Half bathroom advice

11 years ago

We're building a "farmhouse" style house, and I'm looking for advice. Do I really need a half bath? If I lose the half bath in the plans, I can have a larger pantry, which is important to me. But I don't want the functionality of the house to suffer. We won't be having a lot of visitors because most of our family is within 10 miles. There is a bathroom at the top of the steps. Just need some outside opinions of anyone has a minute to share. Thanks!

Featured Answer

autumn.4

11 years ago

eco - I'd lose a bath upstairs and have a shared hall bath there before I'd not have one on the main floor (not counting the master). The main floor half bath will see much more use by family and guest alike than the 2 upstairs.

Think of coming in from outside dirty - you or the kids or their friends. Do you want to trek all the way through to get to the master? Do you want the kids doing the same? Think sand box, dirt, mud, frogs, rocks, matchbox cars with dirt in the wheels from having fun, all those treasures that do not necessarily get put down just for a quick potty break.

The master would surely be fine for close friends family but do you ever have company that may need to use the bathroom that you aren't that close with. What about crutches? What about canes and walkers (something I didn't think about until it hit quickly for my parents). Stomach flu. Sick kid on the couch - run upstairs? No way. Run to the master I guess but you are running through lots of carpet to get there I'd imagine. :(

JMO. Mom of 2 busy boys with family that uses a wheelchair suddenly and regularly. Master for her would be fine but a chore to use compared to the access of the half bath.

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Comments (10)

sheloveslayouts
11 years ago
So are you asking if you should have no bathroom on the main floor? Absolutely not. What if someone is injured or grows feeble and can't climb stairs?

If you're trying to decide whether to have a powder room and full shared bath on the main floor, that's just a person preference. A lot of people given the choice wouldn't want guests using the kids' bathroom.
ecochran01
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Well the master bath is on the main and then we have 2 bathrooms upstairs. One for my son, but that's in his room. And then another in the hall for guests and my daughter, but she is 1 so she wouldn't really be using it for a little bit. Thanks for your advice!
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omelet
11 years ago
It's a little hard to comment without seeing the plans, but I would want a guest bath or half bath on the main floor. There may be a better way to get additional pantry/storage space.
chisue
11 years ago
I always want at east a half bath near the family entrance to the house and near the kitchen. It can be very small, just a toilet and one end of a rectangle and a sink at the other end with a door in the middle. Kids come in the house and have to 'go' *right now*, or they come in dirty. The cook (Mom) is busy in the kitchen; needs a toilet.

Farmhouses often had a Back Hall, and even back stairs. The laundry (with laundry sink) was there. There was storage for coats, boots, dry goods, the ironing board, all that 'stuff'!
stolenidentity
11 years ago
I would lose the 1/2 bath ecochran01, because you said "I can have a larger pantry, which is important to me." That is reason enough. Three bathrooms is plenty, and I would assume that if a guest were unable to make it upstairs to use the bathroom, you would not mind them using the master.
cpartist
11 years ago
I agree with Autumn. Upstairs can all share a bathroom especially since most of the time it will be just your two children. I would make sure the bath upstairs opens to the hallway so it's accessible to all and then have a 1/2 bath downstairs for all the reasons mentioned.
ILoveRed
11 years ago
The functionality of the house will suffer if you don't have a bathroom on the first floor (other than the master). It will also hurt resale, although most of us think we will never be selling.

Perhaps, you can show us your plan or what you have so far and we can come up with ideas to achieve your goal of a bigger pantry while still keeping the powder room.
DLM2000-GW
11 years ago
"I'd lose a bath upstairs and have a shared hall bath there before I'd not have one on the main floor (not counting the master). "

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!
ecochran01
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks everyone. We're building a Four Gables by Mitch Ginn with a few tweaks. We're already in to framing but I think I figured out a way to keep the half bath and still have a good-sized pantry. I appreciate everyone's opinions!