 bedroom house, you don't necessarily need a 2nd bathroom, so you could just have it as a utility room, but against that, it feels odd to have the washing machine on the 1st floor.

Oh yes, I'd do it. I once had a house with an upstairs utility and it was so easy!

If you're not putting a shower in there then there won't be too much of an issue with plug sockets.

I would consider getting a dolly hanging rack on a pulley system and a condenser drier stacked above the washing machine as having the washing machine upstairs doesn't solve the clothes airer issue!

I’m planning similar but splitting an ensuite so a third becomes a utility cupboard with a new doorway from the landing. The remaining 2/3s will be a smaller en-suite with shower, no bath.

My worry is the noise and vibration having the washing machine on the first floor - when our upstairs neighbours in our old flat ran their washing machine it would shake the ceiling when on a spin. It was very loud. The plasterboard cracked along the joints.

i presume there’s a dampener to absorb the movement and minimise vibration. Especially if it’s close to a party wall.

I wouldn't as there is no window to open when drying clothes. You could have clothes that smell musty and cause mould.

If you're going to do that, I would definitely put a dryer in as well. You could have a stacking washer and dryer.

We.didnt get rid of anything but rearranged bathroom to make a laundry cupboard. I'd never have washing downstairs again. No more washing strewnall over the kitchen. We have a dehumidifier, works a treat. Also a drier if really desperate.

I just wash clothes, hang on hangers to dry, stick straight back in wardrobe. Makes life so much easier.

None, I don't care 😂