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Is this too small for an ensuite?

28 replies

Flower0503 · 08/02/2025 20:58

Hi,

Would love an extra bath/shower room in the house, and we are at the point where we are going to be pulling out our current fitted wardrobes. Wondering if this is doable as an ensuite r crazy and too small? The shower would probably be 760 or 800 by 1000, a pocket door, and fitted overbed furniture/possibly fitted storage into the bay window. Is this doable or crazy? Our current shower is 760 wide and comfortable width, but not sure if that would just mke the whole ensuite too narrow for toilet etc anyway so have measured 800 width ensuite in plan. Has anyone done anything like this? Was it good or bad? Thank you

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Geneticsbunny · 08/02/2025 21:00

Do you have waste drainage running at the front of your house?
I think that the fact it blocks the window would put me off.

user593 · 08/02/2025 21:01

That is extremely tight. I personally wouldn’t do it but it depends how much you want the extra shower.

Pieandchips999 · 08/02/2025 21:05

That looks incredibly cramped for a shower. I don't even know how you would open the door. Water would probably overflow into the room. Plus you might not even having plumbing in the right place to do it. I had an en suite toilet in my loft and I think even that might have been a tiny bit bigger. Would you even have room to sit down properly. And you really don't want all your furniture in the bay window. Also the work would need to be approved through building regulations and there are minimum standards so they might well say no anyway. Tiny point worth mentioning is that you can get a combined sink and toilet unit but they are not great looking and I imagine a bit awkward. But better than having a sink to bash yourself on getting to the toilet

DonnatellaLyman · 08/02/2025 21:08

I wouldn’t tbh, it ruins your bedroom and the en suite wouldn’t be comfortable to use.

BookASpaceCadets · 08/02/2025 21:11

Is there an option to put in the corner opposite the door, and put the bed where the en-suite is on the plan?
that way it would interfere with the bay window and you could build wardrobe/storage to the side of it.
Overbed storage always makes me think of a caravan, sorry.

Flower0503 · 08/02/2025 21:17

Thank you. The only reason for going for there is the soil pipe is accessible for there, its an internal soil pipe and an extension was built before we moved in which finishes very near the toilet. I have heard bad things about saniflo toilets

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JC03745 · 08/02/2025 21:18

You could marginally save space by having a combo loo and sink like the pics, but it does look incredibly tight and narrow. Just getting out of the shower and trying to dry off, you'd be hitting the sink with the current design!

What is on the adjoining walls- could you move the wall to make larger en-suite, or have it on a different wall?

Is this too small for an ensuite?
Is this too small for an ensuite?
Flower0503 · 08/02/2025 21:26

We can't lose any space off the room behind the ensuite in pic unfortunately.

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Nourishinghandcream · 09/02/2025 00:33

That's not the biggest bedroom to start with and you want to make it even smaller by adding an (extremely cramped) en-suite.
Afraid it is a no from me but it depends on how important it is to you (you will be living there after all).

user1471538283 · 09/02/2025 09:31

I would do it but then I've always wanted an en suite. The hotel we stay in Paris have tiny en suites and the shower is a challenge for my bf but it's perfect for me.

Spookywoodhollow · 09/02/2025 09:55

We have an en-suite 100 across which is about right, but you could do a bit smaller and it would be fine. We have the same layout with the sink and pocket door etc and it works for me. We have recessed shelves in the shower for storing things. I love my en-suite. It’s not at all ideal that it blocks the window. I would put it at the back of the bedroom.

ConstanceM · 09/02/2025 10:06

In the face of it an en suite is great.
Your room could be big enough for it.
The problem is you are now obscuring the natural view/feature/flow of the bay window. If you could narrow the point where the toilet ends sits and have it flush to the wall would be better. You could get a combi toilet sink but turn it 90 degrees left. Also a smaller shower of 760/760 might be better. Or just opt for the toilet and sink and forget the shower. The door is not an issue as you could fit a sliding door or a bi-fold door. It will still add value.

CantHoldMeDown · 09/02/2025 10:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

gettingolderbutcooler · 09/02/2025 10:14

I wouldn't do it as it looks less like an en suite and more like a walked off toilet area within the room.

emsyj37 · 09/02/2025 10:15

We used to have a tiny en suite of the same layout you propose. It was just impractical, so we knocked it back into the main bathroom last year (it had been created by splitting the bathroom in 2). I'm glad we did.
We put in a second shower room (accessible from the landing, so not an en suite) by extending above the (already extended) kitchen.

caramac04 · 09/02/2025 10:18

I’m rubbish at ‘seeing’ space and what would work so can’t advise.
You could look at a toilet with integral wash basin on the top but that wouldn’t help with width.

Thisismyalterego · 09/02/2025 14:22

A relative built a shower room a similar sii to yours. She did it downstairs because she wanted to have downstairs toilet and thought it would be handy to have the shower as well. To be honest, she might as well have saved her money. The room is so small and cramped that it is difficult and uncomfortable to use. I'd rather have a really nice family bathroom than to squeeze a shower and toilet into such a small space.

AndSoFinally · 09/02/2025 14:57

Could you put it on the wall opposite the bay window so it has a window of its own? You'd either need to finish it short, or move your bedroom door. The set up you've got will be very cramped and will feel quite damp and dark I imagine. I don't think it'll be very pleasant to use and even with the best extractor fan it's going to make your bedroom feel damp too

parietal · 09/02/2025 22:18

our house has a guest bathroom that is a similar size. fine for the occasional visitor but pretty small for everyday once you start having towels / shampoo / stuff

Ossoduro2 · 09/02/2025 22:42

With a bifold door to get in and out of the shower this would work. Could you cut off the sharp corner that causes the bathroom to stick out in front of the bay window and either make it diagonal or a softer curve? Otherwise, this is fine. It always depends who you ask - I lived in many tiny flats in London and it’s amazing what you can do in small spaces!

Flower0503 · 10/02/2025 20:35

AndSoFinally · 09/02/2025 14:57

Could you put it on the wall opposite the bay window so it has a window of its own? You'd either need to finish it short, or move your bedroom door. The set up you've got will be very cramped and will feel quite damp and dark I imagine. I don't think it'll be very pleasant to use and even with the best extractor fan it's going to make your bedroom feel damp too

Sorry, bad picture that is meant to be a radiator not a window on the wall opposite the bay

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Flower0503 · 10/02/2025 20:39

window.
That is the only wall the spil pipe is accessible in this room unfortunately, so its either do it there or not at all.
I will ask the plumber/bathroom person about changing the angle to curve so doesn't block the bay window.
Will have a long hard think about the comments, thank you

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Geneticsbunny · 11/02/2025 08:52

Either way, it would put me off buying the house due to the crampedness of the bedroom but that is irrelevant if you plan to be there long term.

Tupster · 11/02/2025 11:11

I'm buying a property with an en suite that measures about 3m x 1.2m - it feels very pokey and I plan to take it out. You have to have a small sink to be able to move around in the room and open the door. If you were only at the 80cm width region, you'd have to have one of those miniature cloakroom sinks that would be far too small for any tooothbrushing, face-washing type activity.
Personally I find those very small 80 x 80 type showers no fun to use either. A lot of faffing around to avoid getting water on your conditioner! Depends how desperate you are for extra facilities I guess.