This week’s big query is all about priorities. If you only had room for a nice big bathroom with a soaker tub or a walk in closet adjoining your master bedroom, which would it be, and why? Would you go for the bathroom since you love to unwind? Or the closet because you love to stare at your shoes? Do tell.
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I’d prefer the big bathroom. My thought is that I can make space for my clothes, but I can’t make space as easily for a nice big bathroom! We went from having a huge one to a little one, and I really wish we had the bathroom now
The way I see it, there are many, many possible creative solutions for storage that don’t necessarily have to include an enormous walk-in but there is only one possibility for a soaker tub and that’s a soaker tub :).
That was a very hard choice! I went ahead and chose the big bathroom because I figure that you spend more time in the bathroom than in the closet and there are many implements to help maximize closet space. I guess I’d rather work to fit everything in the closet than have to work to fit things in a bathroom.
We actually have both a walk-in and a garden tub, and I love them both! You can see the bathroom in this post: http://hernandohouse.wordpress.com/our-house/
I’m living in a 3 bedroom 1 bath rancher style house without a soaker tub or closet space, funny. If I had to pick one though I’d definitely pick a soaker tub. I don’t have that many clothes and I know I can figure that out since I have for the last 4 years. But there’s no substitute for a long soak in a great bathtub. Preferably with candles, a glass of wine and some great music.
Oh I would have to have both. That would be a dealbreaker for me.
Walk in closet because you spend more time in there. Seeing everything (not squished) would be awesome!
We have a giant soaker tub in our master bathroom and we never use it! It is currently our dirty laundry hamper unfortunately. We have another tub in our second bathroom so I’m thinking about ripping the giant tub out, moving and enlarging our shower, and putting in a linen closet for bathroom storage.
I could never give up my walk in closet – I love it!
I guess I take it for granted that my bathroom is the size of a lot of people’s offices because I’d take the walk-in closet. We have a footed tub and while I use it every day for the shower kit, I bet I only take a relaxing bath about 1-2 times a year!
Meanwhile, my closet is nothing more than a shoe box with a top pole and bottom pole that I switch out b/t seasons, my husband has a tiny pole in the linen closet and our dress up clothes are in the guest room closet!
As much as I’d love a big walk-in, I would just buy and keep too many clothes. I feel better as a clothes-minimalist. (Shoes are a different story.) The soaking tub would help me stay relaxed and zen enough to be a minimalist :)
I chose the nice bathroom… my current bathroom is pretty small and the tub isn’t too good for soaking. But I’m also single and don’t have to share my closet space–my choice might have been different if I were married!
The closet would be great, but since we are decluttering like crazy, it isn’t ideal. I would definitely go with the bathroom. My Hubs has been disabled for almost 7 years and it is such a chore for him to climb upstairs where we have our full bath. This would be filling a necessity and a want at the same time!
Hi There… I choose the bathroom becuase next to the kitchen and living room (den … whatever ya call it) its the next best place to be. I just cant see myself enjoying nice long look at my clothes, but I could definitely take a NICE LONG HOT BATH in the tub!!!!
I try to keep my clothing to a minimum… I really don’t like having a full closet! Besides, a bathroom is a better investment in my relaxation!
This is such a hard question!
I chose the bathroom (even though that appears to be the minority choice), just because there is no way I would spend a portion of my day or gain relaxation by having a big closet (but a tub, definitely!).
I also don’t have nearly enough clothes to house a walk in closet, haha!
I’m lucky enough to have both, but would absolutely give up the tub before I gave up closet space. And I’m not at all a clothes person. As it is, I would love to do away with the tub that only gets used 5-6 times a year for a bigger shower that I’d use daily.
I’m not big on bathtubs – I’d be fine with just a shower. But I would love a huge closet to keep all of my clothes/shoes/accessories organized in one place!
I so badly want to say the soaker tub, but realistically I have to go with closet space. I know what it’s like to have tiny closets in a tiny house, and being able to consolidate our clutter would be more relaxing to me than any bubble bath!
oh a soaker tub is so nice in theory but I’ve use mine only once in two years. Then again, I’m a shower kinda girl. If you are low on closet space I’d go for organized storage all the way!
As much as a nice big tub would be lovely, I doubt I would actually use it as much as I’d like to think… so, I would pick the expansive closet because that would surely get used daily!
I’m currently living with a lack of both, so I know which item I dream about more. While I yearn for the day when I own a clawfoot tub (living in an expansive, gorgeous bathroom), I have greater difficulty living without storage. It forces me to be creative, but ultimately, I’d much rather have non-1920s-sized closets ANY day! Plus, my fiance has lots of suits (and many colored shirts to accompany them), so I think it would be great to actually house all of our clothes TOGETHER. :-) Great topic, thanks!
I’ve been decluttering my (tiny — I live in an old house) clothes closests and dressers and discovering that I don’t actually need a million clothes and pairs of shoes.
However, I have a tiny bathroom with only a shower, no tub, and I’m always wistful for a tub, never mind more space. I know I’d rather have the luxury of a comfortably-sized bathroom and a nice soak in a bathtub whenever I want than a bit closet.
Easy – the bathroom! How much time do you actually spend in your closet, regardless of how big it is! But a bathroom with a large soaker tub would provide me many hours of relaxation and enjoyment!
While I love the idea of a huge soaker tub, I’d have to go with what I would use more… which is the closet. We have a jetted tub in our new master bath and I’ve yet to use it (granted we’ve only been in there for just over a month now), but use the closet every day.
I’m a seasonal packer and never leave more than my seasonal clothes in my closet anyway. I have the large closet, but I have always wanted the big tub. Being a tall person, I hate that I can’t relax in my bathtub!
I think I picked big bathroom because currently-our “master” bathroom is 25 sq feet. So it’s kinda tiny. Plus, I could definitely use the extra space for clothes, shoes, bags etc, BUT I don’t really NEED more clothes, in fact I could do with less. But sometimes you just NEED a long soak in a hot bath :D
I’m suprised by the votes right now. I don’t know what I would do without my master bath. I would only fill a closet with junk so I’d prefer a usable space!
We’re actually remodeling right now and putting in a new bathroom that will not have a tub (creating a house with two bathrooms with only showers). In order to make space for other things (including a small walk-in closet) it was something we needed to do. Plus, while the idea of soaking in a tub sounds wonderful, the reality is that I barely have enough time to sit on the couch from time to time, much less soak in a tub. It just wouldn’t happen.
And frankly, anyone who lives in a small house, as we do, knows that storage is king.
Looks like others share my feelings that you can always find storage solutions, but you can’t make a soaker tub fit just anywhere. Team Soaker, unite!
I rarely take baths, even when I had a big soaker tub in my old place. So I chose a walk-in closet – not necessarily just for clothes storage, but for storing everything else, even seasonal stuff like fans and A/C units. Perhaps my choice is due to an apartment mentality – there is no basement storage available, so if you are short on closet space (as I am), it’s a challenge to figure out where to put all the seasonal equipment that you are not using nine months out of the year.
I cast my vote within seconds, but trying to explain why is proving fairly difficult. I guess that my vote primarily results from having to deal with years of small closets with barely enough room to store my clothes let alone to show them off after growing up with a moderately sized walk in closet. I want my walk in back! ;)
a very easy choice for me… why?
bathroom/shower/soak time is relaxation time for me. it is one of the times when i’m truly completely alone and disconnected from the world. my dream bathroom would feel like a luxurious day spa.
as for walk-in closet? i’m a minimalist when it comes to clothing, so i’ve been able to pare down and survive on a very small wardrobe to fit any puny closet i’ve been faced with.
also one last thing, in my dream house, guests come over and might use the bathroom. they would never go into my walk-in closet, so it’s nice to share and beautify that “common space”
That WAS a hard choice but quickly made…a walk-in closet! I couldn’t soak in my tub knowing all my stuff was untidy and scattered around the house.
i’m a ‘place for everything and everything in its place’ person, so i voted for the closet. i’m too messy when i don’t have enough storage!
I’m very very messy and the walk-in closet would be a god send. This way our room could look clutter free and all of my clothes, accessories, etc could hide in the closet!
I think a gorgeous bathroom would increase the value of my house more than a walk-in closet. :)
OH please don’t make me choose. I went with the closet though.
This was a very easy choice for me. I live in a fairly tiny house with a tiny bathroom & a (ridiculously) tiny closet. The bathroom gets us by just fine; the only thing I’d change about that is to ditch the pedestal sink for a little more storage.
My closet however is a disaster. I don’t even have all that much. My poor husband has to keep his work clothes in his office downstairs. I also have a portable rack/closet and our master always just looks cluttered because the clothes/shoes/purses don’t have a home.
Since I have to clean my bathroom more than my closet, I would rather have a large closet. Plus, that tub looks like I’d have to do the high jump to get into it.
It’s a no brainer for me to pick closet. I haven’t used a tub for at least a decade. I wish I could remove the tub we have now in our master bath and make another closet so both me and my husband could each have our own.
Tough choice. The closet (room) won because a closet big enough to display the clothes I’ve already spent money on, see jewelry I forget about when out of sight, complete with furniture, big mirrors and great lighting—feels like a nice way to start the day. (I also love the IDEA of a bath but in reality, I prefer a hot shower anyway.)
WALK-IN CLOSET! Oh how I’ve dreamed of having a walk-in closet with nothing cluttered or out of place! I guess a big bathroom isn’t as important to me. I don’t mind having to go down the hall to take a shower/bath. It would be nice to be able to relax in a luxurious bathroom but I think it would be just as relaxing knowing all my crap is in a specified spot!
Right now, I’m fortunate enough to be living with a decent sized closet and tub… if the closet stayed the same size, I definitely opt for a bigger tub. I’d like to be less consumeristic with clothes/shoes/etc… but the tub thing is something I can get behind. I love coming home from a long day to a steamy soak…
I have a tub and don’t use it that much… I’d prefer the walk-in closet any day!
Both, in dream worlds. But if I HAD to choose, closet everytime. I have no real time to soak, so it’s just another thing to keep clean. But a huge closet – where all my stuff is in one place. Ahhhhh
Sherry – what would you choose?
Hey Sheila,
This is one of those questions that we posted because we honestly have no idea! We would love one or the other (since our current house has neither) so I think we’d love either one immensely!
xo,
s
No contest at all. Soaking brings me relaxation, closets do not. That is a gorgeous bathroom!
I chose the nice bathroom and tub! Although I often wish for a nice big closet, that would just give me (and the hubs!) more room to throw stuff on the floor. However, if I had a nice tub I would visit it constantly (and it would be so much fun for a toddler)!
I suspect that people who have a separate shower from the soaker tub RARELY use their actual tub. I have a tub along with the shower and use it to bathe my son, but I rarely take a bath myself. I vote for a great closet! (ALso, the thought of ALL that water being used for a bath of that size seems a bit wasteful to me … certainly nice and relaxing, but that’s q LOT of water!)
In a perfect world, I’d choose the tub. In the real world, however, as a full-time working mom of two elementary school children, I haven’t taken a bath in five years. We just moved into a new house that lacks adequate closet space, I’ve had a taste of going without…I’ll take the storage, please!
Im a thinker soo Qs 1. How often do you take a bath? (those with kids will laugh) Qs 2. How often do you use your closet?..so logically speaking closet is the winner!