Should You Have a Separate Room Just for Your Toilet? We Asked Designers

Ahead of a bathroom renovation, there are a few key questions you’ll want to ask yourself. One of the big ones is whether or not it’s necessary to separate your toilet from the rest of the room, either in its own water closet or simply with a partitioned wall.

We chatted with two professional designers to find out their advice, along with what other considerations people should make before making any major changes to their bathroom layout. 

Are People Looking for Partitioned Toilets in their Bathrooms?

In determining whether or not partitioned toilets are a must-have, it’s important to look at two things: the space available and your home’s needs.

“The right approach depends on the household and how the space is used each day,” says lead designer Melanie Grabarkiewicz. “In family homes, especially where kids share a hall bath, many homeowners want areas that allow multiple activities to happen at the same time.”

In this case, it might be helpful to have the toilet and the shower together, but separate from the vanity area.

However, if you’re looking at the primary bathroom, things change. Grabarkiewicz says it’s still quite common to have a separate toilet area—if not a dedicated room for the toilet if the space allows. 

“Homeowners appreciate the added privacy and the smoother daily routines that come with it,” she says.

If you’re working with a larger space, you might even consider creating a separate toilet room or just adding a half-wall to guarantee everyone their own space if needed.

Interior designer Karley Hass agrees, and says she always suggests a separate water closet where possible. However, you should consider what you’ll potentially lose by adding this feature.

“If separating it altogether means losing natural light from a window, the half wall might be the better option,” she says. “This preserves the light and the view while still offering a defined sense of separation.”

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Why Section Off a Toilet From the Rest of the Bathroom?

The biggest benefit of a sectioned-off toilet is, of course, added privacy. But as Grabarkiewicz points out, it can also vastly improve the flow and functionality of your bathroom.

“Sectioning off a toilet from the rest of the bathroom creates compartmentalized areas in which multiple people can exist in the bathroom at the same time,” she says.

4 Bathroom Designs and Layouts Buyers Are Looking for

Good Circulation and Flow

Above all else, your bathroom should have good circulation and an easy flow.

“A bathroom should feel easy to move through, with enough space to open doors, access storage, and use fixtures without feeling cramped,” Hass says.

Easy, Accessible Storage

Useful, accessible storage is another must-have in the bathroom. 

“Built-in niches, medicine cabinets, and vanity drawers that maximize every inch help keep countertops clear and daily routines more streamlined,” says Hass. “Clear sight lines matter, too.”

Along with toiletries, make sure your bathroom has a spot for extra toilet paper and easily accessible clean towels. This also includes shower storage. 

“There’s nothing worse than having nowhere to put your shampoo and razor than on the floor,” she says.

Well-Planned Lighting

Great lighting is another must-have in the bathroom, and this should include a mix of task lighting and soft, ambient overheard lighting.

“[This] creates a space that works for grooming but still feels calm in the evening,” says Hass.

Thoughtful Decisions in Quirky Spaces

If you have an older home, then you know this can present more constraints. Grabarkiewicz says it’s important to work with the space you have—don’t try to section off the toilet and eat up valuable square footage.

“If the existing layout only fits a combined tub and shower, a single vanity, and a toilet, there may not be enough space to create additional partitions—not even a small half wall,” she says.

In this case, focus more on making strategic adjustments to your layout.

“Thoughtful fixture upgrades usually provide the most practical improvements,” she says.