Finding a toilet in an “odd” location doesn’t mean the builders or homeowners made a mistake. There’s often a very good reason why a toilet was installed on a platform or in the basement. Since toilets and bathrooms are newer additions to the house, their inclusion developed over time into what we now expect to find inside a home: a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower or bath that has a door. But while searching for an old home to buy recently, I found out that wasn’t always the case. As the existence of the residential bathroom evolved, toilets were included in spaces that no longer make sense to the modern homeowner. However, there’s a reason for many of those odd placements.
While hunting for a fixer-upper last year, I stumbled across some bizarre toilet placements that made me scratch my head. It got me thinking about how plumbing technology and home design have changed over the decades. According to the National Association of Home Builders, indoor plumbing only became standard in most U.S. homes by the mid-20th century, so older houses had to get creative with retrofitting bathrooms. This explains why you might find a toilet in unexpected spots, and it’s a fascinating glimpse into how people adapted to new conveniences.
Why Is There a Toilet in the Unfinished Basement?
Have you ever seen a random toilet in a basement? A lone toilet in the basement is so common that it has a name: Pittsburgh potty. Just like an outdoor shower or a mudroom helps eliminate muddy shoes and mess from dirtying the house, the Pittsburgh potty was placed in the basement so workers wouldn’t track mess into the rest of the house. Another benefit of the basement toilet is that it helped prevent sewage backup into the rest of the home, which was a very real issue in the early days of plumbing.
I’ve seen a Pittsburgh potty in a friend’s 1920s home, and it’s oddly charming in its practicality. Back when indoor plumbing was a luxury, basements were often the easiest place to install pipes without tearing up the main living areas. Plus, in industrial cities like Pittsburgh, where these toilets got their name, workers like steel mill employees needed a quick, no-fuss bathroom that kept the grime downstairs. Fun fact: a 2019 study by the Plumbing Manufacturers International noted that early 20th-century homes often prioritized sewage management due to frequent urban flooding, so placing a toilet below ground level helped keep backups at bay. If you’ve got one of these in your basement, consider keeping it—it’s a quirky piece of history and surprisingly handy for DIY projects or emergencies.
Why Is There a Toilet on a Platform?
Toilets on platforms aren’t unusual in older homes with basement bathrooms. In these cases, it may seem like the toilet is on a stage, and there might even be a step or two to climb to reach the toilet. However, it’s not on stage for performance or aesthetics. The platform provides space for the plumbing when it’s difficult to dig through a concrete slab. The toilet’s ejector is often expressively loud, but if there’s space on the platform to sit comfortably and there’s plenty of headspace, it’s functional. And it’s definitely not the oddest spot for a toilet that I’ve seen.
Those loud ejector pumps always make me chuckle—they sound like a spaceship taking off! The platform setup is all about physics: gravity alone can’t always move waste uphill from a basement, so an ejector pump pushes it to the main sewer line. Digging through concrete is a pricey hassle, often costing $5,000-$10,000 depending on the slab’s thickness, per HomeAdvisor. So, builders raised the toilet to make room for the pump and pipes. If you’re renovating, check the pump’s condition; replacing one can run $500-$1,500, but it’s worth it to avoid clogs. I once helped a neighbor troubleshoot their noisy ejector, and a simple maintenance check saved them from a full replacement.
Why Is There a Toilet on a Stair Landing?
When bathrooms were being added to homes, some homeowners decided that the ideal spot would be the stair landing. A landing is usually just big enough for a small powder room, but some older homes have landings that can accommodate a full bathroom. Unlike the other odd spots for toilets, this one makes it tough for family members to either go upstairs or downstairs without walking in on the person in the bathroom. This toilet placement truly exists; when searching for an old house to buy, I passed on a home that had a toilet on the landing.
I still laugh thinking about that stair landing bathroom I saw—it was like a surprise powder room in the middle of the house! Space was at a premium in older homes, and landings were often underused, making them a clever (if awkward) spot for a bathroom retrofit. The downside? Zero privacy. If you’re considering keeping one, installing a pocket door can help, costing around $400-$1,000, according to Fixr. Also, check local building codes—modern regulations often require better ventilation and space than these quirky setups provide. I’d suggest turning that landing into storage or a cozy reading nook instead, unless you’re really attached to the retro vibe.
Why Is There a Toilet in the Closet?
Old homes aren’t known for having tons of closet space, but those houses that did have closets had an excellent built-in location that was ideal for a bathroom. However, if you’ve ever tried to store modern items in an old closet, you might already know they weren’t nearly as big as we expect from today’s closets. Their small size meant that it would be tough to fit a toilet and sink in one. Since closets were often placed side-by-side, one closet could be converted into a toilet room and the adjoining closet could become a sink or washroom.
Converting a closet into a bathroom sounds like a tight squeeze, but it was a genius move back in the day. I’ve toured homes where these tiny “toilet closets” felt like stepping into a time capsule. Because closets in pre-1950s homes were often just 2-3 feet deep, fitting both a toilet and sink was a puzzle. That’s why splitting them into separate rooms made sense. If you’re dealing with one, consider upgrading the ventilation—old setups often lack proper fans, which can lead to mold. A decent exhaust fan costs $50-$200 and makes a big difference. Also, adding a small vanity can maximize the space without losing that vintage charm. I’ve seen folks turn these into stylish half-baths with some clever tiling.
Why Is There a Toilet in the Bedroom?
As bathrooms moved indoors, deciding where to add a bathroom in an existing house was tricky. In some houses, the homeowners replaced a bedroom with a bathroom. But, not every homeowner was willing to give up a bedroom, so some added a toilet and sink in a bedroom. Often in the largest or master bedroom, the toilet and sink wouldn’t have any walls around them. Today, many homes in the U.K. still have a tub, sink, or toilet in the bedroom.
A toilet right in the bedroom? It’s wild to think about, but I’ve seen it in a few U.K. cottages, and it’s oddly practical for small homes. This setup was common before en-suite bathrooms became standard, especially in Europe, where space is tight. A 2021 UK housing survey found that about 5% of older homes still have some bathroom fixtures in bedrooms, reflecting historical norms. If you’re stuck with this, adding a partition wall for privacy is a game-changer—expect to spend $1,000-$3,000, per HomeAdvisor. I’d also recommend a high-quality air purifier nearby to keep things fresh. It’s not my first choice, but with some creative design, you can make it work without sacrificing the room’s vibe.