Advice from people who have "downsized"

EdInvestor

LE3 wrote: »

I was originally looking for a 3-bedroom property as I have overnight guests at least once a month and it's important to me
that I have a bedroom available for them (ie sleeping on the sofa
is not an option!). I also need a study/desk/computer area and this
cannot be in the "guest room",

Why not?These days, with space at a premium and housing costs so high, guests would normally expect to share with the computer.:)

PasturesNew

It all depends on how the OP plans to use the study/computer room.

It might be that they have paperwork out/everywhere when they're working and want to close the door on it, then next time they go in it's just as they left it ... rather than just having the PC and a book.

If it's a big paperwork/things out and in order situation, then visitors sharing wouldn't be workable.

If it were just a PC for online communication, forum reading, checking emails then it would be doable.

Fire_Fox

If you want a bedroom that is separate from an office and you only have two bedrooms, then one bedroom will have to be an office/ guest room. If you need plenty of office space then make the smaller bedroom your sleeping area and the larger bedroom your office/ guest accommodation.

LE3

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.

PasturesNew - thanks for being just about the only person who understands that it's not about what works for others or whether my guests want to share with a computer or not (if they don't like the accomodations I provide, I have alist of local hotels!), it's about what works for ME in MY home, and I do not wish to put my computer in my guest room!

I had hoped that with this being a "money saving" forum, there might have been some constructive comment/experience from people who have downsized about whether they did "grow into" the smaller space, however I don't feel that I am getting rounded responses here, just people trying to tell me that I need to put my computer in a bedroom (without relaising my need for a decent sized desk, scanner, 2 printers, filing cabinets, bookcases etc!).

I am not going ahead with this particular property anyway as I have become uneasy about something not at all related to the study space, but still need to decide if I should continue to look at 3-bed properties only, or keep my mind open to a 2-bed!

EdInvestor

LE3 wrote: »

I had hoped that with this being a "money saving" forum, there might have been some constructive comment/experience from people who have downsized about whether they did "grow into" the smaller space...

The comments that you don't like all refer to the kind of flexibility required to downsize successfully.

I'd say your response to the idea is a pretty clear-cut No and you should quit wasting your time with 2 bed properties, unless of course it is a financial issue.

If so you could always make the decision to shunt your guests off to a hotel in perpetuity on grounds of lack of space: who knows, they might even prefer it.

Fire_Fox

LE3 wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.

I had hoped that with this being a "money saving" forum, there might have been some constructive comment/experience from people who have downsized about whether they did "grow into" the smaller space, however I don't feel that I am getting rounded responses here, just people trying to tell me that I need to put my computer in a bedroom (without relaising my need for a decent sized desk, scanner, 2 printers, filing cabinets, bookcases etc!).

You can fit all that into a decent sized double bedroom and still leave space for a wall-bed. So rather than being your laptop camped in the corner of a guest-bedroom, it will be a guest bedroom squashed into the corner of your office. If you had an entire wall of built-in floor-to-ceiling storage with a large fold-down desk you would have plenty of workspace.

Downsizing is obviously not going to work if you mentally welded the idea that you have to have an array of bulky free-standing furniture. IMHO bedside tables are a complete waste of space - we have narrow shelves intended for use in a bathroom that fit a drink and a book just fine but leave plenty of floor space for our kingsize bed, double chest of drawers and triple wardrobe. I live in a flat.

p00hsticks

LE3 wrote: »

I am currently living alone in a large 3-bedroom house (rented) and
am now wishing to buy my own property. I will be downsizing
somewhat which is fine - there are rooms here I barely use!

I don't understand how you can say that in your current 3-bedroom house you have rooms you barely use, yet a two bedroom is not going to give you enough space for what you need ? Could it be that you have more reception rooms in your current property than the one you viewed ?Perhaps it might clear things in your own mind if you decide the minimum number of rooms in total you need and work from this - after all in bungalows, the designation of a room being a bedroom, a dining room or a living room is usually pretty arbitrary.

olias

LE3 wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.

PasturesNew - thanks for being just about the only person who understands that it's not about what works for others or whether my guests want to share with a computer or not (if they don't like the accomodations I provide, I have alist of local hotels!), it's about what works for ME in MY home, and I do not wish to put my computer in my guest room!

I had hoped that with this being a "money saving" forum, there might have been some constructive comment/experience from people who have downsized about whether they did "grow into" the smaller space, however I don't feel that I am getting rounded responses here, just people trying to tell me that I need to put my computer in a bedroom (without relaising my need for a decent sized desk, scanner, 2 printers, filing cabinets, bookcases etc!).

I am not going ahead with this particular property anyway as I have become uneasy about something not at all related to the study space, but still need to decide if I should continue to look at 3-bed properties only, or keep my mind open to a 2-bed!

Thats rather unfair, both me and Jowo have suggested buying a 2 bed and adding either a garden room/studio or a conservatory. Both of these solutions should work out considerably cheaper than buying a 3 bed home and will give you an extra room completely seperate from any guest accommodation in which to site an ofice/work space. Another option would be to covert a garage in a two bed property into an office, again this solution should be very cheap to do (<£10K) and will again, give you the extra room for a cheaper price than looking at a 3 bed property. You really need to look 'outside the box' for a cost effective solution to your needs

Olias

keith969

LE3 wrote: »

I would need to make a room 9'7"x8' work as a double bedroom - the
bedhead would need to go against the 9'7" wall due to windows/door. The room would only be used for sleeping/dressing so would only
need the standard double bed (metal frame), bedside table and a
small chest of drawers or perhaps one of those little
wardrobe/drawer combos. Does anyone have a bedroom this size in
regular use as a double - does it work ok?

I have a room of that size - 9'8 by 8'4 - I use it for a study, I would say its *way* too small for a double bed, although it would be OK for a single bed plus bedside table etc.

Jowo_2

LE3 wrote: »

it's about what works for ME in MY home, and I do not wish to put my computer in my guest room!

I had hoped that with this being a "money saving" forum, there might have been some constructive comment/experience from people who have downsized about whether they did "grow into" the smaller space, however I don't feel that I am getting rounded responses here

Well clearly the people that gave time and effort encouraging you to downsize didn't appreciate the emotional barriers you face with considering a smaller property when they suggested many different solutions.

I am self-employed, work largely from home and have masses of files and PC equipment. I have lived across 4 different small properties with a 2 bedroom capacity where the second doubled as an office/2nd bedroom with various different furniture set-ups. I encounter absolutely no logistical or emotional problems operating my business that way nor did it affect the comfort of my guests. If I felt any worry about security around my equipment and the guests, I can easily buy a laptop safe for £30 and lockable file storage.

My IT colleagues who are also self-employed have different strategies for running their businesses from home, having guests and keeping the work/domestic sphere separate, none of which require a single person to keep on a 3 bed property for the occasional guest.

Their set up includes having a mini office set up in a large hallway using furniture that hides the desk and PC when not in use or an office tucked in a large cupboard or box-room that is connected to a living room or hallway. Some have sofa beds in their living rooms and/or spare rooms for guests.