Yurt lovers are growing in numbers, and for good reasons. Yurts come with amazing benefits and allow owners to add modern amenities. You may think you have to use an outhouse if you own a yurt, but that’s not true. A bathroom is one of the modern conveniences you can add to your yurt. Let’s get into the details below.

Yurt Living Benefits

Yurts have become increasingly popular to live in. They have many amazing benefits, and many who live in them don’t regret downsizing and making the move.

Connecting With Nature

One of the best things about living in a yurt cabin is the closeness to nature. You’ll literally wake up and live every day in the center of it. Plus, you’ll learn how to stop and smell the roses.

Customization

The wooden yurt kits from Freedom Yurt Cabins provide the blank canvas you need to customize your yurt. We have plenty of different sizes so customers find the perfect fit—the possibilities are endless! You choose the right plot of land. You decorate it how you want. Add a loft, a kitchen, and even a bathroom!

Unique Experience

Your yurt life will be a conversation starter wherever you go with whomever you meet. As popular as yurts have become, it’s not every day you meet someone who lives in one.

Plumbing

Before you install the plumbing, check to see if your yurt site has access to a septic or sewer system. If so, you can connect the yurt’s pipes to it. Install them underneath the yurt platform and bring the plumbing through the floor. Bring the lines through the partition walls after you bring them up through the flooring.

You can use standard plumbing fixtures if you can hook everything up to an existing septic or sewer system. More remote areas will have to use alternative toilet methods, like composting toilets and alternative greywater systems.

Connecting or Framing

The round design and open floor plan are why many desire yurt living. But these features make it challenging to provide privacy for anyone living in them. If you plan on installing a bathroom in your yurt, ensure you purchase a size that’s large enough.

Framing the yurt will allow you to create privacy without removing too much space. A local carpenter or contractor can handle this job sufficiently. The process will be similar to conventional site-built structures. They’ll add walls and ensure everything is up to code.

Ensure the walls go all the way up to the ceiling to reduce noise and streamline ventilation. The bathroom ceiling will help create the floor for the loft above. Put the bathroom and kitchen on opposite sides of a shared wall for efficient plumbing when planning your yurt cabin layout. You can use all the lines for both.

You can even find people connecting two yurts and using one specifically for the bathroom. Yes, connecting yurt cabins is possible, but you’ll most likely need the help of a contractor. You can use direct connections, breezeways, and hallways. This option provides more space to create a luxurious bathroom.

Ventilation

Ventilation is an important aspect of every bathroom, especially for those in yurt cabins. Why is ventilation so important? Proper ventilation reduces indoor moisture and stops condensation. Excessive moisture can lead to mold, mildew, and other water-related issues.

Install flashing and downdraft vents in the yurt’s floor or walls. That’s a simple way you can achieve proper ventilation.

Electricity

The great thing about modern yurts and yurt cabins is that people can equip them with electricity. Ensure you assess the yurt site’s utilities to see if it has an electrical hookup already. If it does, then you’re all set.

Typically, the wiring goes through the yurt cabin flooring. Mount the outlets on short support posts on the perimeter walls. Don’t forget to also add outlets to the exterior walls. It should look and feel like a traditional bathroom. Put the outlets close to the areas where you’ll need to plug in your bathroom items, such as a hairdryer and nightlights.

Yurt owners can use other options if electricity isn’t available on-site—such as solar and propane.

You can use any lighting type in your yurt cabin, like sconces, lamps, overhead lights, and track lighting. Many yurt owners prefer to use low-voltage lighting in their cabins because of their energy efficiency. The best thing you can do is hire a professional electrician to correctly install the electrical outlets, wiring, and other electrical needs. The professional will also install everything to the manufacturer’s standards and follow all the electrical codes and requirements.

Alternatives To Use

You don’t need to worry if you’re trying to use eco-friendlier options or you’re not establishing your yurt near a sewer or electrical hookups. You’ll discover there are plenty of alternatives you can use to create your yurt bathroom.

Consider using collected rainwater for your showers and on-demand propane water heaters as creative solutions. Many yurt owners love these alternatives because they’re more eco-friendly. Also, on-demand water heaters only use as much hot water as you need, so you don’t waste water. Plus, they’re more energy efficient.

What about the toilet situation? Alternative options to the traditional toilet exist. One of the most popular ones is a composting toilet. They don’t require septic plumbing or water hookups. You’ll find them available at hardware stores and online. They use an odor-free, natural, and safe decomposition process that transforms your waste into fertilizing soil. Most composting toilets have a separate processing or holding tank, typically located outdoors. An ideal design will place this tank under the yurt cabin’s platform (or floor). However, always ensure you’re following state and local toilet codes when installing yours.

Solar panels are an excellent electricity alternative that can power and supply a decent-sized yurt cabin with electricity. Another option is wind-powered turbines. Of course, this possibility is best for windy locations. The turbines will store the energy in batteries for the yurt cabin to use when necessary. You should consider using a micro-hydro system if you live near powerful, running water.

Are you ready to make the switch to yurt living? Adding a bathroom to your yurt may provide some complications, but the results are worth it once you navigate through them—especially when you can go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without worrying about critters!