Can you draw your layout with dimensions and indicate where the bedroom and toilet closet are? Maybe you could make the bathroom a little larger and make the closet 7 X10.

What I want to do is remove both the current small shower (3x3’) and the garden tub. I do have two other tubs in the house ... I was told by a real estate agent buyers prefer bigger closets and big showers.

I agree that 3x3 is too small a shower. Enlarging it is a great idea; however, this board is pretty well split down the middle on whether a tub in the master bath is a necessity. Speaking only for myself, we use our tub daily and would not buy a house that doesn't have a tub in the master. The realistic bottom-line answer is, You should do what you want; you can't guess what your future buyer will want.

The toilet and linen closet would remain in current place.

Moving a toilet is real money, so this is wise. If you can design around the toilet's current spot, I think you'll be happy.

Looking at your pictures:

- You have unnecessary space in the middle of the room, so -- yes -- I don't think you'll have any problem narrowing the space. It'll be more useful as closet space.

- I dislike that your large vanity has so little drawer storage.

- I like a big mirror -- it's better for seeing your outfit and your hair, and it makes the room look larger -- but I'd like to see it framed.

- You mentioned new lighting -- ideally you'd have lights over the mirror AND lighting at "face level" (which means no shadows on your face). The easiest way to do this is to place a couple pendants at "face level". Remember that pendants reflect in the mirror and "double the light", so -- if you go that direction -- include a dimmer switch.

Can you draw your layout with dimensions and indicate where the bedroom and toilet closet are?

Yes, yes! Show us a drawing, and we can give better advice!

I would totally do that. Great repurposing of wasted space.

I’d do it, too. Can’t stand unnecessarily large bathrooms.

how wide is the walkway between the toilet and linen closet? does the door into the bathroom open against the linen closet?

Karen, no the doors don’t open into each other. It’s about 3 ft or so between toilet room and linen closet.

So you're looking at going from this to this:

Yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat -- if I didn't care about the tub:

- All that wasted space in the middle will be better used as a closet. Your walking space will be ample-plenty and efficient.

- The closet will be not quite 8' deep ... I'd arrange it with two 8' hanging runs, two 3' dresser stacks, and less-deep shelves for shoes or folded goods on the right of the entrance door. That's a great closet ... but other renditions are possible as well.

- I don't like where the toilet is, but moving it would be quite expensive, so I'd put up with it. A smarter original builder would've put it on the exterior wall so it could've had a window. You could bring it forward and get it out of that toilet closet ... but then it'd be in an odd spot right there by the door.

- Even though the vanity is nice-sized at 7', I'd want more drawer storage, so I'd lose the duplicate sinks ... and go with one nice-sized sink in the middle with a large drawer-stack on each side for each spouse.

- You could keep the linen closet as is. Personally, I'd rather have the vanity right by the door and a linen tower between the shower and the vanity; that would place your towels and extra toiletries right by the shower, and it would move the linens-door away from the bathroom entrance door.

- The large shower will be nice and luxurious ... pay attention to the space between the closet door and the shower door; that's where you'll want to hang your towels.

Mrs Pete,
thank you so much for all your detailed recommendations. According to the contractor, my closet would be 8x10.5, shower 75” x48”, vanity 88” with small pony wall separating vanity and shower, 32” wall between toilet closet and clothes closet door, and 14” wall between closet door and shower door.
There is a small window or pane of glass above toilet closet door so it does add light to that little area. There is also a 4 ft transom window over the vanity so my bathroom always had a lot of light. I thought it would save on cost not moving toilet or even the vanity sinks.

Karen, Emily, Weedy, and Mrs Pete

My contractor recommended after removing current tub and shower to just make it one huge shower 9 ft by 4 ft long. I thought about that but I couldn’t imagine cleaning all that tile and glass. Plus all that wasted space…
My husband being the typical man suggested just get rid of some of your clothes then the closet will be big enough.😔 what he didn’t realize was that he never wore half his shirts or pants because he didn’t see them hidden in corners.

I really appreciate all your feedback. I was starting to doubt myself and my ideas. You all have confirmed what I have been planning and hoping to do for a long time. So thank you so much.