Inspiration For Your Luxury Ensuite Bathroom Extension

Ensuite bathrooms were once considered a luxury feature for grand houses and hotels, but they are now a sought-after feature for house hunters. Here’s a look at the history of the ensuite, what they typically include, and why you might want to consider incorporating one into your home. 

What features do ensuite bathrooms include?

An ensuite bathroom will generally include the essential fixtures and fittings, such as a toilet, basin, and shower and bath. They may also include more luxurious features such as a jacuzzi bath if space allows. However, even a compact ensuite can be given a high-end feel with smaller touches such as luxury shower door handles.

What is an ensuite bathroom for?

The word ‘ensuite’ comes from the French phrase to mean ‘in harmony’, which is of course ideal for pleasing interior design, including bathrooms. However, in the English interpretation, the phrase more closely means ‘adjoining.’ Therefore an ensuite bathroom is a bathroom that is directly connected to an adjacent room, rather than accessed via a landing or hallway.

In most cases, an ensuite bathroom is connected to a bedroom to provide exclusive access to the occupants of the room, and it is private from the rest of the household. There might be a variety of reasons for this. Sometimes it is simply practical in larger families to ease congestion in the bathroom when everyone is getting ready in the mornings.

More flexible use of the house

It also allows for more flexible use of the whole house; for example if some rooms are sublet, the occupants will be able to enjoy more privacy without the need to share a bathroom. When guests stay, separate bathrooms are also a welcome feature to help everyone feel comfortable. 

Your own private bathroom is obviously more hygienic and easier to keep clean and tidy, and your guests don't need to worry about carrying their own toiletries to and from the bathroom each time. It’s also lovely to have your own space to relax and unwind without having to worry if someone is about to knock on the door.

Safety and accessibility

Sometimes an ensuite is a question of safety and accessibility, particularly for older or disabled people. The main bathroom of the house may be located at the end of a corridor or stairs, and an ensuite provides close step-free access with wider doors and other accessibility features. 

Planning your own ensuite

Ensuites were once considered a luxury feature, and if they existed at all they would be only found next to the master bedroom. However, modern homes often include ensuite bathrooms as a standard feature, and many older properties have been adapted or extended to accommodate them for the reasons outlined above.

Larger properties may even have ‘Jack and Jill’ (or combinations thereof) style twin ensuites, with one toilet and separate bathing or showering facilities. 

Assess your space

The first step to a successful ensuite is to assess your space to see what might be possible. In smaller properties it may be that a compact ensuite with a corner shower enclosure rather than a bath is more practical. Measure up carefully and take note of the placement of windows, doors, and other structural elements such as sloping ceilings, alcoves and so on.

Consider a walk-in shower

A walk-in shower with a frameless glass screen will maximise the sense of space in the room, and will also look contemporary and stylish. Maximise light; it may not be possible to incorporate a window, so plan the lighting carefully and ensure it is bright and well distributed. Mirrors will help bounce more light around the room.

Choose materials carefully

Stone or porcelain tiles will be elegant and hardwearing, and also provide a degree of soundproofing which might be a consideration if you want to get up and washed without disturbing a sleeping partner. 

Consider the overall style you are aiming for, such as a luxurious spa-like room with lots of welcoming touches, or a clean and minimalist room that is practical and contemporary. If you have a larger space to work with, storage solutions such as floating glass shelves, vanity units and recessed wall niches will help to keep it clean and tidy.