Books in a downstairs loo. Yes or no?

[Whichhandbag]

Obviously light-hearted but curious to know thoughts! Downstairs loo is newly decorated in a very classic English style with wood panelling etc. It has a lovely little shelf and I have some beautiful editions which I could show off. (I'm not talking potty humour books). Is the association with reading whilst, ahem, using the loo.... just too much?

Personally it’s not for me.

Put a plant there or something.

Absolutely books. There is no room in which books are not appropriate.

It feels quite try hard look at me. Plus the inevitable lingering (pardon the pun)issue of poo particles landing on your fancy show off books

You have some gorgeous books and you want to display them in the toilet? That's just a little odd and a part of me feels sorry for you books.

No. It was ok years ago but the idea of picking up books in the loo
is slightly revolting these days.

Second hand books from a charity shop - yes, they can be binned eventually.

Nice books - no, they don't deserve the poo particles!

Sounds awful IMO.

No.

No.

I guess it might be practical if you run out of paper🤷‍♀️

I’d say if you’re in there long enough to read you should see a gp.

This.

If you can guarantee everyone will flush the toilet with the lids closed and wash hands before touching the books then yes, if you can’t absolutely not

Haha I thought it would provoke strong feelings. It's the downstairs loo and as a general rule none of us actually poo in it! It's the quick wee before we leave the house loo. The shelf is also above and recessed away from the loo. Nobody will actually read the books.

It used to be a pretty traditional thing to have books in the loo, did it not?! But I suspect I am correct that it will look pretentious and staged.

Go for it. Amongst a few others I have a book of Oscar Wilde quotations in there, and it gives me endless pleasure to read them whilst sitting on the throne. Far too many people are scrolling on their phones whilst waiting for something to happen, therefore books are the best antidote to that. The more interesting the cover the better too I find. 😊

No

No. I have never had the slightest urge to read while using the toilet. You could get some of that wallpaper that looks like spines of books if you want a library aesthetic in your loo.

But I suspect I am correct that it will look pretentious and staged.

Of course it will because that's exactly what it is if you've no intention of reading them?

You have lovely books please don't leave them sitting on a shelf unread in the toilet.

I find the idea of books in the loo a little gross which is odd as I don't have particularly high standards normally.

Don't put nice books in the loo! What are you thinking?! Put FAKE nice books in the loo, or put cheap ones in there. If people flush without closing the lid all the loo germs aerosolise and go all over everything. Bleurgh.

They've been read! They're just gorgeous editions which deserve display somewhere other than just amongst the others on a book shelf. I just doubt my husband or young children will be inclined to pick up a folio society edition of Pride and Prejudice to flick through....

Oh for goodness' sake! Do people really believe they can catch something nasty from the pages of a book? Don't you wash your hands before you leave the loo? Or are you planning to lick the books?

Go ahead, OP, of course there should be books in a loo. In any and every room! Except a bathroom, perhaps, because of humidity.

No. It’s a bit try hard.

Absolutely not

I used to have a bunch of fact books in our loo. Things like Roget's Thesauraus and QI and suchlike.

I liked not taking my phone into the WC. We used to actually read them. Reading on the loo does actually help with getting what you are in there done.

I'd find the idea of fancy books in a loo a bit gross.

Tbh I don't think I'd do it these days because my OH has absolutely no concept of hygiene (or food safety, etc) whatsover. Seen him pick up a raw pork chop then rub his eye, pick up toppings to put on stuff without washing his hands. He can't be trained out of it.

How would you feel if your guests damaged the lovely books? Kid reads, drops it into the toilet, and now it's wet and you are sad.