Advice on upstairs layout

2 years ago

Hello

We’re currently renovating and extending our house.

After the extension, downstairs will have a large entrance hall, large open plan kitchen/diner/living area, separate utility room, separate living room, and a downstairs loo. All rooms will be generous in size, and feel really spacious and airy.

Upstairs, we have two options:

4 bedroom option:

Includes a master suite (with an en-suite and walk-in-wardrobe/dressing room), 3 double bedrooms, a large family bathroom (big enough to have a separate bath and shower), and a large landing.

The benefit to this design feels like it will give us a more spacious and airy upstairs, in-keeping with the rest of the house.

The position of the door into the master suite gives us a lot of flexibility with the layout of this room – it gives us the ability to create a very luxurious dressing room and en-suite, with lots of space for storage of clothes, getting dressed, and space for double sink/separate bath if we want them.

It gives us a large, impressive landing (the same size as our entrance hall downstairs) and it could easily accommodate some statement furniture, such as nice bookcase or sofa.

But it will be a very large landing, so we're wondering if it makes the best use of the space available?

5 bedroom option:

Includes a master suite (with an en-suite and walk-in-wardrobe/dressing room), 2 double bedrooms, 2 single bedrooms, and a family bathroom.

The benefit to this design is that we gain a bedroom. Given the increase in working from home, we wonder whether this will be more useful, as it allows for a separate study. It also means that we don’t have such a big landing upstairs which could feel like a bit of a waste space.

But it would mean a smaller family bathroom - the shower would have to be above the bath.

It also restricts the layout of the master-suite, as the door into this room is in the middle (so it doesn’t allow for a very large dressing room/ensuite).

We’re also worried that the hallway to the master bedroom could feel narrow and dark.

We're struggling to decide which layout to go for.

Below are initial designs for the 4 bedroom and 5 bedroom. I would really appreciate your thoughts.

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Comments (11)

Nicholas Scott
2 years ago
The 4 bedroom design seems better to me, as the rooms are all a better size. Do you need 5 bedrooms? How many children do you have? Could one of the 4 bedrooms be used as a study? Is this going to be a permanent home? With such a large landing you could use the space opposite bedroom 4 for a study. Having the stairs wind the other way might give you some other options. Also, posting the ground floor layout might help others come up with other creative solutions.
Jonathan
2 years ago
Another vote for the 4 bed design too
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I'm sure we've seen this house before, it's looking like a very familiar layout. I'd have to disagree with the Estate Agent and say that 5 beds with one main bathroom and an En-suite is lacking a bathroom, thus a four bed house with an En-Suite, dressing room, a main bathroom and a shower room is infinitely more saleable and most probably more valuable. Yes you could do this:- But you then have four beds sharing one bathroom, not great. So i'd do this:- Obviously everything hinges on the dimensions.
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As Jonathan shows above, normally the stairs would go directly above your current set of stairs. It does depend on the orientation of the roof. You need to come up in the where the head height is the best , so that's the middle somewhere. I like Jonathan's layout very much, it's a better use of space for the current layout, and depending on the amount of space you have left when you have taken the eaves in to consideration you will have room for another room and bathroom if not two in the loft. ( All depends on head height )
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I know! We’re exploring options and are unsure on the best most cost effective solution. We’ve considered squeezing a shower into the downstairs WC, could be done but tight. We have ruled out an extension as the house already requires extensive updating and due to its age we know we will need budget set aside to account for the unknowns! As for extending WC into dining room we hadn’t thought of that, but we have a plan to move an external door to that area so that wouldn’t really be an option either. So difficult!
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Unfortunately we don't have the head height to go into the attic, only 1.6m at highest point
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User
2 years ago
I vote 4 bed too, and also think landing could be used as a study area.
PRO
The Kitchen Lady UK
2 years ago
I vote 4 bed too. This work is for YOU and your family so what do YOU need. With works this big, I assume you're staying for the next 10 years? Don't spend a fortune to second guess what someone else will want in a decade.
PRO
STUDIO TO
2 years ago
Hi J Green,

another vote for 4 bedrooms option from us.

We are big fans of large landings. This is space where family can meet, chat and hang out in the morning or just before bed. If you have kids, they will love it. Add seating and it could be a nice space to be in when your ground floor is busy and you just want to escape or have a private chat. There are million reasons why but of course this is your home so go with what feels right for you and your loved ones.

It is easy to annotate the drawing and write BEDROOM into the square or rectangle of space, but is it really a bedroom? Looking at the sizes, I am already feeling quite anxious that bedroom 4 and possibly also bedroom 3 are going to be difficult to furnish and made functional with decent size beds, storage etc. I would also suggest that you push your hired professional and re-visit your master suite design and your family bathroom design.

If your family bathroom is efficiently designed, you will have more space to give to both bedrooms.

Dressing room is a must these days, but the space you allowed for it seems really tiny. Also your en suite master bathroom layout worries me slightly.

Good Luck with your project.

Best Wishes

Suzanne
Bambi T
2 years ago
4 bed I think!
User
2 years ago
4 bed works better I think. Looks a great space!
J Green
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you so much for your responses.

We were swaying towards the 4 bedroom design initially, but then began doubting ourselves, thinking that 5 bedrooms must be better. Your comments have really confirmed four bedrooms are right for us 😊

We don't plan on having more than two children, so as long as that doesn't change, it leaves a spare room that can double up as a study. And like you all say, the landing area could also be used as a study area should we need it.

I agree with the point about the dressing room and en-suite in the master bedroom not being big enough (I'll probably put another post about that to get some further thoughts).

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, and so quickly too. You've really put my mind at ease 😊
arc3d
2 years ago
Sorry late to the party, but yes another vote for the 4 bed. Big landings are so rare here in the UK, but I think they really turn upstairs into a more liveable space. With the 4 bed you will get bigger bathroom, more generous bedrooms and a bonus space.

Not sure what the houses orientation is or how far from the road it is, but if suitable you could take out the window and replace with double doors out to a balcony. Could be a great spot for reading / morning coffees.
J Green
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks arc3d, that's a lovely idea. Will have a think about it!
Wumi
2 years ago
4 bedrooms for sure. Love a large landing! My in-laws have a large landing and when we’re altogether we socialise first thing or just before bed on the landing. Also nice having natural light from the window on the landing. You could fit in a sideboard, writing desk, some armchairs or a chaise or settee by the window.

Advice on upstairs layout

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