Are you a fan of en-suite bathrooms?

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Once upon a time (not that long ago really – within my parents’ lifetimes) there were no bathrooms. If you wanted a bath you filled a metal tub in front of the fire, and the toilet was in a ‘little house’ outside, generally at the end of the garden a nice long way away. Then along came piped water and indoor plumbing, bringing a bathroom and indoor toilet to every house. Fast forward another few decades and now en-suite bathrooms (a bathroom attached to a bedroom) are practically de rigeur. If you look at the particulars of houses for sale they almost always have at least one, and not having such a thing would count against any house. As for staying in a hotel or guest house where you actually had to leave your room to use the toilet, the very idea would fill potential guests with horror! Our house has two en-suite bathrooms, one of which is attached to our bedroom, as well as a main bathroom and a separate toilet downstairs. But I can’t say I’m a big fan – at least not unless I’m the only person using that bedroom. Why do people want the room with the toilet (with any associated sounds and smells) opening directly off their bedroom? I can’t really understand why this idea is so popular. I know at least a few women who have banned their husbands from using the en-suite bathroom (presumably under the impression that they themselves never create any noises or smells!) Some bathrooms have a noisy extractor fan which comes on whenever the light is switched on, disturbing anyone else sleeping in the room. Many (like ours) have the light switch outside the door, meaning that when you open the door light floods out, disturbing anyone else sleeping in the room, and it’s impossible to avoid unless you simply don’t turn the light on but grope about in the dark instead, with a torch if you have one handy. I still remember going away for a weekend with friends several years ago. There were five of us staying in rooms in a pub (so we could enjoy their famous selection of beers!) and three friends were sharing one room. Unfortunately the en-suite bathroom had a squeaky sliding door. One friend woke in the night but spent a painful hour or two desperate for the toilet but reluctant to disturb her sleeping room-mates by opening and closing the bathroom door. As a result I only use our en-suite bathroom in the mornings when we are all getting up at the same time. At night my partner often goes to bed before me, so to avoid disturbing him I have to take my toothbrush elsewhere, and the same goes for if either of us wakes in the night. So for me it’s more of a nuisance than a convenience as I either have to cart my toothbrush, shampoo etc. round from one room to another or else buy duplicates of everything! Do you have an en-suite bathroom and do you appreciate it? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.