What is a Jack and Jill Bathroom?

A Jack and Jill bathroom often includes separate sinks, but users share the bath/shower and toilet area.

It’s a bathroom shared between two bedrooms, with doors entering from each room.

Saves space and money

Bathroom remodeling is expensive and the space needed for a bathroom takes up valuable real estate in a floor plan. Using one bathroom to serve two bedrooms can save space and money for larger families or for people who have homes where guests visit, but a private bath for each bedroom is overkill.

Equal and shared, but private

Jack and Jill bathrooms can be shared between a bedroom and the hall, but most often are between two bedrooms. In that latter case, it gives equality to family members. Since the bathroom can be locked from either side, the bedrooms remain separate and private. And with those locks, the bath can be made private as well.

A Jack and Jill bath can help kids learn to share and to compromise on the time needed for their toiletry needs.

If you decide to create a Jack and Jill bathroom, consider these conveniences to ensure its success:

• Two sinks. A Jack and Jill bathroom shares a toilet and bath/shower, but it should have two sinks, so the less-private activities (e.g., teeth brushing and hair combing) can take place in concert.

• Locks. Include locks on bedroom and bathroom doors for privacy, and those doors need to lock on both sides. Everyone in the home needs to develop the habit of unlocking all of the doors when they leave, so as not to lock the other bedroom out of the bath.

• Double up on accessories and storage. To keep things equitable and running smoothly, provide adequate vanity mirrors, towel bars and storage areas for all of the things you never dreamed would be necessary in a bathroom.