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Dual Sinks in Bathroom - What do you think?

17 years ago

It seems to be the rage on the home shows I watch. Everyone seems to like the idea of 2 people being able to use the bathroom sink at the same time. I personally don't like it. The bathroom should be your private space, and my husband agrees.

What do you think?

Comments (35)

  • 17 years ago

    I agree. I don't want to share my bathroom time with anyone!

  • 17 years ago

    My master does have two sinks and I have always thought 1 was plenty but we are enjoying have our own personal sinks. My husband likes to leave a few of his things right on the counter so he can get to them quickly...I prefer to have my neat and clutter free...so the dual sinks work great for us...We do occasionally use the sinks at the same time but we are retired and we start getting ready to go out at the same time...

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  • 17 years ago

    I think it's another sink to clean and I can wait to use the sink after Joe is finished.

  • 17 years ago

    I think this is something that different people see differently. And, of course, there's definitely no right or wrong.

    We only have a single sink in our bathroom (but the house we're looking at has one bathroom with 2). I like the idea of double sinks.

    In our case, my husband and I have been married way, way longer than we were single. We're so comfortable with each other that we often use the bathroom (for different things--use your imagination) at the same time. We're fine with that. So it just depends upon your own personal outlook. Double sinks would be great for us. Especially since the bathroom with them (in the new house) is near the outside door, so when we came in from gardening or other outside work, both could clean up at once.

    And think of this scenario--wouldn't double sinks be great for a mom trying to get a couple of young kids ready for bed or school at the same time? Just think how much time you would save if you could supervise the kids both washing hands, or brushing teeth simultaneously. I think that would be a wonderful time-saver on a rushed morning when everyone needs to get out the door in a hurry.

  • 17 years ago

    I guess it is handy if two people are getting ready to go to work at the same time each morning. It isn't something that I would care anything about.

  • 17 years ago

    I wouldn't want one now, but growing up I'd have loved one. I had 2 sisters, and it was a pain getting ready for school, dates, etc.
    And I had 4 daughters, 2 of them 15 mo. apart. I'm sure they'd have loved double sinks too. When they'd get ready for school, I'd already be at work thankfully.
    Leslie

  • 17 years ago

    We have 2 sinks in our master bathroom, and I love it. Makes life simpler when we're in a rush. Claude and I don't mind brushing our teeth (or pretty much anything else, for that matter) with the other in the room.... It's just the way we are.

    We have 3 bathrooms here, but this is the one that gets used most often by the 4 of us. When we're getting the kids ready to go out, or ready for bed at night, they can (like Azzalea said) clean up or brush their teeth at the same time without getting in each other's way.

  • 17 years ago

    It really depends on a couple's or family's personal daily routine. When we renovated our master bathroom we had 2 options for the space on one wall; we could have 2 sinks with a single shower, or have 1 sink with a larger 5' shower and 2 shower heads (one on each side). Our contractor insisted we wanted 2 sinks and we insisted we wanted a larger shower with 2 shower heads. He swore that we would use the double sinks more. Thank goodness we held fast because we use the shower together more than we would use the sinks together...you know the old saying, "Save water and shower with a friend" LOL. I am pretty low maintenance and I don't use the sink for more than brushing my teeth and quickly geling and finger styling my hair. No make-up, curling iron, etc, so we didn't see the need for 2 sinks. My routine is basically 1-2-3. We also have a bathroom downstairs that one of us can use if need be.

  • 17 years ago

    We have 2 identical vanities and sinks across from each other in our master bath and we love this feature. We also have a guest powder room that can be accessed from the master bath so we have 2 toilets that can be pressed into service should the need arise while one is occupied.

  • 17 years ago

    I've had them for thirty years and even when the kids were little I don't remember one time they were both in use at the same time.

    When we get around to doing that bathroom over, the extra sink will be the first thing to go. Like someone else thought, it's just one more thing to clean.

  • 17 years ago

    I grew up with dual sinks in our main bathroom. And I have to tell you, I miss them LOL!

    Not so much for DH and I, but rather DD and I so we can both do things at the same time without me trying to spit toothpaste on her head ;). I would also love to have a separate WC and shower/tub area from the sink. Three separate spaces that can be used.

    We have two bathrooms but tend to all use the main one. We even wait in line rather than go down and use the other - not because we don't like it. I don't know why really.

    So in my mind, having a single useable space is better than duplication. Except for the sinks LOL.

  • 17 years ago

    We had two sinks, but in the remodel, we are getting rid of one. Joe and I have never had to get ready at the exact same time. It works for us, and the bathroom will look a little bigger I think. Just can't wait for it to be done!!
    I can see it being handy for multiple kids, but I didn't realize kids used the master bath.

  • 17 years ago

    DH insisted on having two in the master, although I'll bet I can count on one hand the number of times (in the last three years) we've been in there getting ready at the same time. It's just something else for me to clean...and I hate cleaning.
    :-)

  • 17 years ago

    We have them in our master too. I love having them. I can't tell you how much conversation goes on between DH and I while standing at those sinks. He's off to work very early in the morning but that's only once every six days usually. (He's a firefighter and works 48hr shifts) The rest of the time we share while getting ready to go someplace. If we only had one sink one of us would have to leave and wait for the other. I like it this way. Except for where the toilet is, we don't even have a door on our master bath. The tub, shower and vanity are open to the bedroom with only a door size archway separating them.

    I've been kicking myself for six years for not buying the house with duel sinks in the kids bath. What a headache "MOVE I need to spit - MOMMMMMM Brenden wont move." "Why do you have to stand RIGHT there? MOMMMMMMMMM"

    Argh!

  • 17 years ago

    I would love to have 2 sinks. Being a SAHM, I have always been second fiddle as far as getting into the bathroom goes. I would like the second sink as long as there was also plenty of room to avoid elbowing each other.

  • 17 years ago

    You know, there's another thing to consider that I don't think has been mentioned. If you have a house with dual sinks, that doesn't mean you have to have family parties in the bathroom. If you prefer privacy, you can still have that with 2 sinks (but you can be soaking your delicates in one, while you wash your face and brush your teeth in the other--multitasking saves time). And the 2 sink situation is definitely a selling feature when you get to that point.

  • 17 years ago

    Well azzalea I have been using my imagination just as you suggested and it's been running overtime - are you and your husband playing gin rummy in the bathroom?

    I do have 2 sinks in my bath and the kids have 2 sinks in their bath as well. There were in the house when we bought it and our realtor told us that they will be a big plus when we sell. But what I like even more is the fact that both bathrooms have their john in it's own little room. Very convenient and private.

  • 17 years ago

    There has been only a few times we could have used 2 sinks. Most of the time one or the other waits till the other is finished then uses the sink. I am also low maintence so don't need the sink for much more then brushing my teeth. Same with DH.
    Clare

  • 17 years ago

    I think it's a sign of the times!!! We have lived in this house over 40 years,and have made do with one bathroom and one sink,and we raised 4 kids here and a GS.None of us suffered for lack of a second sink or a second bathroom for that matter.Rather everyone learned they aren't the only ones in the house,so don't hog the bathroom.We have a lot of friends that live the same way.
    kathi

  • 17 years ago

    I like my DD's MB it has two separate Cabinets and Sinks. A great his and hers set up. The toilet area is enclosed for privacy.

    We each have our own Bathroom here.

    Gayle

  • 17 years ago

    I say only if you have some children. Otherwise, no. I don't like clutter around any sink.

    Sue

  • 17 years ago

    We have 2 sinks in our master bath and the thing I like is that DH has his and I have mine.His is on the opposite side of the room and is taller than mine,which I like because I can sit to put on my makeup and do my hair.He can mess his up and leave whatever he likes sitting out and I can keep mine nice and tidy:) We are rarely in there together,but after 48 years of marriage we have no problems with one showering or whatever while the other does their thing,but I still like the fact of each having our own space.As for cleaning,it takes maybe 5 minutes to clean a sink so no problem there.I guess it just depends on ones own personal preference.

  • 17 years ago

    It's killing me to have only one bathroom upstairs with the two of us here. My math formula is one person = one bathroom; two people = two bathrooms; four people = four bathrooms.

    I can't stand to share bathroom time with anyone. Never have been able to. Basic Training showers excluded, LOL

    I'm jumping through hoops trying to plan, manage, budget, and shoehorn a half bath into the mudroom. We'll still have to share the tub/shower, but at least I'll have my own powder room. That will be a happy day!

  • 17 years ago

    I love our dual vanities/sinks. The DH wants all kinds of "stuff" out all the time - meds, his toothbrush on the charger, etc. It would seriously bug me to share my sink space with him.

    He cleans his own sink and the shower. I clean my sink and the bathtub. The toilet (in it's own room) gets swished out every other day by the person last in bed (that person also makes the bed).

  • 17 years ago

    forget duals sinks we need atleast dual bathrooms for DH & i plus another for guests. i get the master bathroom DH gets the bathroom for the guest rooms. next house we'll have a 3rd bath just for guests... DH is a total slob and i do not and will not clean up after him, i don't even let the cleaning people clean his bathroom. right now we can not have guests stay overnight because they can't use his bathroom lol and the master is on the other side of the house ~ liz

  • 17 years ago

    We have dual sinks in our master bath, plus a separate sink in the the small room where the toilet and bidet are. I really like the dual sinks.

  • 17 years ago

    We had dual sinks on our first home we built, and it was just another sink to clean. When we built this one, we opted for just the one sink. It works well for us. We almost never are in the same bathroom at the same time.

    PVP

  • 17 years ago

    I love having two sinks in the master bath. What i really would have liked, though, is two toilets. Neatest bath I ever saw had a shower/tub in the center with a toilet and sink in separate compartments at each end. Perfection!

  • 17 years ago

    I like having the two sinks. Our sink/vanity areas are separated, the room with the tub and shower is connected but separated by a pocket door and the toilet is also separated by a pocket door away from the shower and tub.
    Lu

  • 17 years ago

    I'd rather have only 1 sink with more counter space! Even with 2 sinks, I don't like to share the area with anyone when I'm getting ready. Luckily, we've worked it out so that I shower first, then DH does, then I return to the bathroom when he's finished and I do my hair. We do not have designated sinks.

  • 17 years ago

    I have to chuckle at all the folks saying that a second sink is just something extra to clean... If you have a second sink and don't like to clean it -- don't use it! Just share one of the sinks...

    We have a two-story house. One bathroom is downstairs, and it has only one sink.

    The master bathroom is en suite, and it has a long counter with dual sinks. Separate oval soaking tub, separate shower. The toilet is in it's own little room with a door, and there's also a door into the master walk-in closet. (Pocket door between the bedroom and bathroom.)

    The hall bathroom upstairs also has a very long counter with two sinks. The bathtub has a "shower over." The hall bath would normally "serve" whomever would be in the two extra bedrooms upstairs (kids in a "regular" family), but since we don't have kids and the two extra bedrooms are used as hubs' office and my office, he uses the hall bathroom, but he showers in the master shower.

  • 17 years ago

    Our master bathroom and our guest/kid's bathroom have two sinks. I think once a bathroom is a certain size (ours are large) 2 sinks make sense and looks better. I also think the double sinks in the master bath are necessary for resale around here if you have a certain type of house (newer, larger, expensive). Our master bath is about 9x18, it would look silly with one sink.

    If money were no object, I would have a master bath with two sink/toilet areas (his and hers) and one tub and one large shower.

  • 17 years ago

    Hi danihoney,

    Too bad you didn't arrange for dual sinks for the kids ... less "duel"ling?

    Old farmhouse.

    Just one guy - one sink. Beside toilet. Bath at one's back - no shower.

    ole joyful

  • 17 years ago

    Sounds so peaceful

    My two on the other hand, ugh. They are like a couple ally cats. A few growls back and forth then a scuffle. You know it is trouble when it gets quiet. Can't tell you how many head-locks I've walked in on. Hope they like eatch other some day.

  • 17 years ago

    We have two and a half baths so we actually have three sinks in the three bathrooms so no need for dual sinks. All three of us have our own sink and counter surrounding it.