Our en-suite doesn't smell! Sounds, well sometimes... The main "con" is that you still need a guest bathroom or cloakroom as well, and maybe more en-suites for guest bedrooms.

I'm with louisecampbell09 the thought of being woken up to the sounds of a stomach bug close by in the early hours - NO en suite unless it is at least 20 feet away and completely enclosed!!

You really need to get your partners to close the door when using tha facilities! :)

You can barely hear the power shower in our en-suite from the bedroom.

To each their own but smells and noise are never really a problem.

Two bathrooms are a minimum with a family or anyone entertaining guests. One en-suite and one for kids/family.

I moved into a house last year with two en suites. Having an en suite had never been a priority for me, but now I've got one, I have to say I think I'd miss it if I lost it!

I had an ensuite in my last house but not in my current one. The first thing I wanted to do was put one in, however after 9 months without one I have survived very well, and that is sharing with 3 boys, 2 of which are teenagers. Yes we do have a shower room downstairs which helps I suppose, but now if I had the money I would put in a good wardrobe/storage in my room quicker than an ensuite. However if there was total spare money I perhaps might build one on.... perhaps!!

Love mine - my husband prefers the larger family bathroom so it's win-win....

if the bedroom is big enough to justify it, why not?!

if the bathroom is way down the hall it would be nice but if the bathroom is only next door and there are only a couple of people in the house i would rather use the extra space for a walk in wardrobe..

I gave up wardrobe space to create an ensuite from what was a small separate shower room. Previously, when hubby was alive I was against the idea because I didn't want to be disturbed during the night, but now I absolutely love my own private space that no one else in the family uses, just me.

Just to add to my previous comment. My fitted wardrobe is next to the ensuite on the same north facing wall and I found that my clothes were becoming damp, even in summer. I'd not experienced the problem before, but a couple of hanging wardrobe humidifiers has solved it. I'm told that the extra moisture created by the ensuite will find the coldest spot to settle, which seems to be the north facing wall.

yes

Only guest rooms need to be ensuite. We are converting our attic to create a Master Suite and dressing room. Total privacy. No children, guests or pets allowed!!!

En suites in my opinion are only suitable in very large houses. I'd rather have a large, comfortable and luxurious main bathroom than a pokey en suite. I also prefer to have a large and spacious bedroom rather than sacrificing space for an unsatisfactorily small bathroom with all its potential damp/ plumbing issues, noisy pumps and fans etc. I wouldn't be without them in a hotel or shared holiday home but in my own home I don't usually run into non-family on the landing! So separation of bedrooms and bathrooms it is.

the dream !

Convenience and time

Yes I prefer ensuites.

Better for convenience and privacy.

imo an ensuite with both bath and shower would be a major attraction. Your plan looks incredibly cramped though. I am currently in an hotel room with a large ( 1800 ) bath with overhead shower that would be a better idea I think given your space.

Each to their own.

I'm still amazed by indoor plumbing and not having to go out to the loo.

Who cleans all these bathrooms?

If you have some kind of routine, it's never a problem sharing a bathroom.

I can understand the need for more than one toilet though.

Save your money and use it on an amazing, indulgent family bathroom that you can really enjoy!

We are downsizing for retirement. Have bought a three bed semi. Turned its bathroom into a walk-in shower room and the third bedroom into a really good bathroom. The adjoining garage into a breakfast room as the kitchen not big enough to eat in. So three bed house with garage, now two bed, two bath and breakfast room off the kitchen.

If you have a box room next to your bedroom it would make for the perfect bathroom/dressing room (depending on the size).

That's exactly what we did, HSSP Architects. In answer to Steve Chapman, I suspect in most cases an en suite does add value as so many people seem to like them. However, we bucked the trend by removing (!) a grotty en suite so as to restore the elegant, spacious proportions of our Victorian master bedroom. We knocked the old family bathroom (which was tiny) and a bedroom together to make a really beautiful and comfortable bathroom with room for both a large shower and a large free-standing bath. There's also room for seating so we can use the bathroom together without tripping over each other and chat while bathing if we like. This room also has a dual aspect now with windows on two sides giving a lovely light. We are lucky to be able to sacrifice a bedroom in this way, I know.

A good proportion of my clients are putting ensuites into older properties. People nowadays almost expect them in master suites.

After 30+ years with an en suite, I can't imagine not having one and wouldn't ever consider buying a house without. When we had children at home, it was bliss to have somewhere that stayed (relatively!) clean and tidy for our own ablutions.

Never had the slightest problem with noise/smells/damp - although the recent trend for facilities to be open-plan with sleeping area does strike me as problematic on all these scores!

Chose en-suites because they are small, compact and stylish when designed right!

Fantastic for small spaces and can personalise to individual needs.

We decided not to make either bathroom ensuite because the doors would have taken wall space out of the bedrooms. However nothing is a long trek in this house!

As a builder we find that most people prefer an ensuite to the master bedroom as a preference.

Jane Bateman Surely one gets the staff to clean the facilities! :) :)

Our market prefers a hotel feel - with all family and guests having their own private space

Yes, I can see that. Only the two of us there most of the time. Anybody else visiting we just 'keep an ear open' for traffic on the landing.

I can't believe people would want their houses to have a hotel feel. I always thought my mother was complaining when she said that we treated her house like a hotel! My parents never used their Ensuite as the family bathroom was much bigger. I'm not a fan of ensuites and didn't miss loosing one when I moved house. However if I lived in a house as big as Downton Abbey I'd want one lest I met a ghost on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night!

We see a trend with our customers to make the family bathroom comfortable and relaxing making a feature of the large bath. The ensuite tends to be smaller and more modern with a walk in shower. In busy families where there is a battle for the bathroom in the morning having an ensuite really is a bonus.

Beautiful ensuite bathroom! I'll put the solids surface bathtub in it if the bathroom space is enough!

When we 'downsized' we turned three bedroom house into two bed two bathroom house. Works very well.

I can think of only one single pro argument for an ensuite. They only make sense in hotels or when sharing the house with strangers, but why does a family house need them? Just make the bathroom accessible from the hallway! This obsession with bathrooms is so weird. More than one on each floor is a total waste of precious space!

Four years old thread, but still relevant. 🙂

Mo, I think they do make sense in family homes too.

A busy household with family members wanting or needing the bathroom at the same time, surely warrants multiple ones?

I speak from (historic) experience.

And we never had an en-suite. Separate loo though. 😊

We have 3 bedrooms with 3 en-suite - I love my bathroom to myself and wouldn’t want it any other way 🤗

Particularly with a name like that! 😂😂

Hello Abi,

En-suites every time please.