Thread: Where should one place the toilet when planning a bathroom?

My wife and I are designing a house we intend to start building in about six months time. We both agree on where everything should go in the house apart from one thing. I believe that a toilet (as in the porcelin thing you sit on) should be placed in a small room by its self. I detest bathrooms which spoil a good design by placing the toilet in the same room as the bath, shower and basin.
Where as my wife wants the toilet to be right next to the bath and shower.
I think that most people in here apreciate a well designed bathroom. So I would like to hear your opinion where you think the toilet should be placed. Should the toilet be in the toilet, or in the bathroom?
I'd love you hear your responses and your reasoning.

Definately not in the bathroom. Don't know about other people, but I don't need other people walking in when I'm on the throne. And I don't need all the space in a bathroom while sitting there.

Water closet all the way.

If you have the space available, put it in its own room off the bathroom. That way, the toilet and shower can be used at the same time, which can be useful in the morning when everyone is getting ready for work.

Wehn you have the space...Water Closet all the way. Wehn I redid my master bath last year, we had very limited space (unless i wanted to blow out a wall and lose half the walk-in closet). We had to choose ONE of the following: 1) A shower as big as I wanted, 2) A water closet off the bathroom, or 3) A huge double sink vanity with my own separate area for all my shaving crap. The huge shower won out.

Personally, I think your nuts. If in doubt, go with what the Mrs. says. I found the best answer was usually "yes, dear". It was never worth it to do otherwise. I don't like victories that blow up in my face later...

I tend to agree with you. But I'd suggest, if you want to win the argument... Eat yourself a whole mess of Mexican food, or whatever else irritates your bowels. And when she is relaxing in the tub, walk in there with the paper, and let it rip, be as obnoctious at possible.
There is no way, that she would be so bull headed where she doesn't agree with you from then on.

For the master bath, we have a separate water closet for the toilet. If someone stinks up the toilet area, you can shut the door and go shave without having to put mama bear soap lather IN your nose.

Who cleans your bathroom? If the answer is your wife, then I can completely understand her desire to have toilet and bath/shower/sink in one room. To have to clean two separate rooms is a hassle (and double the number of sinks!.. a water closet needs a sink right? Where do you wash your hands otherwise, especially if the bathroom is occupied?)

However, if your house will have just the one bathroom, and you have a family, then the water closet is probably a better deal -- you won't get caught short if someone is in the bath/shower.

Personally, I prefer it all in one room -- that way I can take a crap in the nude and then jump straight into the bath or shower.

What?!?!? Hey, you asked the question.... I'm just considering the practicalities here.

Originally Posted by dward

Personally, I think your nuts. If in doubt, go with what the Mrs. says. I found the best answer was usually "yes, dear". It was never worth it to do otherwise. I don't like victories that blow up in my face later...

Yep, good advice here. If there wasn't any different opinions between the two of you I would go with Old_School's suggestion but add a sink to that room.

As mentioned above, there may be a way to sway SWMBO to your way of thinking if you think you can live through the event and it's repercussions.

As a former designer let me say this.

You have a the bathroom where you bath and clean. You have the W/C where you defecate. It has been a trend in modern upscale building to have a Bathroom suite with sitting area and such with the toilet locked away securely in its own closet, the W/C.

This does several things in my opinion. 1. It allows for more decorating possibilities within the bathroom; 2. It allows for a quiet space that one can relax in; 3. It allows that you need not go to the bathroom and see and smell a nasty toilet.

The bonus is that the W/C can be it's own little room. You have the commode and a small hand sink to wash up with, or a commode, bidet, and a small sink to wash up with. Depends on size and taste.

Myself, I would rather go with the suite thing because it allows you to leave the walls behind and have an open bedroom with the double or triple shower and spa tub, ah the possibilities. You can place glass block or other small dividers in the room to give it a sectioned off feel while still maintaining the openness.


YMMV.