A Jack and Jill bathroom sounds intriguing, but you’re likely asking yourself, “what is it in the first place?” This is a type of bathroom that’s not only cost-effective but also stylish. You’d want to consider it if you are remodeling your crib or designing your dream home.
What is a Jack and Jill Bathroom?
The term ‘Jack and Jill bathroom’ refers to a bathroom that’s placed between two bedrooms. It can be accessed through doors within each bedroom. It is a type of bathroom that’s usually placed between bedrooms for siblings, which explains its name. But it’s also a type of bathroom that can be used in between a guest room or home office.
It’s like having an ensuite or attached bathroom for both bedrooms. To ensure privacy, there’s a lock on both doors. There should also be a three-way light switch so that the lights can be turned on from both entrances.
A Jack and Jill bathroom can either be a three-piece, four-piece, or five-piece bathroom. If there isn’t enough space, it is common that the bathroom would have a sink, toilet, or shower/bathtub. However, a bathtub isn’t ideal for older children; hence a shower is a more practical option.
It is also common for some Jack and Jill bathrooms to have double sinks. This setup is ideal for children who are going to school as it can allow them to quickly prepare in the morning. Moreover, having two sinks can also lower the chances of the kids arguing over the time spent in the shared bathroom.
But why would you consider having a Jack and Jill bathroom in your home? Read on and find out.
Benefits of a Jack and Jill Bathroom
As mentioned earlier, a Jack and Jill bathroom is a practical and cost-efficient addition to your home.
Maximizing Space
For one, it can maximize space in your house, especially if yours is moderately sized. With a Jack and Jill bathroom, there’s no need for a second bathroom in your home. Creating a shared bathroom for family members means you won’t have to build bathrooms for each bedroom in your abode. You can then use the space for something else, like perhaps a storage area for your children.
Saving Money
You’ll also get more savings if you build a Jack and Jill bathroom in your home. Having a shared bathroom built means fewer expenses compared to having two bathrooms constructed in your home.
The shared bathroom would mean you’ll only have to install one set of fixtures, tiles, and plumbing. And there are other associated costs that you’ll be saving on, such as energy and water bills, because you’ll be having one less bathroom in your place.
Less Maintenance and Repair Costs
A Jack and Jill bathroom also means time and effort spent on bathroom maintenance because you will only have to clean one bathroom instead of one. Expect to spend less on associated expenses such as cleaning products if you have a Jack and Jill bathroom. And since bathroom repairs are quite expensive, you’ll also save on potential bathroom repair costs if you opt for a shared bathroom.
Environmental Benefits
You’ll also be doing Mother Earth a favor when you have a Jack and Jill bathroom at home. One less bathroom in your abode means lower water consumption. Can you imagine how much water your household will consume when you have two bathrooms on the second floor of your home instead of just having a Jack and Jill bathroom?
Ideal for Families and Guests
Aside from the practicality of having a Jack and Jill bathroom at home, you’d also appreciate how it would fit into your family’s lifestyle. If you have multiple children and you’d want them to be independent, consider having a Jack and Jill bathroom between their bedrooms. This way, you can teach them to bathe themselves. Also, you can teach them how to share and reach an agreement as to how much they’ll be spending time in the bathroom.
This style of bathroom is best for large families as well as those who have frequent visitors or guests. You can have a Jack and Jill bathroom constructed between your kids’ room and the guest room, in the process saving you precious space in the house. In short, a Jack and Jill bathroom can let you efficiently handle multiple people in the household.
Disadvantages of a Jack and Jill Bathroom
Of course, a Jack and Jill bathroom also has its drawbacks which may have you thinking twice about the prospect of having one at your house.
Potential for Conflict
Perhaps the biggest concern that homeowners have about a Jack and Jill bathroom is that it can be the source or root of conflict in a household. This is true, especially for families with small children or teenagers. Your children may encounter disagreements on the use of the shared bathroom, especially during busy days. But it’s all up to you as the parent how to make your children agree on the timing or schedule of bathroom use. Eventually, your children will learn how to compromise. Consider it as good training for them.
Isolation
Another drawback of a Jack and Jill bathroom is that it can be isolated. Since this shared bathroom is placed in between bedrooms, it is isolated away from the other parts of the house save for the two bedrooms. It would mean that if you have a guest who needs to go to the bathroom, he or she would need to enter either bedroom to access the Jack and Jill bathroom.
Lack of Long-Term Usefulness
Lastly, a Jack and Jill bathroom may eventually become less useful in the future. Let’s say you have children who share the Jack and Jill bathroom. But they will grow up and move out of your home in 10 or 15 years. Who would then use the shared bathroom? Although you can also argue that the Jack and Jill bathroom can make your property more enticing or intriguing for potential buyers in case you eventually sell it off.
Design Ideas for Jack and Jill Bathrooms
For the sake of discussion, let’s say that you’ve decided to construct a Jack and Jill bathroom in your home. What are the design ideas that you should consider to make the shared bathroom more functional and elegant?
There are many important design features you must keep in mind when you’re designing a Jack and Jill bathroom.
Lights
As mentioned earlier in this article, there should be a three-way light switch in the shared bathroom. This would enable the lights to be turned off and on from both entryways. Moreover, there should be locks on the doors that open into a bedroom to ensure that there will be privacy for all parties concerned.
Mirrors
But how about mirrors? How many should you place or install in a Jack and Jill bathroom? It depends on the layout of the bathroom. If you’re intent on putting double sinks, it’s recommended that you place a mirror above each sink. If you’re only installing one, consider placing one big mirror and then placing additional mirrors in the bedrooms. This way, the users of the bedroom can still fix themselves in front of a mirror without having to go to the shared bathroom.
Storage & Spaces
It’s also advisable to have enough storage for all the users of the Jack and Jill bathroom. Make sure that there are enough towel bars, hooks, or racks to keep everyone happy. If there’s not enough space, you may even add a hook at the back of each bedroom door. You’d also want to have lots of cabinet space in your Jack and Jill bathroom. Make use of the areas around the sink or above the toilet. You can also utilize an old wicker basket for storing extra toilet paper.
Other Decorating Tips
But how about decorating the shared bathroom? You have lots of factors to consider as well. First and foremost, you’ll have to take into consideration the users of the bathroom, including their styles and preferences.
To make the shared bathroom even more inviting, place candles or diffusers. Candles can also add temporary décor elements to the shared bathroom. Diffusers, meanwhile, can help reduce stress while boosting skin and hair health. You can also place works of art like paintings in the bathroom. You may even ask your children or those who will use the Jack and Jill bathroom for inputs. You may also add plants and temporary wall treatments to add some style to the Jack and Jill bathroom.
Jack and Jill’s Bathroom Floor Plans
Here are two layout plans for a Jack and Jill bathroom.
Jack and Jill Bathroom In the Middle
In this design, a Jack and Jill bathroom is placed in the middle of a room between the two bedrooms. There are two sections in this shared bathroom. The bathtub is located on the bottom of the design while the toilet and the toilet sinks are on the other sides.
Jack and Jill Bathroom In the Corner
As seen, the two bedrooms are located in a cross direction. Hence, a Jack and Jill bathroom is placed in the corner. In this design, there are two small rooms in the bathroom. The toilet and bathtub are not placed separately but in the same small room. The toilet sinks are placed in the outside room of the bathroom.
Conclusion
A Jack and Jill bathroom can be a good addition to your home in case you are redesigning it or you’re in the process of planning its construction. If you have children and you’d want them to learn how to share a private space like a bathroom, then you should give the idea of having a Jack and Jill bathroom some serious consideration.
Although there are also disadvantages to having this type of shared bathroom at home, your family would appreciate the benefits of having a Jack and Jill bathroom.
