Ours powder room is next to the mudroom and its never been an issue with guests. Its nicely decorated and kept very clean. If the guests are there for the evening I try to have a candle burning or some flower pedals in a dish with scented cotton balls. Makes the guests feel that you care! LOL

Hope that helps.

My powderoom will be across the hall from my mudroom.I do not see a problem with that.I did not move in yet,but all my friends love the idea of a mudroom.

We did this to save square feet; it was the only place we could find. No complaints from guests so far. It's a good incentive to keep the mud/laundry room very clean and spiffy. We've put up some decent prints in the laundry room and have made the powder room fairly feminine. Not the optimum place, of course, but it works for us.

Not only can you - there should be a powder room near the mudroom. Lets face it most homes should not be designed for the convienience and asthetics of guests but for the comfort of the occupants. The first think I looked at in a house plan was how far I would have to walk/what areas would I go through if I came through the most used door and has to use the loo. Of course I realize that not everyone lives like we do ( we live on a farm- large acreage) and if you are in a subdivision and no one every leaves the concrete a PR somewhere "in the middle" might work. But almost any home with an active family needs a PR in the "back hall" space. ( Thanks Chisue!)

In our home we have a mudroom, a clutter room ( large laundry room/work space/storage/dogs etc)and the powder room all in their own wing with acsess from the side porch the back porch, the garage and the front porch. We also have a full bath in the more formal area of the house but most of our guests will probably use the PR near the mudroom I would guess.

Actually the back hall bathroom is a hot point for me if you can't tell.... tired of traipsing through the house and taking off layers/boots to tinkle....... instead we just go in the barn! LOL

Thank you all so very much for helping me out with this decision!!! I appreciate it so very much and I am very grateful to have my "virtual" friends to go to in time of need!! I will tel my builder that the powder room will most certainly have to go into the mudroom back area. Take care everyone!! --Colleennc

Colleen, chiming in late here, but I insisted on a powder room "in" the mud room. We too have two powder rooms on the first floor, and one is clear down the hall from the garage entrance on the other side of the house by the master bedroom. No way do I want muddy children and their muddy friends running, and they would run, all the way down the hall. They can use the powder room right off of the garage.

Amy

Heh... I call mine a 'coat room', since that's what I store there. I prefer to keep my mud out doors-- stays fresher that way.

But as everyone else says, that's where the half bath belongs. Handy to kitchen and garage, too.

I do have a 'guest bath' that also serves the main floor guest room and is closer to the living room, though.

But if your guests are sensibilites are so fragile that even going near the backdoor is an issue for them, they'd better develope bladders of iron to compensate.

HA! Oruboris. Completely agree with your last statement. Our powder room is also right off the 'coat' room/garage entrance. Both doors open into a small hallway which leads to the kitchen. I'm not living there yet, but on paper and walking through the framed house, it feels "just right".

Thanks Amy and Oruboris!! I really appreciate everyone's input which makes decision making much easier for me :)! This will be the only bathroom on the main floor (except the mater bathroom and my husband does not want others using his throne LOL). There will be a guest bath on the 2nd floor and a small bath in the basement. I originally had the powder room right off the great room - but the more I thought about it, the more I thought I would like that toilet in the back hall. Thanks again my Friends!!

Jaymeilo, you and I must have posted at the same time!! My floorplan sounds very similar to yours in regards to the mudroom and hallway leading to the kitchen. I think I am very content putting the ole' toilet in the back - thanks for helping me make the choice!! Take care!

i echo amyks's point about wanting a bathroom in or very near the mudroom. We constantly have our boys and their friends coming in frantically from outside needing to use the bathroom. Often boots and coats are still on. Ours is down a short hall from the mudroom and it would be better if it were a bit closer.

Another factor is if you have a pool or hot tub, i would also suggest a bathroom with water resistant flooring near the most likely entrance as we have kids running in dripping wet (in spite of repeated reminders) to go to the bathroom or change.

Though a bit late, just had to chime in here...we were facing a similar dilemma with our plan. We did decide to keep the powder off the entry, but we also added a 3/4 bath (has a shower) in the mudroom. It will be close to the kitchen & garage, and the mudroom opens to the front and backyard so it will definately get alot of use. Also it will serve the bonus room which will be used for overnight guests. If I had to choose just one guest bath on the main floor-I would keep the one in the 'back hall'. Must, give some credit to chisue here...she offered alot of input last summer when we were just beginning to work on our plans. Thanks! :)

What can I say but thank you to everyone! You all have such wonderful insight on building a home!!

we have a powder room right next to the mudroom in our plans. seems smart to me. as for the guests, i think it's fine. our house is going to be on the large side, so it will have a second powder room on the other side that is partitioned off of a full bath for a downstairs guest room. i'm thinking either will be suitable for doing ones business.

What would Martha say?

"What would Martha say?"

I am pretty sure Martha doesn't use a bathroom.

LOL

My architect, who is a good friend and not afraid to share the truth, was clear that the powder room shouldn't be right off the great room that there should be some space in between just in case your guests need to do some major business. I guess he was concerened about coming to visit us later on! LOL

That said ours is technically in our back hall, right next to the laundry room and across from our cubbies. We have a full bath at the other end of the house that I expect many guests will use, it will just depend on where tbey are when they need to use one.

Thanks Jeannekay!! That was one of my thoughts exactly!! Our last home was a spec home and the powder room was right near the breakfast nook.....I mean I would beg my son and husband not to use it(no offense but phew!!!) So I knew that I did not want a toilet anywheres near where we were eating so the builder designed it so it exits right into the great room area.....once again.....if a guest (or family member :) )had some serious pooping to do - then look out! HAHAH!!

Oh, dear! Maybe some of these 'powder rooms' need a copy of the book my DS's psychiatrist SIL gives to young children. Title is: "Everybody Poops".

Reminds me of an adventure a friend had while traveling by car in a rural area of Spain. She had some gastric distress and was in dire need. Her DH stopped in front of a modern home. My friend rang the bell. Lady-of-the-house answered. Friend asked if there was a 'bathroom' she could use. Lady proudly showed her three rooms with tubs and showers. Friend was dying. Finally the homeowner said, "Oh, you need the TOILET!"

Time to take the pantaloons off the table legs, folks. The Victorian Era is O-V-E-R. Let's retire 'powder room' while we're at it.

chiming in on the privay issue...we purposely put noisy ventilation in our downstairs bathrooms!

Put it anywhere you like. Guests who need to use your bathroom are highly motivated and will do whatever is necessary without complaint. Don't worry about them, suit yourself. The more important issue is that kids will track through the house to use it so off the mud room is the best location for them.