Would you keep a small ensuite or convert it to wardrobe space?

[Everestisthebest]

Looking for people's thoughts on changing a small ensuite into a wardrobe/office. We have an upstairs bathroom and downstairs wc 2 bedrooms 1 box room. Overall space limited in house so looking to utilise as much as possible. Would you keep ensuite or change?

Or she could use one of two toilets in the house.

We added an en suite from cupboards and it was great! I would definitely keep it.

I think this thread demonstrates that there is no right answer! For me it would be 100% walk in wardrobe and this would be far more attractive to me than an en suite if looking to buy a house.

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's what you would get the most use out of that matters. I had never heard of anyone disliking an ensuite before I joined Mumsnet, I absolutely love having one and it wouldn't have crossed my mind one could be viewed in a negative light!

But on average they add value - I know you can’t account for every buyer, and you only need one buyer, but it’s like full garage conversions are considered a bad idea because you take out a large % of buyers by having no garage storage. While some people might not care, for saleability it helps to appeal to as wide a cross section as possible. I know some people hate en-suites but I find that is v magnified on MN vs RL.

I wouldn’t be without my en suite, but if a wardrobe would be of more use to you and you plan to stay in the property long term do what suits you, just bear in mind that you are potentially reducing the properties value by removal of a bathroom, so it might be worth reinstatement before you decide to sell.

Surely a small ensuite is a cupboard, not a ‘walk in wardrobe’

But this thread shows that it seems to be a 50/50 divide of wanting or not wanting an ensuite.
How can you say it adds value when 50% of potential buyers won't want it?

Ensuite

I live in a one bathroom one toilet house , I would convert the en-suite if it wasn’t used regularly unless you are looking at selling in the near future.

Yeah in a house that size with another bathroom and downstairs toilet an en suite is unnecessary. I’d change it to wardrobe space or office

How big is the bedroom?
How big is the ensuite?

How big is the en-suite? I hate those with tiny box showers with no room around the toilet and basin.

I would definitely keep the ensuite. Really wish we had one.

I’m not sure MN reflects RL but there’s also the fact that it’s much cheaper to turn an ensuite into a wardrobe- just take the fittings out/ cap it off, smash the tiles off and replaster/ fit some rails- than it is to restate an ensuite into a wardrobe so you’re actively destroying value, even if the “ preference” split is 50/50. Big caveat incoming: in this case I agree that this ensuite is overkill in a 2 bed but it’s just a case of balancing value in use for the OP ( if having a big wardrobe adds a lot of value for her and she intends to be there for a while she should still do it) but she might reduce the sales value of the home.

Oh bollocks- just quoted myself. Ah well.

Wardrobe definitely

I would change.

Why is there so much hate for en-suites on MN?

For me personally....I own a lot of stuff that I don't have space for.
I would rather have space for my possessions than an extra toilet and shower to clean.

I think it's snobbery. A lot of new builds have en suites often more than one. A lot of Mumsnetters are snobby about new builds, they'll say they lack character, are soulless etc etc.

In reality new builds can be fantastic houses and it's not that long before they're not a new build.

I love an en suite because that way I don't have to share a bathroom with my kids or any guests.

Nothing to do with snobbery, just doesn't appear to be a priority for many, especially if it's at the expense of good storage.

As @Needmorelego says 'I own a lot of stuff that I don't have space for.
I would rather have space for my possessions than an extra toilet and shower to clean'

And it's not necessarily due to hoarding but it could be that you need somewhere to store out of season clothes, hobby equipment, Christmas tree, suitcases, etc etc etc. A well planned walk in wardrobe and storage cupboard seems a lot more practical and useful than yet another toilet and shower when there's already two toilets and then you just have to organise yourselves to get everyone showered. I'd rather have to wait 5 minutes to get in the shower occasionally than be constantly tripping over household goods that have nowhere to live or are attracting dust.