We aren't terribly modest in our house, so an isolated toilet isn't necessary. A little toilet room would feel claustrophobic to me (especially if it didn't have a window), and be more difficult to clean. We are rarely in so much of a hurry that one of us can't wait if the other wants privacy.

When DH and I were shopping around for houses, I was surprised at home many did not have doors on the master bathrooms, and quite a few had little toilet rooms with no doors. That was totally a deal breaker for me- the toilet room has to have a door.

Our master bath is somewhat what you described at the end of your post. The bathtub and toilet are in a little closed room, and then outside that room, connected to the master bedroom, is a small room with a double vanity. I like the set up.

We have a "hotel" style bath. Vanities in alcove, toilet and shower in room with door.

It looks like some people don't mind sharing and I understand that -- I grew up in a house with one bathroom for six people and we managed OK. But now that they are putting in bathrooms all over the house, I'd be looking for something with flexibility and an option for privacy.

I like two vanities so we can brush our teeth at the same time....or wash hands while the other is using the sink. I don't mind the toilet in the same room, but I would be bothered by the germs on the inside handle of a throne room.

I've seen several new houses in which the toilet is in its own room. But, I've also seen one with a huge, huge bathroom, and the toilet is just out there, almost in the middle of the room. I keep thinking, "How hard would it have been to frame in a wall?

We have a small bathroom, but I often think it would be worth it to mount some sort of stall there; maybe my DH would allow us to both be in the bathroom at once. Though, probably not. He won't even allow the cat in the room when he's doing his business.

Oh, and I wouldn't want the toilet in the same room as the tub or even the shower--what if someone's having a soak, and the other person needs to go potty? I'd want it by itself.

Talley sue -- I'm with you. When I lived with my family of 6 in a one bathroom home, it was a small one sink bathroom. That was normal for those days. We took turns. NOBODY dreamed of being accompanied in the bathroom for any activity including toothbrushing. We organized ourselves.

Here's a plan I like ... dual "powder rooms" with the bathing area separating them. I have never understood why the tub and toilet were in the same room, when they are the two things most people prefer to do solo.

Well, I'm ok w/ someone using the toilet while I'm showering. (and in fact, we did that)

---"Oh, and I wouldn't want the toilet in the same room as the tub or even
the shower--what if someone's having a soak, and the other person needs
to go potty? I'd want it by itself."---

This is why we have two separate bathrooms. That was a necessity in buying a house. I've always wondered if some families/people are just A-OK with doing such personal things in front of each other? If so, I'm not one of those people...

I recall living in a rental house with only 1 bathroom and being very gut sick. DH was taking a shower and I needed the bathroom. I opened the door, said, "Out!" and out he went in his towel, still covered with shampoo and soap, lol. Even with a couple people in the house, and even with an illness, we've not had an occasion when 2 bathrooms weren't enough.

I am still trying to figure a way to shoe-horn a half-bath into this house. We do have a 3/4 bath downstairs and a small (one toilet, one sink, one shower/tub combo) bath upstairs. I truly believe each house should have one bathroom for every person that lives under that roof...plus one extra just in case!

I will share a sink if someone wants to elbow in and wash their hands while I'm washing mine. As a child, I shared a sink with my brothers when we all had to get our teeth brushed. We never shared the bathroom if someone was using the potty.

I have, on occasion, shared a shower.

I will not, can not, and never have, shared the bathroom when any other person, male or female, thought they needed to be in the room if I have to use the potty. Oh no siree, if that bathroom door is shut do not even think about opening it. I will not even speak to anyone if the door is shut and I'm in the bathroom.

My 6-year-old nephew came to live with us in the mid-90s. It seemed as though every time I went in the bathroom, it was a signal for him to come to the door and chime..."Aunt Carol...I need...I want...can I...where is..." I've heard of mothers saying they've never been to the bathroom alone. I always thought it was BS...and still do. Everyone deserves privacy and respect.

After about the third day of him pulling these tricks, I came roaring out of the bathroom. I made sure he understood that unless he was bleeding...from an artery...really spewing blood, or the house was engulfed in flames, he was to never, ever, even think of knocking on the bathroom door or speaking to me if I were in the bathroom. Someone at the door? Don't answer it; they can wait. Phone call? Ditto! Need something? It can wait three minutes. Nicked your finger? You know where the other bathroom is; find Band-Aids there.

I also told him he would be given the same level of privacy. If he was in the bathroom, I would not knock on the door. I would not talk to him through the door, even if he left his shoes all over the living room and dirty dishes on the table. The bathroom was off-limits to interference for him, too. He loved that idea and spent the next week going in and out of the bathroom an unbelievable number of times trying to get me to "talk" to him. It tickled him to have his own level of privacy, too.

I did break my rule while babysitting a preemie baby once. I was so scared of that child. He was too small to hold and too small to not hold. His "cry" was more like a tiny mouse squeak. I watched every breath he took. Of course, I had to go to the bathroom later in the evening. What to do? I couldn't leave him out of my sight. I couldn't hold him and pee at the same time. I didn't want him in a germy bathroom; it was "clean", but all bathrooms are too germy for a preemie, aren't they?

Finally I put him in his little carrying case, put a light blanket over his body and a heavy one under the baby thing, on the floor, so he wouldn't get a draft. I left the door open; we were the only ones there, so I could see his little face and the movement of his breathing the entire time I was in the bathroom. He was so precious, but sooooo tiny.

Yes; I'm weird. I think some things are private.

Basic training was a hoot. Luckily, the toilets were in separate stalls, there were plenty of sinks so we shared with only one or two people during the five minutes we had to get dressed...and the showers? One huge tile room; 12 shower heads, 48 women.

But the toilets were private. I survived.

I was the oldest of 5 kids and the 7 of us shared one bath, it was the norm for us. I usually brushed my teeth outside of the bathroom so someone else could do their thing.
When I went to college my roommates thought it was strange that I brushed my teeth while pacing the hallway.

Caroline and Mustang -- once again. We wouldn't have any arguments about privacy if we were obliged to live together. Toilet while somebody else is brushing teeth? NO thanks. Brush teeth together. No thanks either. Back to my original post which was inspired by all those large master baths with double sinks ...

Something I've always wondered about with those little enclosed toilet rooms- there is never a sink in there for hand washing! I've experienced them a time or two in hotels and I definitely dislike the lack of a sink.

Yes, presumably one does not soil one's hands while in there. But stuff happens and lacking a bidet there are times when I definitely want access to some water near the toilet. And the doorknob, good lord the doorknob!

I and hub have a one bathroom home but luckily our schedules are so different that it is hardly ever an issue. If the room is occupied and someone panics we just yell "Emergency!!" so the other can exit quickly.

For 25 years now we have operated on a closed door policy- if a door is closed that means someone closed it intentionally so it must be knocked upon and access granted before it is opened. This has always worked well for us.