How many bathrooms does a house really need? That answer has changed quite a bit over the years -- and so have the expectations of home buyers.

In the 1950s and 60s, many homes were built with just one full bathroom. That single bath served the entire house, often from a central hallway. 

By the 70s and 80s, it became more common to see a full bath in the hall and a half bath connected to the primary bedroom... which I have observed in several homes locally that I have shown over the past few weeks.

In the decades that followed, two full bathrooms became the norm, especially in newly built homes. And more recently, we're seeing larger homes with three or more full bathrooms -- sometimes with every bedroom having its own.

So what is ideal? That often depends on what you're used to now, how many people live in your house and your personal preferences.

For example...

Is a half bath enough for guests, or do you want a full one?

Do your kids need their own bathroom, or can they share?

Would you give up a bathroom to gain more living space or a bigger kitchen?

Bathroom trends have changed over the decades -- and will likely keep evolving. 

There isn't really one right answer to how many bathrooms a home should have - but we ought to talk things through as to what you must have and what would be ideal.