I think it is more of a marriage philosophy!

What I find weird about the 2 bathroom set up is that the husband always gets a small 3 piece bathroom and the wife gets a huge bathroom. I have seen other set ups where the couple share most of the bathroom, but there is an additional separate powder room as part of the master bath, which becomes the man's toilet. That makes more sense to me.

Plenty of couples who aren't going to remodel the master bathroom, and would want separate bathrooms, simply assign a spare bathroom to one spouse.

The 2 bathroom master suites just aren't that common, at any price range.

I wonder if it makes buyers think they are getting a bigger bathroom in the same space that two bathrooms could occupy? But the extra space is all floor space, so it only looks bigger without giving any benefit.

I mentioned in another thread that my parents designed their his-and-hers bathroom. I think I’d have designed it a bit differently, with the shower as the separator instead of in my dad’s side, because Mom ended up using his shower more than her tub-with-shower.

We bought land and will build a house. Two master bathrooms are the #1 must have on my husband’s list. In our current home, I use the Master bath and DH uses a bath down the hall. This is OK until we have guests, and then he feels very displaced and unhappy. We almost always get ready (and need the bathroom) at the same time and having our separate spaces just works best.

Both of us prefer showers, but we will at least have the space and plumb for a tub in the “her” side. I was also wondering if we should design the 2 spaces so that they could be combined at some future date by some future buyer? Probably a silly idea…

I have searched for home plans with 2 master bathrooms, but there are *very* few that I have found.

I hope this thread gets lots of input! :-)

It's purely a function of cost especially since the kind of home that would have two master baths would presumably have extremely high end finishes so there is the cost of another expensive room plus allocation of space in the master suite since I would imagine most people who are affluent enough to want this feature wood not be satisfied with small master bathrooms.

Those with two master bathrooms would have cleaning help as well so cleaning an extra bathroom would not be a burden.

I can't imagine anyone would actually prefer to have fewer bathrooms - if couples can't stand to be apart from each other while doing whatever they do in their bathrooms, they would be able to share one of the bathrooms.

When we did our new build, we have our walk in closet, a pocket door to the main bath & Hubby uses it, as that is where the only shower is, for the master ensuite, we put a free standing tub in it only, I did not want to do a shower there, it works for us & when we have had company, to date it only been a couple of days & that was our sons so it still worked okay, they used the shower in the am, & we used it at night...

All the luxurious homes that I have been in, including many on luxury home tours, all have had one master bathroom. A couple had two water closets, two vanities, one shower, one tub. These are homes in the 2-5+ million dollar price range. It doesnt matter though, because you should design a house that you want. If you want two ma baths, then you should do it.

google 'his and her bathrooms' .... obviously you will want to hire an architect to build your home but if you're just looking for fun or to see if they exist....google....

pinterest also has a bunch

I've seen some where they share the shower but have separate areas for everything else including toilet. But there are also some where they have separate showers too.

good luck.

When my son was still married, they lived in a very large house with his/her walk-in closets (hers was twice the size of his), and his/her bathrooms. Yes, his was a standard 3 piece bath which suited him perfectly. His closet was right across a small hall. He could get uo, shower/shave and dress and not disturb her. Her bath was a spa, with fancy shower, freestanding soaking tub, dressing table, chaise lounge. It suited her.

As we aged, my husband and I longer shared a bath. In fact I know few people over 65 who do if they have the op to do otherwise.

Well, we have a single master bathroom, two sinks, and a reasonably big shower with showerheads at either end. Although we're past the age of having to rush our showers to both get to work, it would certainly have been possible to shower together - come to think of it, maybe we should take a trip down memory lane and do just that ;-)

I have seen homes with two master bedroom suites, but not one master with his and her bathrooms. You can build a home however you like though.

After 45 years of marriage we have no problem sharing a bathroom. We never used the bathroom at the same time. Our starting time for work was an hour apart. The first to work used the bathroom first.

An older wealthy couple I know had separate en suites. Worked great for them. Complete separate hideouts, but they could elect to share one of their beds whenever they pleased. Seems like this could be an easier resale than one room with two baths assigned to it.

My current house actually originally had 2 master baths with one tiny closet in the middle. Previous owners tore out the second (windowless) bath and turned it into a bigger closet. Far more sensible to me.

I would LOVE to have a separate bath from my husband. We’re on the same schedule and I’d love to have some privacy in there.

I've seen it done. We don't have it. What we do have is mirror image walk in closets and we each have 10' long vanities with our own sinks (though my wife's side has a pull out bench she can sit on and her mirrors tilt in on the edges). My side has the remote control for the shower mounted to it.

I have two master suites in my house. I think this is becoming more common, either for couples or as an in law or guest suite. Here is a wsj article about itL

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-to-a-happy-marriage-two-master-bedrooms-1489672201

The OP seems more interested in separate bathrooms than separate bedrooms & bathrooms.

If I were building the master would have two toilets. Right now we each have our own bathroom but my husbands is not that close to our bedroom. Obviously we both use the master bath but he showers in “his” bath. We rarely have overnight guests and we have 4 baths so not a big deal but his bath is in a more public area. Doesn’t seem to bug him. I think we all are spoiled but I would like a master with two toilet closets and a shared shower and tub.

I would love to see sample layouts of “His” and “Hers” bathrooms if anyone can find them. I have only found 1 with completely separate rooms (below). I have seen a few that share the shower which perplexes me. Even the most intimate of relationships need privacy from time-to-time. How would either party get privacy with a shared shower?

I really don't get the point of duplicate master bathrooms. It actually seems like a negative to me: more expense to build, more to maintain, more to keep clean.

google 'his and her bathrooms' .... obviously you will want to hire an architect to build your home but if you're just looking for fun or to see if they exist....google....

Yes, if this is something you want, you're probably going to have to do a custom build.

After 45 years of marriage we have no problem sharing a bathroom. We never used the bathroom at the same time.

I can only claim 29 1/2 years of marriage, but we've never experienced problems sharing a bathroom.

How would either party get privacy with a shared shower?

Any individual person probably uses the shower 10 minutes a day. I don't see a problem with sharing it.

I noticed the same thing a while back when I was looking at having a house built. I don't like sharing bathrooms and you'd think more designs would have 2 master baths. You will have to have someone design what you want custom.

"Even the most intimate of relationships need privacy from time-to-time. How would either party get privacy with a shared shower?"

What are you doing in the shower that requires so much privacy?

"Right now we each have our own bathroom but my husbands is not that close to our bedroom. Obviously we both use the master bath but he showers in “his” bath. We rarely have overnight guests and we have 4 baths so not a big deal but his bath is in a more public area."

Our house has only three full bathrooms. The master and the upstairs hall bath both have dual vanities. The master has a separate tub/separate shower. The hall bathroom has a tub w/shower. The downstairs bathroom has a large shower. I'm always hot in the morning, and cold at night. Hubs is the opposite. He sleeps without covers for most of the night, but towards morning, he's got the blankets piled on. Because he's cold in the mornings, he likes to take very hot showers. That causes the bathroom to get very warm. Even if I shower before him, if I'm in the bathroom trying to put makeup on while he's taking a shower, I have a very difficult time trying to keep my face from sweating and the makeup from just sliding off my face. So, he showers in the downstairs bathroom. If we have overnight guests, Hubs will use the shower in the master bath, but on those days I try to make sure I'm totally done with my makeup and out of the bathroom when he showers.

"After 45 years of marriage we have no problem sharing a bathroom. We never used the bathroom at the same time."

"I can only claim 29 1/2 years of marriage, but we've never experienced problems sharing a bathroom."

We've been married for just shy of 34 years, and we lived together for 4 years before we were married, and we have no problem (other than the shower heat) with sharing a bathroom. Heck, we don't even have a problem pooping if the other one is nearby. We first moved in together when we bought a house together. We had upgraded the carpet and pad, and when we moved in the door to the master bathroom hadn't been hung because they needed to shave the bottom -- even though the bathroom was tiled, the bedroom was carpeted, and the carpet and pad were very plush/thick so the door was a bit too long. We were forced from the get-go to lose a few inhibitions.

why do you all need to debate? who cares if you can share or not share a bathroom. That isn't the question.

Here's one with separate everything.

https://www.familyhomeplans.com/plan_details.cfm?PlanNumber=65971

Things that make you go hmmm!

Why does the guy always get the tiny bathroom with the smaller shower? Specially as most men are bigger than their wives. If the wife get the bigger closet because she has more stuff, shouldn't the husband get the bigger bathroom because he is taller/bigger?

Trish - the OP asked whether the limited availability of double bathrooms to the master was based on costs or on a design philosophy. The answer, at least for some of us, is , neither: it's based on a life and relationship philosophy. Sharing a bathroom is something we are comfortable with and that is why we wouldn't waste money or resources on doubling up. We all want privacy when we use the toilet, but we don't all need it for brushing our teeth or taking a shower, so we don't want or need a second bathroom. That's why they aren't all that common, which is what the OP asked about. Those who feel differently about privacy can always have that second bathroom added.

Incidentally, I would never want a setup like the one in the plan you posted, where "hers" is twice the size of "his". That is contrary to my sense of what it means to "share."

I guess I was replying to other folks like @jeri then who asked

"I would love to see sample layouts of “His” and “Hers” bathrooms if anyone can find them."

but really do we need to know how comfortable some of you are pooping together? yikes.

@chispa and @jmm1837 the 'typical ' man just wants a nice shower and doesn't bathe and the 'typical' woman has more clothes. But this is why you would hire an architect for your personal preferences.

Our master bathroom is in two parts and works very well for us: 2 separate vanities, one toilet, one shower, one tub, and there's sufficient privacy with both of us there at the same time.

The first part has a vanity on the entrance wall to the right, with the shower on the wall to the right. You go through a door that is opposite the entrance door straight ahead to the second part, which has a vanity (including linen cabinets) on the left wall, the toilet to the right on the 2nd entrance wall, and the soaking tub on the wall to the right. The window is opposite both of the doors.

The shower has frosted glass, not clear, so either of us is comfortable walking through (after knocking) if the other person is showering, or being the one showering. If one of us is using the toilet (2nd door - pocket - closed), the other goes a few steps outside the bedroom to use the powder room toilet.

DH takes a shower at night and I take one in the morning, or just after he's done at night, since he's quick and I'm slow. If I take a bath, I close the door between the two parts of the bathroom, and he still can use his sink or the shower.

I would not be comfortable using the sinks at the same time, if they were next to each other as is usually the case in most plans I've seen. The key is to having them L-shape, or having them not next to each other.

Anne

Maybe it's my age - I grew up in the hippie era - but I simply don't "get" some of these comments. Is it really that uncomfortable brushing one's teeth side by side with one's husband, or having him wander into the bathroom while one is showering? Oh well, times change and maybe the younger generations are more modest/puritanical than we were.

And I don't necessarily agree that women need bigger closets or bathrooms than men. My husband has more shirts than I have blouses; I've got him beat on shoes, though. ; -)

jmm1837, maybe you've maintained your figure better than some of us have. When I was younger/thinner, I wouldn't have minded him seeing me showering. And I really don't want an up close position when he is gargling and spitting, or have him next to me while I am.

Anne

I’m genuinely surprised that this thread turned this way!

To the folks who asked or implied: “what are you doing in the bathroom that you need so much privacy?!”

Simple answer: whatever the heck I want and it’s not your business!

Some of us have to get to work at the same time as our partner and the morning routine would be facilitated by a second master bathroom.

I guess the answer is cost and the weird need to share everything with one’s partner.

Goodness, this thread has gone all over the place. My husband and I currently have his and her bathrooms off the master bedroom. We are about to do a major renovation and have spent a ridiculous amount of time discussing this exact topic. Currently, my bathroom has sink, jet tub, toilet, and my closet. My husband’s has sink, steam shower, and toilet. Since my closet is off my bathroom, I use my bathroom as a dressing room and the vanity for hair and makeup. We both like the privacy afforded by this set up (and I would say neither of us are prudes). Current plans have the bathrooms combined into one larger bath with a double vanity, shower,tub and a water closet for the toilet. The main reasons for this are to improve an awkward door placement and to increase closet size for both of us. If I could figure out how to get bigger closets and move the door, without a doubt I would keep his and her bathrooms. Some days I even consider just keeping the current floor plan and sacrificing the big closet! I have even thought about changing the plans again. We plan on staying in this house at least 10 more years so I’m not overly concerned about resale or current trends. It’s not like it’s so crazy that no one else would like it.

If you can pull it off, go for it!

It's second best to separate houses.

Separate bathrooms may prevent separate houses, due to differences in neatness and cleanliness. 😉

@Trish Walter Thank you for the layout, I greatly appreciate it. :-) Now I have 2 in my ideaboox! Anyone else find a layout with separate bathrooms???

this one shares a tub and shower but It's cool and more even for his side and her side...

"Is there a design philosophy behind this or is it simply to lower cost?"

In my experience, it's more of a design philosophy. I've only had one couple that absolutely wanted separate bathrooms.

On several occasions the initial design has had separate facilities for husband and wife, but the design got tweaked as the process went along. A second master ensuite might be changed into more closet space, or a larger master laundry.

Budgets have not been the issue. It's more of a spatial thing.

Heck, when I designed and built my house, our master suite is fairly large, around 1100 sqft. I designed a single fairly spacious master with two sinks, my wife was livid. She wanted a single sink we could share. So a single sink it is! Over 30 years married and it still works for us. But I STILL have the second sink that I bought way back in the day stored in the basement. lol

First phase of design, why not dream big. Then let reality set in. Sqft limitations, budget limitations, the realization that the space could be better allocated, there are myriad reasons things change.

But there's nothing wrong with designing what you want, and building what you want. Don't not design/build what you want simply because you don't see others building what you want.

@ jmm1837 I'm of the "younger generation" (mid-30s) and also baffled by this. My husband and I have lived together for 10 years in an apartment with one bathroom, and the only time it's actually been an issue has been if i've urgently needed to poop while he's showering! We don't subject each other to that, but everything else is fair game. It's not like he doesn't know how I look naked.

This one bathroom is in our apartment's basement, while our bedroom and most of our living space is on the ground floor. I know that probably sounds terrible, but over the years it's become so completely normalized that I don't even wake up to fully when i have to do the stairs in the middle of the night. My point being, it's surprising what you can actually adapt to entirely comfortably. Let's not forget that on a global scale, even having potable running water inside our houses is a serious luxury and an enormous privilege.

We're preparing to move into a new house with a bathroom and a powder room, and we're excited to not have to run up and down stairs to the bathroom and to have a second toilet, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay the extra/lose the bedroom space for ANOTHER bathroom in addition to those two. As someone else said up thread, you're only in there for a short period each day -- why dedicate so much real estate to it?

I often tour model homes for the fun of it. I have seen separate master bathrooms in only one model. It was beautifully done. However, I am in California where real estate proces are already inflated. Before any upgrades, this model was in the $700,000s. Each bathroom had it's own water closet, shower, and a really nice vanity. The men's side had a slightly smaller shower. The women's side had a makeup area built into the vanity.

A regular poster here is a huge proponent of his and her bathrooms.... I can’t remember who though!

Yes, Doc, I remember her working on her husband's bathroom in the last year or two. An old-timer, probably from back when were just the GardenWeb. I know that several folks who post here talk about the husband going to the hall (or basement) bathroom, so the concept of the separate bathrooms is more popular than one would think. I believe that most who prefer this will simply make do with another existing bathroom. For me, how would I know I need to clean the sink or mirrors if I were never in hub's bath? I am the cleaning person in this relationship. He does most other stuff, so I have to claim SOMETHING as my turf! So I think of how much I love his grocery shopping and kitchen cleaning skills as I wash stray whiskers and shaving scum out of our shared sink.

I think that great suite that Trish posted is bigger than my first house. That is a kitchenette behind the bed, right?