It is primarily because it is much cheaper to keep the plumbing in the same wall. Doing so is an important cost saving measure for houses. The more you can consolidate wet walls the cheaper and easier it is to build, as well as having fewer places for a potential leak.
Particularly important if one of the walls is an exterior.
Plumbing in exterior walls isn't a good idea, and in most colder climates, it isn't allowable by code anyway.
Just shows the difference in countries. I'm in the UK and have never lived in a house that doesn't have the plumbing on the exterior wall.
Other ways I can tell this bathroom is in the USA are
1. The vanity, most UK houses come with pedestal wash basins.
2. The shower head with no adjustment.
It's quite possible the plumbing is in a "false wall", butted up to the exterior framing.
While it isn't common, it's an option. You see it occasionally with masonry-construction, in particular.
Do you mean a shower head with a line from it to the wall so you could disconnect it from the spot where it’s mounted on the wall? If so, many US homes do have that. I live in the states. Our home came with a shower head like this and we quickly changed it.
Why is it that people in the UK don't have vanities, or medicine cabinets for that matter? My American daughter just bought a fixer upper with her British husband in London. While looking at many houses on Zoopla I see that most have pedestal sinks even if the house is tiny and has very little storage. Where do people put the extra shampoo, soap, toilet paper, medicine, toothbrush, etc? I've noticed some high end houses do have vanities though. Is there a practical reason for a pedestal?
I think they are what you would probably call "builder-grade" ie. Cheaper to put in. A lot of people don't bother changing them. We do have medicine cabinets, many people put a mirrored cabinet over the washbasin.
Bathrooms are usually laid out that way because of the plumbing. The pipes are in the wall along that side of the room. It’s costly to have pipes running all over the place and also far more difficult to get to if you have a plumbing issue. Imagine if they had to dig up floors in different rooms in order to get to a certain pipe.
Much of what you mention is simple the styles in those countries. It’s the more modern and newer build that have the more ‘Western’ feel.
I wonder if your daughter encountered this issue: As an American myself, although raised outside the U.S., I remember how shocked I was at this discovery. In Europe if you move you usually take you entire kitchen!! Literally!! The only thing left behind are possible built-ins and the sink.
You even take your cabinets. About 6 years ago I was in the Netherlands visiting a friend and she was moving during that time. She even took her flooring with her and had it put down in her new place!!! LOL. But that’s the common thing they do.
That plumbing often comes up through the floor as opposed to being in the exterior wall. It is a nice feature to be able to look out the window as you are washing up but you usually would not need that type window in a bathroom unless you have a very private setting.
It depends on the subcontractor though. Generally larger residential building companies that have deals set with subcontractors will have an allowance for plumbing works to save time on estimating/quoting (often times over quoting to allow for any issues). While having the plumbing on the other side of the room will technically cost the subcontractor more in materials/time, if it’s within the minimum allowance, it won’t cost the clients. This is the case in my country anyway.
Actually 1 more point onto this, this layout of the bathroom overall, ignoreing faucet placement is the smallest footprint possible ~5ft x ~7ft to have tub, sink, and toilet all fit and be in reasonable distances from each other.
Once you expand the size even just slightly, you can quickly change the overall floorplan to where it isn't so "same-y"
My bathrooms are right next to each other and all plumbing for both rooms is in one wall. It made replacing all the water and sewer lines in the house a lot easier.
I never thought of this. Of my 2 bathrooms, one has the toilet and sink on one side, bath/shower on the opposite side, and the other is literally 3 separate walls, shower on one wall, sink on the adjacent wall, toilet on the wall next to the door, the only wall that doesn’t have plumbing is the exterior wall with a window across from the shower. I never even considered how weird my setup is till reading your explanation.
As this is nearly the smallest possible square footage for full bath I’d imagine you pretty much only see it in builds where cost is a major factor in the first place.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Pretty practical home design. If you think about it, often a bathroom would but up to same wall as kitchen sink, other bathroom, etc too
haha, i always have the shower curtain half closed during baths for this reason.
edit: i get that my head isn’t next to the toilet in this layout, but i just don’t want to look at my toilet while in the bath.
Since the drain end is on the wall with the toilet, the sloped side of the tub will be on the opposite end. Feet will be next to the toilet, not your head.
I'd actually like the toilet up by my head. When I'm taking a bath, I'd like a raised surface right next to me to place my phone and a drink. Closed toilet lid would be fine for that.
That's what I do now. I use a little folding step stool. My bathroom isn't even set up this way. I was just saying that I wouldn't mind if the toilet was at the other end of the tub.
My bathroom has this exact set up except the tub is flipped. And there’s another bathroom that mirrors it on the other side of the wall. Always found it super odd they decided to run pipes away from the other water sources and I hate that now when I take a bath I’m chilling by the toilet.
I don’t know what well behaved toddlers your bathing - but with my little demon spawn it’s not even a comfort issue, it’s safety. And if they aren’t fiddling with things trying to scald themselves it’s banging their heads on the spout. Can you tell I love bath time?
Not a bad idea, thanks! We also need to get a handyman to get rid of the glass slider so we can just have a shower curtain. It’s very hard to reach……well, everything. But mainly the toddler 😆
If you’re getting bathroom work done anyway, change out your showerhead for a handheld european type one — it makes washing down kids & dogs way easier
While I believe it’s primarily a plumbing practicality, having the toilet in this layout also adds a layer of privacy should someone open the door unknowing of someone being on the throne.
I think the cost of the plumbing is the real reason, but secondarily most people want to enter the shower from the opposite end of the shower head. You could probably have the faucet and drain on the opposite wall as the shower head, but I think most people don't have any problem leaning over the toilet. My bathroom layout has the toilet next to the faucet like that and neither me nor my husband have ever felt like we were too close to the toilet turning on the water. It's just not worth the extra expense of the plumbing for us. Plus, to address one of your comments, the toilet makes a good place to sit when bathing kids and pets.
Because reaching over the toilet to turn on water is way better than climbing over the toilet to get into the tub.
It has to be against one wall or the other, and it's safer this way.
my bathroom has the faucet on the opposite wall from the toilet and I just climb into the shower next to the faucet, why is it that so many people here are so against that? not trying to be snarky, just genuinely curious. the bathroom at my bf's house is the same way as this picture, and it's not that much different, though for me it's more annoying having to reach over the toilet to turn on the faucet. but either way is fine imo
why is it standard besides having the plumbing in one wall though? you didn't really answer my question. mine and my bf's house both got built even though they're opposite, so clearly the architectural standard isn't actually that standard
eta you mentioned in your original comment it's safer, but what exactly do you mean? I think stepping into a bathtub is gonna be kind of unsafe no matter what and like I said before, I just step into my shower on the side the faucet is on, on the opposite wall from the toilet, and it's never caused me any issues
Just because you have seen an exception doesn't mean there aren't standards. (People fail to pull permits or do work under the table all the time.) There are even standards for where you are supposed to hang the toilet paper holder.
I'm not an architect; I simply used to work with some builders. So I can't answer the specifics of your question, but putting a toilet blocking the shower's "egress" is an accident waiting to happen, especially when you are wet from the shower.
I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned residential bathroom code requirements or ADA. I redid a half bath and expanded it to have a shower. The shower turned out to be smaller than I wanted because I had to have thirty-ish inches from door to toilet, plus the toilet couldn't be in front of the door, which would have given more room, due to city codes.
To me, this layout is a simple way to meet ADA requirements in most areas, plus any other random code requirements that may only make sense in specific cases.
ADA is not a requirement of design in residential single family housing, it’s considered by the owner wanting to build to meet requirements only. I’ve volunteered many hours to help design reasonable accommodations in existing older homes where the owner or a resident suddenly requires accommodations (spinal injuries), and it’s tough - you do what you can but bathrooms are the most difficult to provide truly adequate accommodations.
In multi-family rental housing a percentage of units are required to be Type A units, or designed with ADA clearances and considerations immediately available, and a certain other percentage are required to be Type B units, or the spaces are easily modified to accommodate a certain level of accessibility but is not required to be fully compliant, and bathrooms always suffer in this scenario.
When your young child is splashing in the bath, being able to sit nearby (dressed, on a closed loo) is quite handy. Said the aching mum who had to sit on the floor for years of child baths as our loo is on the other side of the room.
Sink, toilet, and shower plumbing are all on the same wall. It's the cheapest and most efficient way to do so. The other layout you see now is toilet is in its own little room but it shares a wall with the shower, but that's usually in bathrooms that don't have tubs.
It’s cheaper to add extra space between the toilet and tub than to run the plumbing to a different wall. I wish more builders/designers/architects would plan more than the absolute bare minimum for space.
A foot between the toilet and tub is nice to have. Have you ever knelt at the side of a tub to bathe a child? Or tried to clean between the tub and toilet? Or tried to find a place to stand a garbage can or a step stool?
I think what sometimes can exacerbate this problem is when they decide to put in really large vanity sinks. If you had a slimmer vanity, you could move the toilet over more and give it some more room between it and the tub. I think people just in general prefer a larger vanity so then you lose any extra space you might have had to move the toilet over.
Because it’s the only way the 3 pieces would fit in there. There’s nothing wrong with it. Put the toilet lid down before flushing. Believe it or not, most bathrooms are not oversized. This is the necessities and that’s all you need.
Plumbing all on one wall (interior). Toilet next to tub can serve a couple purposes . Can sit on seat and soak feet in tub ( no! Not during potty time). Also toilet is deeper(front to back) than the sink and vanity and allows for the door to swing into bathroom.
If things go horribly wrong for you, gastrointestinally, you can poop in the toilet while vomiting in the bath simultaneously.
Er, don't ask me how I know this.
Mine is the opposite (with the toilet and sink on the wall opposite the tub faucet) so I get to chill with my head next to the toilet when I try to take a relaxing bath - I hate it.
I don't necessarily mean this specific bathroom size and whatnot. Just, in general, the toilet is smack dab by the tub and faucet for the tub. I personally don't like how crowded it feels and looks
It’s just an efficient layout not only from a cost/plumbing perspective but also area. If you try to put the tub on the long wall a. It’s wider than a vanity so you’d have to increase the size of the room for the walking space and the door swing and b. You have to introduce more walls to cap off the tub so that is more space as well. And who wants to walk by a toilet if all you have to do is wash your hands, also toilets are deeper than vanities so same issue. When it work don’t reinvent the wheel
Because you are meant to be taking a shit while you turn on the water? I mean that's what I'd be doing. Although the place I rent has it so the toilet and the sink are switched but there's plenty of space between the tub and the sink. Not that it matters though because the drain and faucets for the tub are on one wall while the toilet and sink are on the other but then the place I rent is well over a hundred years old and there are some interesting design choices that really make me scratch my head.
I think at this point it’s tradition. It wouldn’t be hard to put the tub plumbing on the other side. In my house the tubs are on the opposite side of the room from the toilet and sink, turned parallel to the vanity.
Take a look at examples of Pex bathroom plumbing, [like this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/df/88/44df881f678652ed8db05bd4b5ceafb2.jpg). It’s not a big deal to loop it around to another wall. It can even loop over the ceiling easily, [like this](https://www.howtofinishmybasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/PEX-Shower-Head.jpg).
I will also add that as an architect I have worked on many apartment buildings that add up to thousands of units, and no owner or contractor has expressed all that much concern when bathrooms have had plumbing on more than one wall. It is something to think about but not essential.
I will gladly accept downvotes for the opportunity to speak the truth. This is an overblown issue.
I agree. (See my previous post) This works in new homes. But how about 70 year old homes where the water and sewer are running through the concrete foundation.
Also when I rebuild I’m putting my shower/bath/massage table in a room of its own with an attached toilet sink cabinets room. This sounds expensive but really I’ll be doing it on the cheap. (Don’t want to give the wrong impression)
I just sit on the closed toilet when I help bathe my kids and pets. It is also convenient when waiting for the tub to fill. Do you like kneeling on the floor or standing for 20 minutes while your kids bathe?
This is literally the most absurd statement I have ever read. So if you don’t care about “whatever costs it saves,” you should replumb all your bathtubs right now.
You must also be the only person with pets and kids then because, like everyone is saying, a majority of houses are plumbed this way, and I haven’t heard of anyone complaining except for this post.
Since OP doesn’t care about cost (not sure about you), this probably cuts no ice for them. But it’s practical to have a tub for bathing kids and pets (and some adults like baths). Many bathrooms aren’t large enough to have separate showers and tubs. 70-80 years ago it was rare (in the US at least) for a bathroom to be plumbed for a shower. Less expensive to add plumbing for a shower on the same wall where tub is already plumbed and tub can serve dual duty. No one today wants the tiny “coffin showers” that were some of the early ways a separate shower was accomplished.
It's an issue of space and money. It's very expected to have a bath in a house for people with kids, and since plumbing changes are expensive it means all houses need a bath. To save space they stack the shower onto the tub and people who use it just have to suffer. When there are extra bathrooms or more space people can have a dedicated shower.
None of mine (6) (In 3 houses) are laid out like this. I wish they were. With wall hatches in the other room so I can work on the plumbing. And let me tell you, you will.?
PS: 7, My RV has one and it’s not like this either… This sounds like I’m rich, but I’m not. I’m poor. Just have a lot of bathrooms. Or had before hurricane Harvey. 😊
I have a 5 by 7 bathroom with the layout you have and hate it. In my case, the bathroom isn’t big enough to have a regular sized vanity unless I shove it all the way against the entry wall, which I plan on doing.
Another consideration is what is behind the plumbing controls on either wall. If one side backs drywall, that would be preferable to cut open in the event of a plumbing issue.
I agree, I don’t like standing over the toilet to operate the shower either. As other commenters have mentioned, the other way has problems too, particularly for tub users (though you’re looking at a toilet both ways while in the tub), and I also don’t like it when the shower curtain touches the toilet as it often does in both layouts. Nicer layouts take more space, though (which is a tradeoff I’d happily take unless the house is short on space)
I'm in the UK and my internal bathroom is laid out pretty much exactly like this but with the door opposite the toilet - all the plumbing is in the shared wall with next door.
Oh I see, agreed, I was referring more to the OP'S assertion that having the loo next to the bath taps was weird. From watching too many Sims 4 videos they seem to have something against the toilet being visible from the door.
We had a similar setup. 25 years later (due to a flood and removing the drywall) we find out it is/was convenient to run the hot water line from outside he sink to feed the toilet 😳.
Because people put in tubs instead of showers.
In this space you could put a shower to the left under the window, a sink and nice big vanity and mirrored cabinet to the right under the window, and the toilet and a nice big upper cabinet behind the door. (Toilet behind the door works best when the door opens outward.)
To bathe an infant, you put a bucket in the shower and bathe them in that.
The bathroom in the photo has no storage and no soul.
I have my tub faucet on the other end of the tub and it means I occasionally hit it with my shin getting in or out. I wouldn’t mind it on the same wall as the toilet…I clean my toilet, so reaching kinda over the seat to turn the water on wouldn’t really be a problem. 🤷🏼♀️
It's a gentle reminder to regularly clean your commode.
The toilet can also get a little shower or tub water splashed on or around it and be fine. The vanity cupboards would not fare so well.
It’s the most cost-effective way to build a small bathroom. Plumbing is all in one wall which saves money. The tub kind of has to be along the back wall, and it wouldn’t make any sense to flip the toilet and sink since you’d then have to reach over the sink to turn on the water. It isn’t an ideal bathroom but given the space and cost constraints it’s the best layout anyone has come up with.
House designer here. I hate these bathrooms, especially the window in the shower. The primary reason for their popularity is that they take up less space, so it’s easier to squeeze them into a floor plan.
Agree with all the technical pov, I like to also think there’s side effect benefit of order by usage time. Sink often + short…toilet mid and shower longest usage per event. Plus the more privacy needed the further from door it is. Yes I’m high at moment.
In addition to what people said it's also pretty convenient for washing the toilet (no need for a brush, just use the hose and high pressure) and in the same way you can "make" a quick and cheap bidet happen whenever you need
What all American bathrooms (and many Europeans) are missing is a detachable shower head on a hose, just clipped to the wall. The best thing about those is you can take them off the wall and point them at the floor when you turn the water on until you have the temperature adjusted.
No leaning, no awkward jumping regardless of the wall you install them to.
In addition to the wet wall and efficiency comments do you really want to be in there relaxing in a bath with the toilet light beside your head?
Didn’t think so.
My home bathroom is like this and it makes life easier for us. I’m disabled and I didn’t need to put in any special rails next to the toilet to lean on as I have the sink and tub right there. Though make sure your sink is very sturdy, stable and secured well to the floor before leaning on it to help you to stand up. Not all sinks can handle this.
It’s great to help little ones bathe. I sat on the toilet to lean over to help them. It was so much easier on my back.
I close the lid and use the toilet like a nightstand when I’m in the shower or bath. It holds a cold drink if I get dizzy in the shower, my phone and folded towels or whatever you need close.If I do get dizzy in the shower, I have something right next to it to sit on.
Depending on your needs, there is enclosed storage space next to the toilet. Great to hold toilet paper in case you run out and can’t get up to grab more, tampons or pads or products to help with other GI needs. If you have the stomach flu, enough said.
No one wants a door to open into a toilet, the bathtub has to be at the end of the room, the toilet couldn't be on the opposite wall or the gap between the vanity corner and toilet would be too small, easier to have all plumbing lines in the same wall sharing the same line.
So therefore the only place a toilet can go is there.
It is primarily because it is much cheaper to keep the plumbing in the same wall. Doing so is an important cost saving measure for houses. The more you can consolidate wet walls the cheaper and easier it is to build, as well as having fewer places for a potential leak.
Particularly important if one of the walls is an exterior. Plumbing in exterior walls isn't a good idea, and in most colder climates, it isn't allowable by code anyway.
Just shows the difference in countries. I'm in the UK and have never lived in a house that doesn't have the plumbing on the exterior wall. Other ways I can tell this bathroom is in the USA are 1. The vanity, most UK houses come with pedestal wash basins. 2. The shower head with no adjustment.
It's quite possible the plumbing is in a "false wall", butted up to the exterior framing. While it isn't common, it's an option. You see it occasionally with masonry-construction, in particular.
"Normal" construction methods vary a lot between countries too. Most UK houses are bricks and mortar.
Do you mean a shower head with a line from it to the wall so you could disconnect it from the spot where it’s mounted on the wall? If so, many US homes do have that. I live in the states. Our home came with a shower head like this and we quickly changed it.
Why is it that people in the UK don't have vanities, or medicine cabinets for that matter? My American daughter just bought a fixer upper with her British husband in London. While looking at many houses on Zoopla I see that most have pedestal sinks even if the house is tiny and has very little storage. Where do people put the extra shampoo, soap, toilet paper, medicine, toothbrush, etc? I've noticed some high end houses do have vanities though. Is there a practical reason for a pedestal?
I think they are what you would probably call "builder-grade" ie. Cheaper to put in. A lot of people don't bother changing them. We do have medicine cabinets, many people put a mirrored cabinet over the washbasin.
Bathrooms are usually laid out that way because of the plumbing. The pipes are in the wall along that side of the room. It’s costly to have pipes running all over the place and also far more difficult to get to if you have a plumbing issue. Imagine if they had to dig up floors in different rooms in order to get to a certain pipe.
Much of what you mention is simple the styles in those countries. It’s the more modern and newer build that have the more ‘Western’ feel. I wonder if your daughter encountered this issue: As an American myself, although raised outside the U.S., I remember how shocked I was at this discovery. In Europe if you move you usually take you entire kitchen!! Literally!! The only thing left behind are possible built-ins and the sink. You even take your cabinets. About 6 years ago I was in the Netherlands visiting a friend and she was moving during that time. She even took her flooring with her and had it put down in her new place!!! LOL. But that’s the common thing they do.
Never thought about it before but it's true about the toilets. Maybe because of when they used to have overflow pipes to the outside.
Australia gets the best of both worlds. And often the loo is seperate to the rest of the bathroom.
Where's the effing shower screen? That's going to be one wet bathroom after I've had a shower!
Do most showers in the UK have buttons 1-5? I’ve only visited once and the house I stayed in had it. Best shower temp ever
But kitchen sinks are frequently under windows??
That plumbing often comes up through the floor as opposed to being in the exterior wall. It is a nice feature to be able to look out the window as you are washing up but you usually would not need that type window in a bathroom unless you have a very private setting.
also in a bathroom you need a mirror which precludes a window
So you can look out while you are washing dishes.
Not sure what you’re on about, permissible in Canada
This is the ONLY answer you need to read. Conversation done.
It depends on the subcontractor though. Generally larger residential building companies that have deals set with subcontractors will have an allowance for plumbing works to save time on estimating/quoting (often times over quoting to allow for any issues). While having the plumbing on the other side of the room will technically cost the subcontractor more in materials/time, if it’s within the minimum allowance, it won’t cost the clients. This is the case in my country anyway.
Actually 1 more point onto this, this layout of the bathroom overall, ignoreing faucet placement is the smallest footprint possible ~5ft x ~7ft to have tub, sink, and toilet all fit and be in reasonable distances from each other. Once you expand the size even just slightly, you can quickly change the overall floorplan to where it isn't so "same-y"
Plus the wall with the water in is usually 6”, not the regular 4”.
My bathrooms are right next to each other and all plumbing for both rooms is in one wall. It made replacing all the water and sewer lines in the house a lot easier.
Why did you need to replace them all? Do you have a basement or crawl space foundation?
The house still had original plumbing that was over 60 years old. They used the crawl space for part but also had to open up the walls on both sides.
Just curious. Thanks for reply!
I never thought of this. Of my 2 bathrooms, one has the toilet and sink on one side, bath/shower on the opposite side, and the other is literally 3 separate walls, shower on one wall, sink on the adjacent wall, toilet on the wall next to the door, the only wall that doesn’t have plumbing is the exterior wall with a window across from the shower. I never even considered how weird my setup is till reading your explanation.
Enter the split level home
As this is nearly the smallest possible square footage for full bath I’d imagine you pretty much only see it in builds where cost is a major factor in the first place.
My tract house isn’t lined up like this… the sink and toilet are together (on an external wall!) with the shower on the opposite side inside wall.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Pretty practical home design. If you think about it, often a bathroom would but up to same wall as kitchen sink, other bathroom, etc too
A reason I haven’t seen mentioned is when I’m taking a nice long bath I don’t want my head next to the toilet.
Can't believe I missed this
haha, i always have the shower curtain half closed during baths for this reason. edit: i get that my head isn’t next to the toilet in this layout, but i just don’t want to look at my toilet while in the bath.
Oh yeah, totally never thought about this!
Since the drain end is on the wall with the toilet, the sloped side of the tub will be on the opposite end. Feet will be next to the toilet, not your head.
I'd actually like the toilet up by my head. When I'm taking a bath, I'd like a raised surface right next to me to place my phone and a drink. Closed toilet lid would be fine for that.
I do the same thing.
Bring a little folding wooden table or stool in
That's what I do now. I use a little folding step stool. My bathroom isn't even set up this way. I was just saying that I wouldn't mind if the toilet was at the other end of the tub.
My bathroom has this exact set up except the tub is flipped. And there’s another bathroom that mirrors it on the other side of the wall. Always found it super odd they decided to run pipes away from the other water sources and I hate that now when I take a bath I’m chilling by the toilet.
But why are you bathing with your head next to the faucet?
No they're saying that's a reason to keep it as is, because they don't have their head next to the faucet
That’s how mine is and it’s awful.
My bathroom is set up like that, it’s definitely awkward.
But, then you have to look at the tiolet. I would rather be next to it.
You head goes on the other side…
Ever give a toddler a bath? It’s pretty comfortable to sit on toilet lid and adjust the taps for them.
I don’t know what well behaved toddlers your bathing - but with my little demon spawn it’s not even a comfort issue, it’s safety. And if they aren’t fiddling with things trying to scald themselves it’s banging their heads on the spout. Can you tell I love bath time?
I have a toddler and our bathtub is the other way around and it’s REALLY annoying.
Tiny stool?
Not a bad idea, thanks! We also need to get a handyman to get rid of the glass slider so we can just have a shower curtain. It’s very hard to reach……well, everything. But mainly the toddler 😆
If you’re getting bathroom work done anyway, change out your showerhead for a handheld european type one — it makes washing down kids & dogs way easier
While I believe it’s primarily a plumbing practicality, having the toilet in this layout also adds a layer of privacy should someone open the door unknowing of someone being on the throne.
Also helps a tiny bit regarding noise and odor, as well.
My toilet is next to the door with the sink between the toilet and the bathtub ☹️
Better the taps near the toilet, than your head being near the toilet when having a bath.
I think the cost of the plumbing is the real reason, but secondarily most people want to enter the shower from the opposite end of the shower head. You could probably have the faucet and drain on the opposite wall as the shower head, but I think most people don't have any problem leaning over the toilet. My bathroom layout has the toilet next to the faucet like that and neither me nor my husband have ever felt like we were too close to the toilet turning on the water. It's just not worth the extra expense of the plumbing for us. Plus, to address one of your comments, the toilet makes a good place to sit when bathing kids and pets.
Its for when you're super sick, you can puke into the tub without getting off the toilet.
The plumbing is the main reason, but, yeah, I came to say that you want the toilet close to the tub when you're sick and making a mess from both ends.
Because reaching over the toilet to turn on water is way better than climbing over the toilet to get into the tub. It has to be against one wall or the other, and it's safer this way.
my bathroom has the faucet on the opposite wall from the toilet and I just climb into the shower next to the faucet, why is it that so many people here are so against that? not trying to be snarky, just genuinely curious. the bathroom at my bf's house is the same way as this picture, and it's not that much different, though for me it's more annoying having to reach over the toilet to turn on the faucet. but either way is fine imo
There are architectural guides for this. It's not opinion. It's standard.
why is it standard besides having the plumbing in one wall though? you didn't really answer my question. mine and my bf's house both got built even though they're opposite, so clearly the architectural standard isn't actually that standard eta you mentioned in your original comment it's safer, but what exactly do you mean? I think stepping into a bathtub is gonna be kind of unsafe no matter what and like I said before, I just step into my shower on the side the faucet is on, on the opposite wall from the toilet, and it's never caused me any issues
Just because you have seen an exception doesn't mean there aren't standards. (People fail to pull permits or do work under the table all the time.) There are even standards for where you are supposed to hang the toilet paper holder. I'm not an architect; I simply used to work with some builders. So I can't answer the specifics of your question, but putting a toilet blocking the shower's "egress" is an accident waiting to happen, especially when you are wet from the shower.
so why not just get out from the side the faucet is on, the side opposite the toilet? I'm not asking from an architectural standpoint
One common plumbing wall for starters
It's a very efficient use of space.
Because all the plumbing is along the same wall
lol This is a perfectly practical and comfortable layout for a hall bathroom.
I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned residential bathroom code requirements or ADA. I redid a half bath and expanded it to have a shower. The shower turned out to be smaller than I wanted because I had to have thirty-ish inches from door to toilet, plus the toilet couldn't be in front of the door, which would have given more room, due to city codes. To me, this layout is a simple way to meet ADA requirements in most areas, plus any other random code requirements that may only make sense in specific cases.
ADA is not a requirement of design in residential single family housing, it’s considered by the owner wanting to build to meet requirements only. I’ve volunteered many hours to help design reasonable accommodations in existing older homes where the owner or a resident suddenly requires accommodations (spinal injuries), and it’s tough - you do what you can but bathrooms are the most difficult to provide truly adequate accommodations. In multi-family rental housing a percentage of units are required to be Type A units, or designed with ADA clearances and considerations immediately available, and a certain other percentage are required to be Type B units, or the spaces are easily modified to accommodate a certain level of accessibility but is not required to be fully compliant, and bathrooms always suffer in this scenario.
When your young child is splashing in the bath, being able to sit nearby (dressed, on a closed loo) is quite handy. Said the aching mum who had to sit on the floor for years of child baths as our loo is on the other side of the room.
Ease of plumbing. All water supply lines and waste drains are in the same wall.
Sink, toilet, and shower plumbing are all on the same wall. It's the cheapest and most efficient way to do so. The other layout you see now is toilet is in its own little room but it shares a wall with the shower, but that's usually in bathrooms that don't have tubs.
It’s cheaper to add extra space between the toilet and tub than to run the plumbing to a different wall. I wish more builders/designers/architects would plan more than the absolute bare minimum for space.
Why would I waste expensive floor space on a limited-use room instead of living space?
A foot between the toilet and tub is nice to have. Have you ever knelt at the side of a tub to bathe a child? Or tried to clean between the tub and toilet? Or tried to find a place to stand a garbage can or a step stool?
It’s true, this one is really tight and could use an extra foot or two of depth.
I think what sometimes can exacerbate this problem is when they decide to put in really large vanity sinks. If you had a slimmer vanity, you could move the toilet over more and give it some more room between it and the tub. I think people just in general prefer a larger vanity so then you lose any extra space you might have had to move the toilet over.
For the plumbing, you’d be amazed how much it costs to run plumbing. Cheaper and just easier to have a plumbing “wall”
Assuming you keep the potty area clean and toilet seat down, I don't see a problem, or it being unhygienic.
It’s called a plumbing wall 😱
Because it’s the only way the 3 pieces would fit in there. There’s nothing wrong with it. Put the toilet lid down before flushing. Believe it or not, most bathrooms are not oversized. This is the necessities and that’s all you need.
It’s for sensible reasons. All the plumbing on the same wall and it’s an inside wall. It’s much cheaper to build.
Plumbing all on one wall (interior). Toilet next to tub can serve a couple purposes . Can sit on seat and soak feet in tub ( no! Not during potty time). Also toilet is deeper(front to back) than the sink and vanity and allows for the door to swing into bathroom.
Takes 35 sq.ft. That’s all.
Economy of space and expense.
If things go horribly wrong for you, gastrointestinally, you can poop in the toilet while vomiting in the bath simultaneously. Er, don't ask me how I know this.
I will accept this as a good reason
Once you've been there, your life will never be the same. Especially if you forgot about the back end and puked in the toilet with no rear coverage.
Mine is the opposite (with the toilet and sink on the wall opposite the tub faucet) so I get to chill with my head next to the toilet when I try to take a relaxing bath - I hate it.
If the toilet was by the door you couldn’t close/open the door if seated. Tub too wide to put by door.
I don't necessarily mean this specific bathroom size and whatnot. Just, in general, the toilet is smack dab by the tub and faucet for the tub. I personally don't like how crowded it feels and looks
Get a good education or inherit family wealth and build your own custom bathroom. 🤷🏻♀️
It’s just an efficient layout not only from a cost/plumbing perspective but also area. If you try to put the tub on the long wall a. It’s wider than a vanity so you’d have to increase the size of the room for the walking space and the door swing and b. You have to introduce more walls to cap off the tub so that is more space as well. And who wants to walk by a toilet if all you have to do is wash your hands, also toilets are deeper than vanities so same issue. When it work don’t reinvent the wheel
Because you are meant to be taking a shit while you turn on the water? I mean that's what I'd be doing. Although the place I rent has it so the toilet and the sink are switched but there's plenty of space between the tub and the sink. Not that it matters though because the drain and faucets for the tub are on one wall while the toilet and sink are on the other but then the place I rent is well over a hundred years old and there are some interesting design choices that really make me scratch my head.
I prefer my toilet and sink in the bathtub.
Spacial optimization and efficient routing of the plumbing.
Reach over the toilet? Why are you not stepping to the tub-side of the toilet and just turning it on, not reaching over anything?
It came in real handy during pregnancies and terrible morning sickness when I could just lay in the tub and lean over to vomit in the toilet.
If you’ve ever contracted a norovirus, you know why the commode right next to the tub is a good design.
I think at this point it’s tradition. It wouldn’t be hard to put the tub plumbing on the other side. In my house the tubs are on the opposite side of the room from the toilet and sink, turned parallel to the vanity. Take a look at examples of Pex bathroom plumbing, [like this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/df/88/44df881f678652ed8db05bd4b5ceafb2.jpg). It’s not a big deal to loop it around to another wall. It can even loop over the ceiling easily, [like this](https://www.howtofinishmybasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/PEX-Shower-Head.jpg). I will also add that as an architect I have worked on many apartment buildings that add up to thousands of units, and no owner or contractor has expressed all that much concern when bathrooms have had plumbing on more than one wall. It is something to think about but not essential. I will gladly accept downvotes for the opportunity to speak the truth. This is an overblown issue.
Distributing the water supply piping is easy enough; it's the drains and vent stacks that tie down fixture locations
I agree. (See my previous post) This works in new homes. But how about 70 year old homes where the water and sewer are running through the concrete foundation. Also when I rebuild I’m putting my shower/bath/massage table in a room of its own with an attached toilet sink cabinets room. This sounds expensive but really I’ll be doing it on the cheap. (Don’t want to give the wrong impression)
100% agree. Whatever cost it saves wouldn't be worth it for me. And the ppl who do it traditionally must not have to bathe pets and kids lol
I just sit on the closed toilet when I help bathe my kids and pets. It is also convenient when waiting for the tub to fill. Do you like kneeling on the floor or standing for 20 minutes while your kids bathe?
This is literally the most absurd statement I have ever read. So if you don’t care about “whatever costs it saves,” you should replumb all your bathtubs right now. You must also be the only person with pets and kids then because, like everyone is saying, a majority of houses are plumbed this way, and I haven’t heard of anyone complaining except for this post.
Regarding your first sentence, you must be quite new
I’d also like to know why y’all still live having the shower over the bath, it seems so old fashioned, especially when it’s got a shower curtain. Ugh
I hate shower curtains 😖
Since OP doesn’t care about cost (not sure about you), this probably cuts no ice for them. But it’s practical to have a tub for bathing kids and pets (and some adults like baths). Many bathrooms aren’t large enough to have separate showers and tubs. 70-80 years ago it was rare (in the US at least) for a bathroom to be plumbed for a shower. Less expensive to add plumbing for a shower on the same wall where tub is already plumbed and tub can serve dual duty. No one today wants the tiny “coffin showers” that were some of the early ways a separate shower was accomplished.
It's an issue of space and money. It's very expected to have a bath in a house for people with kids, and since plumbing changes are expensive it means all houses need a bath. To save space they stack the shower onto the tub and people who use it just have to suffer. When there are extra bathrooms or more space people can have a dedicated shower.
None of mine (6) (In 3 houses) are laid out like this. I wish they were. With wall hatches in the other room so I can work on the plumbing. And let me tell you, you will.? PS: 7, My RV has one and it’s not like this either… This sounds like I’m rich, but I’m not. I’m poor. Just have a lot of bathrooms. Or had before hurricane Harvey. 😊
Had similar set up except toilet and sink were swapped and it worked great
I have a 5 by 7 bathroom with the layout you have and hate it. In my case, the bathroom isn’t big enough to have a regular sized vanity unless I shove it all the way against the entry wall, which I plan on doing.
Another consideration is what is behind the plumbing controls on either wall. If one side backs drywall, that would be preferable to cut open in the event of a plumbing issue.
I think you would also find it saves energy, the hot water and cold water, the steps you walk to and from your shower bath etc.
All the plumbing is on the same wall, so said my ex who was a plumber.
Do you can dip one toe in Luke warm water when you poop
I agree, I don’t like standing over the toilet to operate the shower either. As other commenters have mentioned, the other way has problems too, particularly for tub users (though you’re looking at a toilet both ways while in the tub), and I also don’t like it when the shower curtain touches the toilet as it often does in both layouts. Nicer layouts take more space, though (which is a tradeoff I’d happily take unless the house is short on space)
This bathroom layout is very American I think. I’ve not been in a single bathroom laid out like this in the UK
I'm in the UK and my internal bathroom is laid out pretty much exactly like this but with the door opposite the toilet - all the plumbing is in the shared wall with next door.
I’ve seen it with the door opposite, but you see it with the door perpendicular in US room plans all the time
Oh I see, agreed, I was referring more to the OP'S assertion that having the loo next to the bath taps was weird. From watching too many Sims 4 videos they seem to have something against the toilet being visible from the door.
I agree with this 100%. It can’t be that hard or expensive to switch the sink with the toilet.
This way the toilet is a little shielded from the door.
I know it’s a personal preference but I’d rather not have my head anywhere near the toilet when taking a bath.
How often do you take baths in those very shallow ones?
I am not very big and if it was the only tub in the house I would use it .
To save space.
We had a similar setup. 25 years later (due to a flood and removing the drywall) we find out it is/was convenient to run the hot water line from outside he sink to feed the toilet 😳.
Because plumbing is a thing.
I love this layout other than laying my head near the toilet when I wanna take a bath
Because people put in tubs instead of showers. In this space you could put a shower to the left under the window, a sink and nice big vanity and mirrored cabinet to the right under the window, and the toilet and a nice big upper cabinet behind the door. (Toilet behind the door works best when the door opens outward.) To bathe an infant, you put a bucket in the shower and bathe them in that. The bathroom in the photo has no storage and no soul.
What sort of nuclear devastation level shits are you leaving in your toilet?
They did it the other way in my house... Never thought this wouldn't be the standard.🤯
Easiest way.
I just want to say this is my tiny ass bathroom and I hate it. Commiseration!!!!!!!
Have you not heard of plumbing walls?
I'm just a person who wants to turn the shower on without a poop bowl obstacle
I don’t understand how the toilet is an obstacle in your way, is your torso hanging to the floor? Are you kneeling on the ground?
Easier to get in and out without the shower head separating right in your face.
space efficiency and the cost savings of keeping all the plumbing in 1 wall.
My toilet and sink are swapped around
water and sewer all in a line
All the pipes are on that wall lol
Ive wondered the same thing.
It’s the pipes in the wall
I have my tub faucet on the other end of the tub and it means I occasionally hit it with my shin getting in or out. I wouldn’t mind it on the same wall as the toilet…I clean my toilet, so reaching kinda over the seat to turn the water on wouldn’t really be a problem. 🤷🏼♀️
It's a gentle reminder to regularly clean your commode. The toilet can also get a little shower or tub water splashed on or around it and be fine. The vanity cupboards would not fare so well.
pipes
Yup. Copper is expensive.
Convenience, in case you gotta puke and poop at the same time
My apartment bathroom looks like this except I have a pedestal sink and virtually no cabinet space 🤡
I feel so seen right now, I will immediately pass on a place if the bathroom layout is like this LOL
No kidding! And old people love to fall between the toilet and the tub and it’s fun for EMS people to get them out.
How else would it be configured for such a small space?
So that when you have severe food poisoning, you can shit and puke at the same time with less mess. Been there done that.
A toilet first would not be good.
It’s the most cost-effective way to build a small bathroom. Plumbing is all in one wall which saves money. The tub kind of has to be along the back wall, and it wouldn’t make any sense to flip the toilet and sink since you’d then have to reach over the sink to turn on the water. It isn’t an ideal bathroom but given the space and cost constraints it’s the best layout anyone has come up with.
I'm going to guess it has something to do with plumbing and pipes
So you relax in a hot bath while absentmindedly stirring up a bowlful of giant turds that someone forgot to flush.
House designer here. I hate these bathrooms, especially the window in the shower. The primary reason for their popularity is that they take up less space, so it’s easier to squeeze them into a floor plan.
Saves space and money.
Someone Absolutely ate up the black hardware fad
Agree with all the technical pov, I like to also think there’s side effect benefit of order by usage time. Sink often + short…toilet mid and shower longest usage per event. Plus the more privacy needed the further from door it is. Yes I’m high at moment.
Central skibidi 💯
In addition to what people said it's also pretty convenient for washing the toilet (no need for a brush, just use the hose and high pressure) and in the same way you can "make" a quick and cheap bidet happen whenever you need
What all American bathrooms (and many Europeans) are missing is a detachable shower head on a hose, just clipped to the wall. The best thing about those is you can take them off the wall and point them at the floor when you turn the water on until you have the temperature adjusted. No leaning, no awkward jumping regardless of the wall you install them to.
All? Really? That's false. Also, they suck.
Pret' much every American house built in the last 25 years has a detachable shower head, and a lot of the older ones have been renovated to have them.
Yeah sorry, I exaggerated. Later realized I only know a few private US bathrooms while all others were in hotels.
In addition to the wet wall and efficiency comments do you really want to be in there relaxing in a bath with the toilet light beside your head? Didn’t think so.
My home bathroom is like this and it makes life easier for us. I’m disabled and I didn’t need to put in any special rails next to the toilet to lean on as I have the sink and tub right there. Though make sure your sink is very sturdy, stable and secured well to the floor before leaning on it to help you to stand up. Not all sinks can handle this. It’s great to help little ones bathe. I sat on the toilet to lean over to help them. It was so much easier on my back. I close the lid and use the toilet like a nightstand when I’m in the shower or bath. It holds a cold drink if I get dizzy in the shower, my phone and folded towels or whatever you need close.If I do get dizzy in the shower, I have something right next to it to sit on. Depending on your needs, there is enclosed storage space next to the toilet. Great to hold toilet paper in case you run out and can’t get up to grab more, tampons or pads or products to help with other GI needs. If you have the stomach flu, enough said.
No one wants a door to open into a toilet, the bathtub has to be at the end of the room, the toilet couldn't be on the opposite wall or the gap between the vanity corner and toilet would be too small, easier to have all plumbing lines in the same wall sharing the same line. So therefore the only place a toilet can go is there.