Have you been thinking of shifting to a new place? You might be toying with the idea of moving into a bigger house. Perhaps you have a bigger family now or are about to start a family, and your current home is not big enough to accommodate others.
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While you have been browsing through posts on the internet or printed brochures, you may come across various real estate terminologies which you didn’t know of. Real estate agents use fancy words as they want to book a visit for the house. You might have just learned that there is something called an ensuite bath or an en suite bedroom. It has you thinking about what is an ensuite bath. It sounds like it is a suite with a bath, right? Especially when you see a house listing having two bathrooms on the same floor, you can be certain that one of them is an ‘ensuite’ bath. Well, does that leave you even more confused?
Not all rooms have private bathrooms. You may live in a house where you need to walk down a hall to reach the common bathroom. Though currently, most houses have rooms with attached bathrooms. This bathroom is known as an ‘ensuite’ bathroom.
The meaning of ‘Ensuite’ bath or bathroom
‘Ensuite’ is a French word that means ‘to form a suite’. The term also means ‘following’, ‘adjoining’, or ‘connected’. Therefore, an ensuite is a bedroom with a bathroom in it.
In architectural speak, you can debate that it simply means one room after another. The English adaptation of the word ‘en suite’ now simply means ‘in the room’ and refers to the kind of a room with an attached bath.
If a house listing mentions it has an ensuite bath, you might think it is going to be a posh house. The kind that looks a bit show-off displays the wealth of the homeowner. But in reality, the house can be a very simple one.
So what does an en suite bathroom mean? You might know it as a ‘master bedroom’. Both an ensuite bath and a master bedroom are the same. It is a bedroom with a bathroom sharing a door between them.
As the term ‘ensuite bath’ is not as popular as ‘master bedroom, property agents use the latter term while selling houses. They also tell prospective buyers that the bedroom has an adjoining or attached bath.
What can be called an ensuite bath?
An ensuite room is an important and also essential feature for most homebuyers. Most of the time, a master bedroom isn’t accepted as one if there is no master bathroom attached to it. So it must have an ensuite bath or an en suite bathroom.
The meaning of an ensuite bath and an en suite bedroom means the same. The terms are interchangeable. If you are looking for a house with an ensuite bath and let a realtor know, they will understand your need. They will show you a house where there is a room with a private bath connected to it.
So you see, an ensuite bath refers to nothing but a bedroom with an attached bathroom. This bathroom can only be accessed through the adjoined bedroom.
Variations of the ensuite bath
You may have seen some houses, maybe in TV shows or movies, or in real life, there is a bathroom in the middle of two bedrooms. The same bathroom can be directly accessed from these two bedrooms only. Do NOT think that this can also be called an ensuite bath. This is called a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom! Shared bathrooms like these are not as appealing as an en suite bathroom.
In the US and most countries around the world, nothing matches the appeal of having a private bathroom. So what does an ensuite bath ideally have? An ensuite bath is a full bath, which means that there will be a bath or a shower.
There are also houses which have a half bath, especially in small houses. The difference is that a half-bath ensuite will not have a shower or a bath. There will be only a basin and a toilet. Whereas a full ensuite bath will have a shower/bath, toilet, and a basin. Nowadays, an ensuite bath, whether half or full, has become very common.
Best advantages of an ensuite bath
- Greater privacy
The most prominent benefit is the amount of privacy it would provide to you. The bathroom is going to be a very personal and private space for you. If you are married with kids, an ensuite bath is going to be an intimate space for you and your partner.
- Easily accessible
Whether you live alone or with family, it is great to have an ensuite bath. And this is especially helpful if you have to go use the toilet at least once at night. With an attached barth, you do not have to walk to the common bathroom in your half-asleep state. Having to navigate in the dark and avoid stumbling against any object can mar a great sleep.
- Helps when you are sick
When you need to rest, nothing beats having a bathroom to yourself. You may have an upset stomach or have caught the flu. At times like this, you only have to walk a few steps when you need to use the toilet. Also very helpful when you have sprained an ankle or have back pain.
Other benefits:
- Makes the morning routine easier
Having an ensuite bath is great when you have to take a bath, get dressed, and leave for work in the morning. You do not have to rush to your bedroom wrapped in a towel, which drips water as you go to your room. With an en suite bedroom, you will have a lot more privacy and get dressed without having to leave your room for bathing or dressing up.
- Plus point of a guest rooms
If you do not care for a private bath, you can use the master bedroom or ensuite bath as the guest room.
- Makes a hotel room appealing
You might be wondering if there are any hotel rooms without an attached bath. Yes, there are. There are many budget staying options where borders have to use a shared bathroom. Each floor has one or maybe two washrooms for all to use. So check that a hotel has an ensuite bath if you are not comfortable using a common bathroom.
Changing the location of a bathroom in a house is not easy as a lot of pipes and drains have to be moved. For this reason, not a lot of renovation projects have an ensuite bath. It is commonly found in newer homes or houses that had big renovation projects.
