One Bathroom
Will one bathroom be enough?
While many homebuyers don't have a specific square footage figure in mind when considering properties, most will know how many bedrooms and bathrooms they'd like to have. However, while the bedroom tally is often more non-negotiable, buyers might be more likely to compromise on the number of bathrooms.
Still, a home with a single bathroom might be daunting for some. It can feel particularly challenging when a home designed for larger families, such as properties with four bedrooms, has only one toilet and shower available.
It's possible to get by with one bathroom. However, depending on your situation, you may want to consider expanding your facilities.
A single toilet can often be the biggest disadvantage in a one-bedroom home. If a person needs to relieve themselves, they'll be forced to wait if someone is already using the toilet or shower. Daniel Bortz, writing for Realtor.com, says this might even force emergency measures such as begging a neighbor to use their bathroom.
The shower can also create tension when several people are sharing one bathroom. The best way to get around this is to establish a shower schedule to ensure that everyone gets a turn. You may need to have some people shower in the evening rather than the morning, and some breaks may need to be built in to keep the hot water from running out.
One bathroom can also be cramped for space, as it can be difficult to store everyone's supplies for bathing and grooming. There may be limited room to keep these items, and you may have more towels than bars or rings to keep them.
To improve storage in the bathroom, start by cutting down on clutter as much as possible. The shower can easily be overwhelmed if every family member has their own shampoo, conditioner, or similar products; if the family can share certain products, it can save a considerable amount of space. Delta Faucet, a bathroom accessories company, says it also helps to look for products with more than one purpose, such as combination shampoo and body washes.
Several items are available to improve the amount of storage available in a bathroom, including shower caddies and shelving units designed to be placed over the toilet. Simple hooks installed on a door or wall can provide more spaces to hold towels.
Small bins can also improve the amount of storage space, since they can be easily stored on shelves. These bins can be used to organize specific items, such as hair products, or each family member can have their own. Rarely used items, such as first aid kits, can be kept in areas outside the bathroom.
If these measures are not enough to make a single bathroom more functional and effective, you may consider a second bathroom. Ron Leshnower, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says an additional bathroom provides additional privacy, storage, and convenience. It also offers a backup in case there is a problem with a toilet or shower in one of the bathrooms.
In many cases, a half bathroom is all that is needed. This small room will only have a toilet and sink, but the extra toilet can easily be a lifesaver.
However, you may want to consider a larger bathroom if you have the space and budget. Karin Beuerlein, writing for the home improvement site HouseLogic, says installing a half bathroom will still require a considerable amount of work, including carpentry and plumbing. It may be easier to expand the space to a "three-quarters" bathroom, which includes a shower stall. Otherwise, you'll need to do more work in the future if you decide a half bathroom is insufficient.
An extra bathroom can also add more value to your property, especially if it helps align the number of bathrooms to the number of bedrooms. However, you may be less likely to recoup your investment with a corresponding increase in equity if home values have not been appreciating well in your neighborhood.