Installing Jack And Jill Bathrooms: What You Need To Know

Jack and Jill bathrooms were first introduced in the early 20th century in grander homes and guesthouses, and have recently gained popularity in larger family homes. Here’s a look at what they are, the key benefits, and how to design the perfect Jack and Jill bathroom for you. 

What is a Jack and Jill bathroom?

A Jack and Jill bathroom usually refers to a shared bathroom that connects two separate bedrooms, with a door at each end, but usually no access from the outer corridor area. The doors will be lockable at both ends to provide privacy for whoever is using the bathroom, and sometimes a screened off toilet compartment may be installed for further privacy.

The bathroom will be shared, but exclusively between the occupants of the bedrooms on either side of it, rather than with the rest of the household. The bathroom will contain the typical features of any standard bathroom, including a shower and/or bath tub, a toilet (sometimes two), and often a double vanity unit with twin basins. 

What are the benefits of a Jack and Jill bathroom?

The bathroom was originally intended for use by siblings in larger families, providing a separate washing space for children and easing congestion on the main bathroom when the household is getting up in the morning or preparing for bed. It has the advantages of an ensuite and takes up less space than installing separate bathrooms for each bedroom.

The setup offers children a degree of independence as they learn to take care of their own personal hygiene, whilst also helping them to get used to sharing and not hogging the shower for hours. Of course, the use of the bathroom is not restricted to siblings, but to any household members or guests who are willing to share a semi-private bathroom. 

If you have a larger family, or simply want the benefits of a semi-ensuite bathroom for yourself or for guests, then a Jack and Jill bathroom could be the right choice for you. They are also often installed in family guesthouses to link parent and child or sibling bedrooms. 

What is the best design and layout for a Jack and Jill bathroom?

To get the most out of this style of bathroom, it’s important to plan the layout and features carefully. You may wish to use a professional designer if you are not accustomed to tackling large renovation projects. The amount of space you have available will obviously be key to which features you can include in your bathroom and what to leave out.

Typically, a Jack and Jill bathroom will always have twin basins to accommodate both users when carrying out routine tasks such as face washing and cleaning teeth. A larger bathroom may have double vanity units with countertop basins, which allows each user to have their own personal storage space and reduces clutter. 

If space allows, there may also be two toilets that are enclosed or screened off for privacy. However, the bathroom will generally only contain one shower or bathtub, unless there is space for screened off wet areas or walk-in showers. In smaller bathrooms, a corner shower or a shower and bath combination is a good space-saving solution. 

Frosted glass shower screens held in place with deep U channels are a good solution to provide an extra degree of privacy, and also to reduce splashing from wet areas. 

Privacy and accessibility considerations

Obviously, the bathroom will require two entrances to allow access from each bedroom. Consider the clearance needed for the doors to open unobstructed. Sliding doors or pocket doors might be a good solution for smaller spaces, although they might need more complex locking mechanisms, so consider if these could be easily operated by young children. 

The locks should ideally have occupancy indicators so that the person using the bathroom can feel comfortable and relax. There will obviously be a need to lock both doors if the user needs privacy, and to remember to unlock them afterwards. 

This could potentially be a source of frustration if one of the bedroom occupants is somewhat absent minded, so you may wish to consider the nature and ease of relations between two siblings, if this is the intended use for the bathroom. 

As children grow into teenagers, they may find the set up is a bone of contention rather than a convenience, so consider how it might pan out in the longer term.