The first time we slept in a room with a genuine en-suite bathroom — truly en suite, not an adjoining bathroom with a conventional door — the effect was immediate: the sensation of waking in a continuous space, without visual barriers between bed and bathtub, as though the entire resting zone were a single sanctuary. That experience, which the great hotels have been perfecting for decades, is what an increasing number of clients ask us to translate into their Valencia homes. And one that, in all honesty, we must acknowledge does not always work.

Because the en-suite bathroom is the quintessence of contemporary residential luxury, yes. But it is also one of the design decisions with the most nuances, the most hidden technical implications and the most regrets when executed without thought. At Azulia we have designed en-suites that have changed the way our clients live their homes, and we have also dissuaded others from proceeding when conditions did not allow it. Both conversations are equally valuable.

What an en-suite bathroom truly is (and what it is not)

It is worth clarifying the difference because the term is used rather liberally. An en-suite bathroom is not simply a bathroom adjacent to the bedroom with a door. That is a private bathroom, which is perfectly fine but is not the same thing. The en suite implies a visual, spatial or functional connection between both spaces that renders them a single unit. That connection may be total (no physical separation), partial (glass, half wall) or filtered (a large-format sliding door that disappears into the wall).

The concept has its roots in post-war hotel architecture, when luxury chains began to understand that the guest’s experience commenced before entering the shower. Today, according to data from the Houzz platform published in its 2025 bathroom trends study, 27% of master bedroom renovations in Spain include some degree of integration with the bathroom, compared to 14% five years ago. The trend is clear and makes sense: in a dwelling where the master bedroom is the couple’s refuge, removing the barrier with the bathroom expands the perceived space and elevates the domestic experience into hotel territory.

Four ways to connect bedroom and bathroom

There is no single formula, and the choice depends as much on personal preferences as on the conditions of the space. These are the four typologies we regularly employ.

Fully open connection (no door)

The most radical and the most striking. The bathroom opens directly to the bedroom with no physical barrier whatsoever. The bathtub may stand at the foot of the bed, the basin may be visible from the pillow, and the shower is separated from the bedroom only by a low partition or a change in floor level.

When it works: for couples who share similar schedules, with no issues regarding the noise of water or light, and with powerful mechanical ventilation that prevents humidity from invading the bedroom. It also requires a toilet (WC) in a separate enclosed space — the water closet — because total intimacy has its reasonable limits.

When it does not work: if one rises at 6 am and the other sleeps until 8. If there are temperature-comfort differences between sleeping and showering. If the bathroom’s natural or mechanical ventilation is insufficient to evacuate humidity without it reaching the bed zone. In older apartments of the Valencia Eixample, where square metres are tight and ventilation depends on a narrow interior courtyard, the fully open connection is rarely viable.

Fixed glass partition

A wall of transparent or translucent glass that visually separates the bathroom from the bedroom yet maintains spatial continuity. It is probably the most elegant solution when one wants the suite feeling without relinquishing a degree of separation.

Transparent glass maximises visual breadth but demands an impeccable level of order in the bathroom (everything on display, always). Frosted or reeded glass (with vertical fluting) filters views, blurs silhouettes and adds a play of textures that enriches the space. We are particularly fond of reeded glass with a black steel frame in bathrooms with a contemporary aesthetic.

Acoustic consideration: glass does not insulate from the noise of water. If the sound of the shower is a concern, this option does not resolve it. The fixed glass partition is a visual and humidity separation, not an acoustic one.

Large-format sliding door

The most versatile option. A sliding door that disappears into the wall (pocket door or casoneto type) allows both experiences: an open bathroom when desired and a closed bathroom when needed. If the door is glass, transparency is maintained even when closed. If it is opaque (wood, lacquered), the separation is complete.

The key lies in the dimensions. A conventional sliding door of 80 cm feels miserly in an en suite. The minimum we recommend is 100 cm, and the ideal is 120-150 cm or even a double panel opening in both directions. The sense of generosity when opening a 150 cm door towards the bathroom is incomparable with a standard door.

Pocket system cost: between 300 and 600 euros for the casoneto (metal frame integrated into the partition wall), plus the door leaf. The partition wall requires a minimum thickness of 10-12 cm to house the mechanism.

Half wall or extended headboard

A subtle and architectural solution: the bed headboard extends upwards and becomes a low wall (between 120 and 160 cm in height) that separates bedroom from bathroom. From the bed you see the bathroom ceiling but not the basin or the shower. From the bathroom, the wall affords you privacy without enclosing you.

This typology works particularly well in lofts and open-plan dwellings. In the newly built villas of La Eliana and Betera — urbanisations northwest of Valencia where much of the city’s premium detached housing is concentrated — we have designed master bedrooms where the solid oak headboard extends two metres upward and marks the transition between the sleeping zone and the water zone. The result has a contemporary resort air that never fails.

The silent enemy: humidity

If there is one factor that can ruin an en-suite bathroom, it is poorly managed humidity. And we are not speaking of an aesthetic problem: we are speaking of condensation on walls, mould in corners, deterioration of bedroom furniture and, in the long term, respiratory health issues. It is the elephant in the room — quite literally — that nobody wishes to mention when displaying attractive en-suite photographs on Pinterest.

Ventilation is, in our professional opinion, the most critical point of the project. More critical than the finishes, more than the layout, more than the lighting. Without adequate ventilation, the en-suite bathroom is a slow-motion humidity bomb.

Forced mechanical ventilation: essential in any en suite, even if the bathroom has a window. An extractor of at least 120 m3/h capacity, connected to the lighting or with a timer, evacuating humid air directly to the exterior. A grille facing the interior courtyard is not sufficient: it needs a duct to the facade or the roof.

Door or partition allowing air circulation: if the connection between bedroom and bathroom has a door, it must have a bottom gap of at least 15 mm or an integrated ventilation grille. Humid air needs a way out and the bedroom’s dry air needs a way in to replace it.

Radiant heating: in winter, underfloor heating in the bathroom zone reduces condensation by keeping surfaces warm. Water condenses on cold surfaces; if the floor and walls are at 22-24 degrees C, condensation is minimised.

According to the regulations of the Codigo Tecnico de la Edificacion, section HS3, a bathroom requires a minimum extraction rate of 54 m3/h (15 l/s). For an en suite open to the bedroom, at Azulia we recommend multiplying that rate by at least 1.5.

Noise: the uncomfortable conversation

Let us discuss what nobody wishes to discuss: the sound of water at 6 in the morning. The shower, the cistern, the basin tap. In a closed bathroom with a door, these sounds are muffled. In an open en suite, they become your partner’s alarm clock.

There are solutions, and none is perfect:

  • Quiet fixtures: the premium ranges from Roca and Grohe incorporate aerators and flow regulators that significantly reduce water noise. The difference between a budget tap and a premium one is more apparent with eyes closed than open.
  • Toilet in an enclosed water closet: the cistern noise is the most disruptive. Isolating the toilet in a closed compartment with a door is practically obligatory in an en suite.
  • Solid Surface or resin shower tray: these absorb water impact more quietly than a ceramic or steel tray.
  • Intelligent layout: positioning the shower on the wall furthest from the bed minimises noise transmission. If possible, interpose the dressing room between bed and shower.

The reality — and this is our honest editorial opinion — is that the completely open en suite only works without friction for couples with compatible schedules and habits. For everyone else, the large-format sliding door offers the best of both worlds: suite when you want it, privacy when you need it.

The emotional impact of waking in a suite

Beyond the square metres and technical solutions, there is something intangible about the en suite that merits acknowledgement. It is the sensation of expansiveness upon waking, of your most intimate space not ending at a door but flowing towards a place of personal care. It is the luxury of seeing the bathtub from the bed and knowing that the evening bath ritual is three steps away. It is, as some of our clients say, feeling on holiday every morning, without suitcase or aeroplane.

Interior designers have spent years speaking of the experience of inhabiting, and the en suite is perhaps the purest example. It is not about additional square metres (in fact, an en suite typically has the same area as a separate bathroom and bedroom). It is about how those metres are lived. The difference between a door that closes and a space that opens.

In newly built homes, where the en suite can be planned from the outset, integration is natural. In comprehensive renovations of existing flats, it requires courage — demolishing a partition between bedroom and bathroom is no minor decision — but the results amply justify the investment.

For those considering this option, our quiet luxury and home spa wellness designs show two distinct ways of resolving the en suite: the first with restrained minimalism, the second with a private spa vocation. And the walk-in invisible design is particularly interesting for en suites where the shower integrates at floor level without a visible screen.

Layout: three schemes that work

Linear scheme

Bedroom, then dressing room, then bathroom, in sequence. The dressing room acts as a transition zone and buffers noise. It is the most common layout in premium new-build flats in Valencia and the one that works best on rectangular floor plans.

Lateral scheme

The bathroom opens to the bedroom along one of its long sides, separated by glass or a half wall. The bed is oriented perpendicular to the partition. It is the most visually striking layout and the one that provides the greatest sense of spaciousness.

Posterior scheme

The bathroom is situated behind the bed’s headboard. Turning your head, you see the bathroom. It is the most intimate layout and the one that allows play with symmetry: double basin on either side of the bathtub, centred on the bed’s axis.

Frequently asked questions

Does an en-suite bathroom increase property value?

Yes, consistently. The en suite is one of the most highly valued features in upper-middle and high-end housing. In the Valencian market, a master bedroom with a well-resolved en suite can add between 5% and 10% to the property’s value compared to the same configuration with a conventional independent bathroom, according to data from valuers with whom we regularly collaborate.

Do I need a great deal of space for an en suite?

Less than you might imagine. A functional en suite (shower + basin + toilet in a water closet) can be achieved from 4 m2 of bathroom if the connection with the bedroom is well designed. The typical comfortable project works with 6-8 m2 of bathroom combined with a bedroom of at least 14-16 m2. But it is the proportion between both spaces, rather than the absolute area, that determines the success of the ensemble.

Can I convert my current bathroom into an en suite without major construction?

It depends on the existing configuration. If the bathroom and bedroom share a partition wall, replacing that wall with a glass screen or a large-format sliding door is a moderate intervention (between 2,000 and 5,000 euros, including lintel reinforcement and finishes). If the spaces are not contiguous, the renovation is more substantial and likely requires redistribution of the entire floor plan.

What if I tire of the open bathroom?

It is a legitimate question we are asked more often than one might imagine. The most prudent answer is to design the en suite with a reversible closing system: a pocket sliding door, a technical curtain or a pivoting panel. This gives you the flexibility to open and close according to the moment. It is the option we recommend to 80% of our clients and the one that generates the fewest regrets in the long term.

One space, two functions, one experience

The en-suite bathroom is, at its heart, a question of priorities. Do you prefer two isolated, efficient spaces, or one integrated, experiential space? Both options are valid, and neither is inherently superior to the other. What is true is that, when conditions allow and the design is handled with care, the en suite transforms the way you live the most private part of your home.

At Azulia we design en suites that address both the emotion and the technicalities, because one without the other does not work. If the idea intrigues you but you have doubts about whether your home allows it, our studio in Valencia is the place to begin that conversation. Bring the measurements of your bedroom — or a photograph of the floor plan — and let us consider together whether the wall between your bed and your bathroom deserves to remain. Our budget calculator can also give you an initial indication of the required investment.