Why do mansions have so many bathrooms?

If you’ve ever visited a mansion, chances are you were blown away by the number of rooms and the luxuries homes of that stature have. A common feature in mansions, and even in newer single family homes nowadays, is that they tend to have more bathrooms than bedrooms. But, why do mansions have so many bathrooms? Whether it’s a 10-bedroom estate or a modern luxury home, the sheer number of bathrooms can be mind-boggling! But there’s a method to the madness. And, that is exactly what we’ll try to explain in this article.

A quick peek into bathroom history

Let’s try to understand how the trend of having multiple bathrooms in a home began.

The world of indoor plumbing was very different prior to World War II. The pipes were all made of cast iron or copper. The bathtubs were made of cast iron. Simply put, everything was extremely heavy and difficult to haul around.

Bathrooms were limited to a single bathroom in a home, and their purpose was limited to being bathing spaces. Toilets were often found outside of homes. And even after the war, only the rich had the luxury of having more than one bathroom in the house.

Things, however, changed for the better when PVC pipes came into use during the 1960s and 1970s. Lighter bathtubs with attached showers became commonplace, and it became more affordable for middle-class home builders to have more than one bathroom in their homes.

If you look back 50 years, the average American family didn’t have nearly as many bathrooms as today. A typical single-family home might have had one full bath for the whole house. Fast forward 20 years and even middle-class homes began to have a bathroom per bedroom, if not more. As homes grew larger, bathrooms became a key focus for comfort and convenience.

Now, let’s think about mansions. Mansions are often massive, boasting thousands of square feet. With that much space, it only makes sense to add more bathrooms. But it’s not just about filling the house with extras. There’s actually a practical side to having so many bathrooms.

Today, the number of bathrooms in a home has become a deal breaker when it comes to the sale of homes. So much so that real estate agents publicize the bathrooms per bedroom a house has in advertisements.

Why do big houses have more bathrooms than bedrooms?

Let’s now get to answering our primary question. Why do mansions have so many bathrooms? Well, the reason is quite simple. 

Mansions are where the rich live, and the rich tend to entertain guests more often than the regular Joe does. This is why mansions often have multiple entertainment areas. They also have more bathrooms than bedrooms for the same reason.

The extra bathrooms are convenient to make sure guests have access to powder rooms close to these entertainment areas. Otherwise, they’d have to run to the master bedroom to use the en suite bathroom every time they wanted to use the toilet, and no one really likes to share their bathroom.

Let’s not forget that mansions are designed for luxury. For many homeowners, it’s not just about how many bathrooms they have, but also what’s inside them. Steam showers, massive soaking tubs, and even custom medicine cabinets are features that make these bathrooms feel like personal spas. Homeowners want comfort and a retreat-like feel right in their own house.

Then, there is also the fact that bathrooms have evolved from purely functional places to private and luxurious experiences. The modern bathroom now has his and her wash basins, cabinets to stow away shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, makeup, and more, shower stalls, bathtubs, and saunas. They have become places where people like to spend quality time alone.

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How did the en suite trend begin?

You can contribute the growing number of bathrooms to the rise of the en suite bathroom, a feature found in most modern homes, especially in master bedrooms. This means each bedroom in a mansion often gets its own private bathroom. The idea is to offer convenience and privacy for everyone living in or visiting the home. Instead of sharing a bathroom with the rest of the house, guests or family members have their own space.

How many bathrooms should a house have?

There is no correct answer to this question. However, here are some things worth pondering about that might help you decide.

Do you have children in your family? If you do, you’d appreciate the value of an additional bathroom on weekdays when the kids need to get ready for school and you need to get to work on time.

Then, there is the question of how often you entertain guests. An extra bathroom, even if it is just a powder room, in a common area not only makes it convenient for the guests to use when they need to, but it also means you have privacy every time someone needs to use the toilet. 

Experts suggest that a good rule of thumb to use is to account for at least two bathrooms for every three bedrooms in the house. Also, keep in mind that an extra bathroom will make it easier to sell your house when the time comes. This is why a lot of home builders make provisions for an extra bathroom in places like the basement or the garage. 

And it doesn’t really mean adding an extra bathroom is going to make a difference to the amount of space you have available. The average American family home now measures a whopping 2,493 square feet, much bigger than the 1,600 square feet average that homes used to be in the 1970s.

The convenience makes it worth it

The cost of adding a half bathroom to your home could vary from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on whether you intend to utilize existing space for the project or add space to make it happen. While that may not seem particularly cheap, the convenience of an added bathroom simply means you do not need to share yours, and that alone makes it worth the cost. And considering your house will appreciate by at least 5.7% because of it, it seems like a worthwhile investment to make.

Read more: Guest bathroom floor plans architect  

So, why do mansions have so many bathrooms: Last thoughts

Today, it’s not just old mansions that come packed with bathrooms. Home builders are continuing this trend in newer single-family homes for the middle class as well. 

At the end of the day, the number of bathrooms comes down to a mix of convenience, privacy, luxury, and modern design trends. Whether it’s having a full bath for every bedroom or placing powder rooms near public areas, the goal is to make life more comfortable for the people living there. So, while 16 bathrooms might seem like overkill to some, for those living in these vast homes, it’s all about making every square foot count.

Written by Narayan Shrouthy. September 14, 2022

Narayan is a content writer for Kukun. With experience in both content writing and editing, Narayan mixes his writing and love for reading with his passion for music. As an active musician, He aims to be a key player in Kukun's content experience.