One Bedroom / Two Children

Buzzybee90

moomoomama27 wrote: »

No it is NOT ridiculous, thats just insulting and offensive.

Some people have no choice but to use a living room as a bedroom, some people have to share rooms with their children.

Social housing isn;t for, or available to everyone. So Sometimes you have to be creative. Maximise space, establish private time etc..

With low wages, lack of social housing, high rent and housing prices, it's not always possible for low income families, or families working/living ine xpensive areas to always have optimum housing.

I personally don't think it's a terrible idea. I think you just need to be quite selective over the property type and use the space avaiable as creativley as possible.
High ceilings
walk in wardrobes
extra shelving
storage beds/bunk beds
room dividers
Wall hooks

All can make your living space alot bigger. I have seen some huge 1 bedroom flats/houses, and the bedroom can be easily split into 2.

Good luck in whatever you decide, most things are doable.

It is ridiculous when it's not the only option.

moomoomama27

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

It is ridiculous when it's not the only option.

Well obviously!!!

However the OP said it was probably the most she could afford due to the area and work, and she didn;t want to move her children from their school. As a parent I can fully understand that.

Buzzybee90

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Well obviously!!!

However the OP said it was probably the most she could afford due to the area and work, and she didn;t want to move her children from their school. As a parent I can fully understand that.

To buy, she doesn't want to rent which I understand but choices are limited. Hope she finds something bigger.

Indie_Kid

Would there be an option to get a flat with a loft and turn that into a bedroom?

RAS

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Would there be an option to get a flat with a loft and turn that into a bedroom?

Only if the loft is included in the lease and then only if the freeholder permits the conversion and the OP can afford the building work. The freeholder will probably charge a percentage of the up-lift as well.

purpleshoes_2

Surely theres a way if you buy a 1 bed flat that you could get part of the living room sectioned off into a bedroom. I live in a two bedroom flat and I sleep in my spare room, the other bedroom is bigger and I like the smaller one. Ive been sleeping in there almost as long as Ive lived here.

Theres enough room for a double bed, a bedside table, a chair and there a built in wardrobe. If you bought a flat with a decent sized living room you could section off part of it and put a bed and a table in it.

Its entirely your choice, but what suits one person wont suit another. Where you sleep can be less problematic that where your stuff goes if you have lots of stuff.

BigAunty

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Had a thought. Where will all my clothes go? Arggh!

You've received some constructive suggestions around storage. You could put non-essential items into storage to stop the property from being cluttered, such as out of season clothes, etc.

Does your budget include 1 beds with large dining kitchens that you could turn into a galley kitchen? Or garden flat where you might be able to afford a small extension?

My suggestion would be to ask for practical ideas and people's similar experiences on the housing forum.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, there are 1 bedroomed flats with lots of additional space, and 1 bedroomed flats with not a lot else.

I remember one friend bought a bedsit when they had a young baby, as that was all they could afford. They then had a second child while still living there ...

carefullycautious

Read this

http://lovingsimpleliving.com/2012/07/minimalist-kids/

If thats what it takes to make your life easier in the interim then go for it. Also look at small apartment living lots of advice on living with less etc

Good luck

FBaby

It really is a personal decision. Personally, I would absolutely hate the prospect of not having my bedroom. Also, until my kids were about 10, they would spend all their time in the living room rather than their bedroom, so it would really have been a waste of space.

My priorities would be:
- seeing if you can get a 1 bed with a dining room and make that a bedroom
- would definitely give up a garden for another bedroom
- would have no qualms with my kids changing schools at this age, they adjust very quickly and would hardly remember their old school. There are plenty of good schools in not so expensive areas.
- If one bedroom and one living room is the only option, I would look for a very large living room (at the expense of the bedroom, kitchen, look of the building etc...) so I could section it, even if only with a heavy curtain, and plenty of storage space.