Downstairs Bedroom......

nfollows1982

Hi everyone,

I know you lot are normally full of suggestions/experience!

So, have you ever converted a downstairs living/dining room into a bedroom or indeed would you consider it?

I’ll give the basic layout of the house now:

Through front door into living room 1 (this is set up for the kids), through to living room 2 (this is our nice living room), kitchen, utility room and bathroom.

Upstairs we have double bedroom 1 (me, wife, baby) and double room 2 (three girls 10, 8 and 6) and single bedroom off double room 2 (currently set up for my son who is 11 when he stays, which isn’t at all ATM).

Now as you know from previous threads, there have been issues with my son which thankfully are working themselves out now but he hasn’t stayed with us overnight since October. However, I have been reluctant to let one of the girls have his room as I don’t want him to think there’s no room for him here anymore; so all 3 girls are in the same room.

The wife has suggested moving but after having the house valued last week this really isn’t a viable option so we need to try and make the best of the space we have available; I have suggested that we change the use of the front living room to a bedroom.

My wife thinks this is a terrible idea! This is mainly down to security but like I argued all bedrooms in a bungalow are downstairs!!



Me, being the stubborn ‘me man, me know best’ one of the house thinks it’s an extremely good one!

Any suggestions?

FBaby

I'm confused. You don't mean that the front door takes you straight into the living room you want to convert? Do you mean there is a hallway?

Also, can you only go through the 2nd living room from the 1st? Unless this room is separated from any other room, I don't think it would be an option. If it is, then yes, it is perfect. I moved into the 'dining room' after I separated from my ex. Even after he moved, I stayed there as I really liked it. This way, my kids both had a double room upstairs and the small one was used as an office. We would never had used the dining room as such anyway as we had a large living room opening straight to the garden.

I do think it is a good thing to keep the room for your son though if possible as even if he doesn't stay to sleep, it sounds from your previous post that it is important for him to have a room for himself when he can retreat (and therefore feels at home!). However, if the living room isn't an option as a bedroom, then he will have to accept this at some stage.

LandyAndy

Are you and your wife planning to take the downstairs bedroom? That would alleviate the security questions. Does the front door open directly into the room?

nfollows1982

At the moment yes, the front door goes straight into the living room that the kids use. There is a door out to the stairs, then another door into the 2nd living room, which then goes through to the back of the house.

We couldn't convert the other living room as this would restrict access to the kitchen and bathroom.

LandyAndy

nfollows1982 wrote: »

At the moment yes, the front door goes straight into the living room that the kids use. There is a door out to the stairs, then another door into the 2nd living room, which then goes through to the back of the house.

We couldn't convert the other living room as this would restrict access to the kitchen and bathroom.

I definitely wouldn't be letting three young girls sleep in a room that opened onto the street.

System

So guests would have to walk through your bedroom to go into the living room?

I dont think i'd like it but if your sure thats the only way forward....

FBaby

That means everyone going in would walk through their bedroom? Totally innapropriate and unfair on the girls (what happens if one of you gets home late, do you walk through when they are asleep?)

I think it is only a possibility for consideration if you can rearrange the walls to make it some kind of hallway so the second living room/stairs can be accessed without going through that room.

If you remember, I had strong ideas about your son's right, but that is going way too far!

missindecisive

As your son doesn't stay that often..how about putting a sofa bed into the living room 1. Then let one of the girls have the small bedroom upstairs. Its seems daft keeping an empty room for him when the others might really need the space. Just explain to the girls that when he comes to stay he need his own space in the living room while hes there, maybe remove some of their stuff to upstairs to de-personalise the space.
Don't think there is anything wrong with anyone sleeping in living room 1 as a bedroom..as long as the front door is secure. You coud add a door curtain to prevent draughts, maybe a homely rug and a bedroom type lamp. You have to adapt your home the best way you can to suit your family. The most important thing is that your son is happy and not uncomfortable when he visits.

missindecisive

And just use the back door when he stays over..its not rocket science is it ! good luck

Meadows

Straight off the street into a room that then leads to another room to access other areas of the house? Hardly suitable for a bedroom to be honest.

Can you not partition the double bedroom off to make two smaller rooms, have bunk beds in the third room so that there is always a place for your son, but agree he does not need to have his own room if he stays there infrequently.

nfollows1982

It's not ideal I know, and I wasn't suggesting that we move the girls downstairs, we would take that room and the kids could stay upstairs just spread out a bit more.

The eldest of the girls suggested that she did a room share with my son so she could have that room with her bedding and stuff during the week and then we could make the bed up for my son when he stays and put his stuff out for him, she would then share with her sisters at the weekends he was with us.

The only issue is that single room you can only get to it through the girls room so privacy might be an issue.