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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The secret to a good marriage is never having shared a bathroom

77 replies

WryJadeWren · 12/05/2026 18:27

Half joking, half serious…

Everyone I know in a long, happy marriage seems to swear that having separate bathrooms is a game-changer - less friction, more privacy, fewer arguments about mess and timing.

Obviously plenty of couples share and survive just fine but I’m starting to wonder whether separate bathrooms are an underrated relationship saver.

AIBU?

OP posts:
DarkForces · 12/05/2026 18:31

I thought it was bedrooms 🤔

LittleMissClutter · 12/05/2026 18:33

DarkForces · 12/05/2026 18:31

I thought it was bedrooms 🤔

Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Cars
Finances

And in some cases, separate houses 😁

redboxerclub · 12/05/2026 18:35

Ha ha yes I love our bathrooms we moved to a house with an upstairs family and a down stairs shower room. DH commandeered the shower room and preferred it to the upstairs one m. I prefer the upstairs.

I actually love double sinks on holiday!

KeyLimeCake · 12/05/2026 18:36

We have one bathroom between four of us, including two teenagers. It occasionally breaks me.

chichi001 · 12/05/2026 18:38

None of my family except for me have ever had more than one bathroom.

Im the only one in my family since at least my great grandparents generation that has got divorced.

TealNewt · 12/05/2026 18:39

I am single but lived with my ex for 20 years - never want to share a bathroom (or a bedroom) ever again!

Manyleaves · 12/05/2026 18:39

I was married for 30 years (until he died). There are defintely challenges around living with someone, the shared bathroom was never it.

Endofyear · 12/05/2026 18:40

I've been married 36 years and have always shared a bathroom! It's fine, we're not usually in there at the same time!

Fernhurst · 12/05/2026 18:41

I shared a bathroom with late dh and it never caused any issues at all.

loaferr · 12/05/2026 18:43

I don't want more bathrooms that need cleaning.

Brightbluesomething · 12/05/2026 18:46

I can’t even share a bathroom with my DC’s!
As long as there’s multiple bathrooms and in particular toilets in a house I think life can be navigated. Everyone sharing one is a source of far too much stress.

Bridgertonisbest · 12/05/2026 18:47

I think separate bathrooms is a luxury that only a few can afford. We have an en-suite we both share but I can’t imagine ever having separate bathrooms.

TeaPot496 · 12/05/2026 18:49

I can hear him plopping wherever he is in the house, unfortunately.

WhereIsMyLight · 12/05/2026 18:51

We do have separate bathrooms(one in the en-suite and one in the main bathroom) but I can’t say it’s made a massive improvement from when we did share.

The only time sharing a single bathroom caused friction is when we both had food poisoning. I did hate him a bit when I felt he was hogging the toilet and my stomach decided it was my turn!

zurigo · 12/05/2026 18:53

Actually, DH and I share a bathroom, but we have his and hers sinks, which is good. Also, while we have an en suite, there's a dressing area between the bedroom and bathroom and an extra door that can be closed to give the person in the bathroom additional privacy, and this makes a huge difference.

Whenever we stay in a hotel and have a bathroom immediately off the bedroom I think how un-private it is. I don't want to hear anyone on the loo and I don't want to heard. So, for me/us it's privacy in the bathroom that is most important.

Fluffybuns88 · 12/05/2026 18:55

If I was wealthy enough to live in a house with separate bathrooms, I imagine I'd have plenty of money to distract myself with activities that meant I didn't have as much time to notice any issues in my relationship. 😅

SnappyUmberLion · 12/05/2026 18:56

TeaPot496 · 12/05/2026 18:49

I can hear him plopping wherever he is in the house, unfortunately.

Can he hear you plopping?

mumofoneAloneandwell · 12/05/2026 18:58

Can I opt to not share a home?

Strandas · 12/05/2026 19:05

Gosh, this may be very unmumsnetty, but we have more than one bathroom and still use the same one!!

We’ve been through so much in that bathroom, pregnancy tests, unfortunate miscarriages with him holding me whilst in pain and bleeding, first baby baths, sickness with each other supporting (and messy clear ups), 39wks pregnant and doing the biggest poo (hadn’t pooed for a week!) which blocked the toilet and he laughingly unblocked… Wouldn’t change a thing!

We’re really happy in our marriage, still find each other very attractive, and have no qualms about being in the bathroom together when one of us is showering or need to do our ablutions.

suki1964 · 12/05/2026 19:05

I have hell on earth coming my way, we are moving our bedroom downstairs - to a room that has an ensuite :( And I know Im going to be woken during the night

3 bathrooms, family bathroom and en suite downstairs and family bathroom upstairs , we currently share the upstairs bedroom with any guests using the downstairs one

Gallowayan · 12/05/2026 19:35

YANBU. I have considered writing an article titled "A Bathroom of One's Own" nearly as important as having a room of your own.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 12/05/2026 19:39

What's wrong with sharing a bathroom?

MargotLovesTom · 12/05/2026 19:40

KeyLimeCake · 12/05/2026 18:36

We have one bathroom between four of us, including two teenagers. It occasionally breaks me.

One bathrooms between five of us, offspring are all 18+!! We do thankfully have another toilet as well, otherwise it would be WW3.

Purplecatshopaholic · 12/05/2026 19:42

Separate bathroom are essential in my world, lol. I need my space, and I guess he does too and it’s brilliant. Would never share.

climbintheback · 12/05/2026 19:43

Separate bathrooms seperate bedrooms just like the king and Queen it’s marvellous!