Squeezing in an upstairs bathroom

GavB79

I have just bought a house with a typical layout of bathroom tacked on to rear of kitchen downstairs. Upstairs are three good-sized double bedrooms and someone has already put a cloakroom in bed 3.

I much prefer an upstairs bathroom and think that most do where possible. I could extend the cloakroom to fit a bath and still have a good-sized single bedroom as bed 3. But I would only get a 1500 bath not a standard 1700 unless I really re-jigged the plumbing and walls. I am concerned that this may feel a bit small and shoe-horned in - which it would be to be fair.

Downstairs I would extend the kitchen, have a separate utility room and a cloakroom. All using the space from the existing bathroom.

Given the choice, would you prefer a smaller upstairs bathroom or a larger but downstairs bathroom?

It is just me in the house so I could live with either but want to keep an eye on re-sale.

mikey72

Upstairs bathroom everytime.
I've done this to a house I let.
As to the resale, it's important to have a bath, even a small one, rather than a shower, so you appeal to families, as they need the bath for the kids.
Fit a decent shower and curtain above, so the adults have the option. A screen will block the bath.

phill99

I agree with part of what Mikey says, but not all of it. I live in an area of mid terrace houses where most have the bathroom downstairs and therefore if you are used to that and know that the area has a lot of downstairs bathrooms, then it isn't an issue. Some people round here have bought three bedroomed houses and turned one of the bedrooms into a bathroom. So they pay for a 3 bed and end up with a 2 and theerby knock £10k off the value of their house. That seems crazy to me!!

However, in your case, I would have thought a decent sized good spec and well finished bathroom downsatairs would be more attractive than a small bathroom upstairs. Could you not just add a shower to the one upstairs, so that you have the best of both worlds.

muskoka

When I bought my house recently it only had a bath & washbasin upstairs (no loo), we slightly extended the 'bathroom' taking out 3' of one of the bedrooms, fitted a short depth toilet, a corner sink & an offset bath. This will increase the floorspace & give the small room a feeling of being bigger than it really is. (I havent done the work yet, but have duplicated what other same build as mine have done) and yes, I think its best to have an upstairs bathroom (but dont lose a bedroom to do it) , and a loo downstairs if poss.

GavB79

I wouldn't sacrifice a whole bedroom, but the space I'd have left would easily fit a single bed and furniture. I did consider just putting a shower in, but then by leaving the bathroom downstairs I'm gaining no space.
It's the fact the upstairs cloakroom is already there that is making me lean this way - window, plumbing and waste pipe already done, it's just taking another 150x100 off the bedroom.

muskoka

Sounds like your thinking along the same lines as we're doing. We're left with a small 3rd bedroom, but I only want to use it as an office, though for re-selling it will still fit a bed & furniture just about.

We could have taken 3' off the master bedroom instead (and in fact most neighbours did it this way), but I preferred to keep the huge master bedroom. Each to their own.

And you already have the plumbing in place. Is there any neighbours that have had to adopt a similar design to what your talking about. I found it really helpful & have been through ALL the neighbours houses now. My neighbours have all been exceptionally helpful & friendly though. Thats where I got the design idea from of fitting an offset bath - really makes more floor space & makes the bathroom a respectable size.

barneyg

I'm one of the crazy ones: Victorian terrace, split the smallest bedroom into two, have a nice bathroom (1700 bath, shower over) and a big ensuite shower room (1400x800 walk in shower) for me, and still have two big double bedrooms. The old downstairs bathroom is gone and a new extension knocked through to the kitchen to give a really bright and sizeable space and it means I can see the garden now!

Next door have kept theirs as 3 bed, with an L shaped bathroom taking space from bedrooms 2 and 3 and it all feels cramped: small bathroom, a bedroom that fits a double bed and nothing else, and a small single bedroom.

Having looked at similar houses in the area the price difference between 2 and 3 bed is nowhere near 10k it is much lower, and as I intend to live here for at least 5 years I'll be getting the use of what works best for me.

Plus there's always the loft if a future buyer needs more space