# What's the appeal of "open concept" bathrooms? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889 "2022-07-13T17:40:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/21 "2022-07-13T21:01:44Z")
Once, on a work trip, our team was working out of a hotel in which the rooms had open bathrooms. We were using one hotel room as our office and anytime anyone had to use the bathroom the rest of us stood in the hall. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/22 "2022-07-13T21:07:42Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > A large bathtub or jacuzzi in the bedroom actually sounds kina cool, especially if it’s facing a TV or fireplace. Sounds like a big mold/mildew issue waiting to happen in the bedroom, due to humidity. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/23 "2022-07-13T21:10:00Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Our master suite is huge. He must have known people who okayed such an idea, as he didn’t seem to think it was that unusual. Maybe it’s based on an assumption that no more than one person will be entering the master suite at any one time. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/24 "2022-07-13T21:10:16Z")
An open bathroom? The horror. The horror. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/25 "2022-07-13T21:10:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Once, on a work trip, our team was working out of a hotel in which the rooms had open bathrooms. We were using one hotel room as our office and anytime anyone had to use the bathroom the rest of us stood in the hall. Why, for heavens’ sake, wouldn’t you go to one of the other rooms you have rented to use the restroom? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/26 "2022-07-13T21:11:49Z")
Bought my current house 30 years ago. The master bathroom had duel sinks and a garden tub. In the bedroom. No walls. Cold as hell to bath in. And the toilet in the master bath was in this little closet. **Little** meaning you could not close the door if you where using it. It was my first remodeling project on the house. Now it’s a real bathroom with doors and everything (what a concept). I even built a loft/office above it which is where I work, and am typing from now. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/27 "2022-07-13T21:13:40Z")
Because we were each in a different building in the complex, it’s easier to just ask people to get out. ETA and some were staying in a hotel across the street ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/28 "2022-07-13T21:14:36Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I assume that many of these designs are based on extreme space-saving measures Except that most of these ridiculous open-concept bathrooms exist in high-end real estate, we’re talking million dollar homes, where the primary bedroom suite is large enough to have a bed, a sitting area, a separate bath and shower, his-and-hers dual sinks, and sometimes even a laundry alcove. So space really isn’t the issue. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/29 "2022-07-13T21:22:24Z")
Open concept bathrooms sounds like an article out of the onion. Sort of like his and hers toilets from SNL. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/30 "2022-07-13T21:30:24Z")
I can’t imagine it’s this stupid, but here is my (probably incorrect) thought. Bathrooms that do not have a window must have an exhaust fan. If the toilet, etc. is part of the bedroom, then it is in a room with a window, so no need to install an exhaust fan. Except, exhaust fans are not that expensive to put in during construction. I was recently listening to a podcast segment about “Pittsburgh toilets,” which are open concept toilets, except in an unfinished basement. I was aware of the phenomenon, but didn’t realize it was given that name. Such a thing in an unfinished basement makes sense. Now there is a second toilet, and maybe someday we’ll finish the basement. An indoor open toilet sounds terrible, but I must admit that when in the wilderness using an outhouse with only \frac{3}{4} walls was remarkably relaxing. Enjoy nature when nature calls. ---
**Author:** ![Jingleheimer-Schmidt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jingleheimer-Schmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jingleheimer-Schmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/31 "2022-07-13T23:04:09Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Except that most of these ridiculous open-concept bathrooms exist in high-end real estate, we’re talking million dollar homes, where the primary bedroom suite is large enough to have a bed, a sitting area, a separate bath and shower, his-and-hers dual sinks, and sometimes even a laundry alcove. So space really isn’t the issue. Such is the case with the place I’m staying in. The second bedroom has this arrangement and is only middling-sized. But the master BR is huge (at least 1,000 sqf, I would say, and probably a lot more). Besides the toilet, it also has a shower, a jacuzzi, a sitting area and a lot of empty space all around. There doesn’t appear to be any sort of exhaust ventilation system, despite all these plumbing apparati. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/32 "2022-07-14T00:10:21Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Our current house has a large laundry room, probably 10 by 12 ft, in the basement. There’s a closet, tub sink, folding shelf, cabinets - and a toilet. It’s like they thought, “hey, plumbing - why not?”. The room has a door that closes it off from the rest of the basement, so it’s got adequate privacy if needed. But it is weird. Not so weird to me. When I lived in Denver, we had a toilet in a room adjacent to the laundry room. It had a toilet and sink, and a door you can close for privacy. It wasn’t our main bathroom, but it was handy to go to from the man-cave. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/33 "2022-07-14T03:30:10Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > An indoor open toilet sounds terrible, but I must admit that when in the wilderness using an outhouse with only \frac{3}{4} 34\frac{3}{4} walls was remarkably relaxing. Enjoy nature when nature calls. That reminds me of another phenomenon I’ve noticed: Toilets with large windows right next to them. Not low enough to show off the toilet from outside, but low enough you can see outside while using the toilet. I figure there’s a designer out there who decided we all want to just shit and look out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/34 "2022-07-14T11:32:48Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I figure there’s a designer out there who decided we all want to just shit and look out the window. And assumes nobody wipes standing up. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/35 "2022-07-14T11:55:04Z")
Some decades back, we were in a house that had a large tub installed on a platform two steps up from the rest of the bedroom with the bed facing the tub. I don’t recall if the toilet was nearby - I just remember the tub - as if bathing was to be performance art or something. It was way more than I wanted to know about the homeowners… _\< shudder\>_ ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/36 "2022-07-14T12:16:17Z")
I encountered something similar on a cruise ship, of all places. My husband won a suite playing bingo ( I would never pay that much) and when we got there, there was a door from the living/dining room into the bedroom/bathroom. One was to the right of the door and the other to the left. The bedroom was separated from the bathroom by a set of curtains that left the door on the bathroom side. The double sink , bathtub (with a window next to it) and closet were in the open area of the bathroom and the toilet and shower were in separate enclosures. With frosted glass doors and walls. It was tolerable because only my husband and I were in the room - but the suite slept 3 or 4. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/37 "2022-07-14T12:40:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > About forty years ago, we visited England, where we found that some people had the bathroom sink outside the bathroom. That, at least, makes a lot of sense. You need privacy for the toilet, not for the sink, and by putting the sink outside, someone can still use the sink while someone else is privately using the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/38 "2022-07-14T14:24:26Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I figure there’s a designer out there who decided we all want to just shit and look out the window. > [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Horatius](#): > > > > I figure there’s a designer out there who decided we all want to just shit and look out the window. > > And assumes nobody wipes standing up. One-way glass. I’ve seen it in a bar somewhere, floor to ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/39 "2022-07-14T14:26:40Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > One-way glass. I’ve seen it in a bar somewhere, floor to ceiling. "Look at those fools on the sidewalk! I’m watching them while I poop, _and they don’t even know it!"_ ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889/40 "2022-07-14T14:32:36Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > One-way glass. I’ve seen it in a bar somewhere, floor to ceiling. The 21C hotel in Louisville has that in the mens room behind the urinals. [https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g39604-d6855270-r581538898-21c\_Museum\_Hotel-Louisville\_Kentucky.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g39604-d6855270-r581538898-21c_Museum_Hotel-Louisville_Kentucky.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-appeal-of-open-concept-bathrooms/967889.md?page=3)