Why Do Some Houses Have More Bathrooms Than Bedrooms?

If you've ever found yourself house hunting, you've likely noticed a strange trend in home layouts, especially among more expensive properties. In fact, it seems the higher a house's price tag, the more likely it is to display this pattern: Having more bathrooms than bedrooms. It's not at all uncommon to see multimillion-dollar mansions listed with at least two more bathrooms than bedrooms. In some cases, there may be twice as many bathrooms as there are other rooms. As it turns out, this quirk is not a result of a lack of architectural imagination or the residents of these homes having digestive issues. Instead, having a large number of bathrooms in a house provides more comfort and convenience.

The simplest reason a home may have a large number of bathrooms is that it has a lot of bedrooms. For instance, say a large, multigenerational family is looking for a place to stay. They will likely want at least three rooms for the parents, grandparents, and children. To ensure everyone has enough privacy, a house with at least one bathroom per bedroom would be ideal. Then add an extra bathroom to accommodate multiple people per bedroom, plus guests, and you already have more bathrooms than bedrooms, even in a moderate-sized home. Add even more regular rooms to the house, and it's easy to see how the number of bathrooms would also increase. This amount of privacy is expected in super expensive homes — if you paid millions to live somewhere with dozens of bedrooms, it would be pretty disappointing to have to share a bathroom. Privacy also affects a home's resale value, which is why some take measures such as planting shrubs to create privacy and boost curb appeal all year long.

Keep in mind that homes with a large number of bathrooms also tend to have other features like pools, movie theaters, or even staff quarters, and that these auxiliary areas often have a dedicated bathroom. This is about convenience as much as it is privacy. Again, if living in a luxury home, having to wander through multiple rooms just to find a bathroom won't cut it. Multiple accessible bathrooms also become relevant if the homeowner entertains frequently.

Another reason some homes have more bathrooms than bedrooms is that it can increase the property's resale value since it allows more flexibility for future renovations. Due to all the required plumbing, it can be difficult to install a new bathroom in a finished house. It's much easier to simply cover up any plumbing hookups in an existing bathroom and knock out the walls to turn it into an office, bedroom, or living space. Having an access point for a sink or shower already available further extends the possibilities, so these bathrooms could even be transformed into kitchens or craft spaces. Not to mention, bathrooms are already attractive features to potential homebuyers, as are some of the other factors that can affect a home's resale value.

For most people, having more bathrooms than bedrooms is not necessary to create a comfortable home. Unless you plan on adding a several-thousand-square-foot addition or hosting a massive gala, it's okay for the bathroom-to-bedroom ratio of your house to be less than that of a mansion — there are other, easier ways to add a touch of luxury to your space.