Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Splitting a room

93 replies

bardos · 26/08/2023 08:16

Not really an AIBU but WWYD.

We are moving house soon, I will attach a picture. What I would like to do is split the bigger room into two so my children can have their own rooms.

The door would have to be inside the rooms to maximise on space and as there is no where in the hall to put another door.

Has anyone done similar and can advise on cost and whether you think it would give decent sized rooms? I've measured it out on the floor but I'm struggling to visualise the space as a room and whether they are going to feel really tiny.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Thread gallery
23
BungleandGeorge · 28/08/2023 05:03

The rooms won’t be 10x9 because the space isn’t rectangular, there’s a space lost on box sides and for the door opening. I think you need to put Those measurements on and the space for door opening, space lost for opening of doors etc and check exactly how much space there is in each room. With it being so tight I would have thought the money to switch to a combo boiler and utilise the airing cupboard space for a second doorway or even a cupboard would be well worth it.

WandaWonder · 28/08/2023 04:45

Are you allowed to do this with council/planning permission I am not sure who or what exactly but I think there is are things that need to happen or to check before actually physically doing it? fire safety maybe a builder could help check?

Autieangel · 28/08/2023 04:43

bardos · 26/08/2023 08:30

This is where I am thinking to add a door so it would be internal to both rooms but means we don't have to make one room shorter. There is currently two windows and two radiators so that's something we wouldn't have to worry about. There is only one light so we would have to put new lights in

This is what I'd do

cloudrunner · 28/08/2023 04:27

as @Counciltelly suggests, but make the door into the first, smaller room a sliding one - to maximise the space

sashh · 28/08/2023 02:50

OCDmama · 26/08/2023 21:22

I don't think you're allowed to have rooms leading into rooms for fire escape reasons?

That depends on whether there is another means of escape with the OP does have via the window.

https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/media/1809/building-control-guidance-notes-means_of_escape.pdf

https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/media/1809/building-control-guidance-notes-means_of_escape.pdf

OCDmama · 26/08/2023 21:22

I don't think you're allowed to have rooms leading into rooms for fire escape reasons?

dancingsands · 26/08/2023 15:11

bettytaghetti · 26/08/2023 08:44

Take out existing door and do this?

This

Goldbar · 26/08/2023 14:53

One reason for dividing the space (and which would be a factor in favour of having a large room and a small room) would be to have a guest room, if you plan to have guests to stay often. Child in bigger room has to move out when guests stay.

HappiDaze · 26/08/2023 14:52

bettytaghetti · 26/08/2023 08:44

Take out existing door and do this?

This works best and is what we did

Nevermind31 · 26/08/2023 14:49

2 and 5 year old font really need their own space - they mostly play downstairs and (at least mine) do t want to sleep on their own.

that will give you a few years to work out how you use the space, save some money, and then maybe relocate the hot water tank, take away the wardrobes from bedroom 2, and create a hallway.

as the kids get older they would not want to have an adjoining door, it doesn’t give privacy at all.

Sunriseatsix · 26/08/2023 14:35

As @gogomoto suggests, what about using the bunk bed to divide the room? A sort of half-way house while they're so small and gives you time to explore more permanent reconfigurations as they grow.

Splitting a room
ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 26/08/2023 14:33

bardos · 26/08/2023 08:26

I have thought about putting a door in where the hot water tank is, but it would cost quite a lot more. The kids are 5 and 2 so having an adjoining door won't bother them in terms of privacy. They currently share. I would just love to give them their own spaces as they've not had it before. But we also don't have the money to do any huge work

Many people grow to adulthood sharing rooms. Surely it's not deprivation for little children to share.

Rainbow1901 · 26/08/2023 14:30

TerrorAustralis · 26/08/2023 08:49

A temporary measure would be to put two wardrobes down the middle, with one facing each way. Cover the back side of each wardrobe with posters.

I did this when I shared a room with my sister and the fighting got too much. We each had our own space and meant that I wasn’t constantly pissed off with her slovenliness in my space.

My ex-DH and I did this for DD and DS and it worked very well but they were very young but it gave them their own space. If you are planning more long term then some of the suggestions offered so far would work very well.
If it is possible to remove the HWT - I would remove the wardrobe in your room to the alcove and create a small corridor with a door using stud walls for this and the internal division wall. You actually have quite a few options - let us know how you go!!

Goldbar · 26/08/2023 14:27

One option which I'm not sure has been mentioned is having all three bedrooms opening off the new hallway. Then you could turn the old corridor to Bedroom 2 into a large storage/linen cupboard.

This would also give you the option to make both the kids' bedrooms as small as you think you could get away with and have a much larger master bedroom at the back with a walk-in closet (by annexing a chunk of what is currently Bedroom 1 into Bedroom 2) 😂.

Splitting a room
WaitTheNoo · 26/08/2023 14:24

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:26

On your home made perfect they split a room by using bunk beds that were split alternate sides and each girl had one side basically, I'm not describing it well but it would be a good solution for you and the dividing is just the bed basically

That's what I had growing up and it worked well. The bottom bunk had a board up on the left hand side of the bed to block off that side of the room, and the top bunk had a board up on the right side of the bed to block of that side of the room. Wasn't perfect but it meant we could each have our own choice of decor and could chat at night but still had our own spaces.

CoffeeWithCheese · 26/08/2023 14:19

I’d trial it split with furniture first (I have two close in age and we only moved out of a 2 bed recently so I get what it’s like). I’ve found that, despite mine now having their own space, they still congregate in one room anyway!

Boomboom22 · 26/08/2023 14:17

Surely you will be removing the water tank at some point when you get a modern combination boiler anyway?

Boomboom22 · 26/08/2023 14:15

pisspants · 26/08/2023 09:28

I did similar op by removing the tank and wardrobe from the main bedroom to create a larger hall and walkway to the further bedroom, it works really well and has made it a proper 3 bed. Removing the tank was not a massive job but I dont think it's a DIY job, I used a gas engineer who does building work too. It cost me about £7k 5 years ago but that included the new combi boiler and a separate radiator and light in one of the new rooms as well. It was well.worth it as is a proper 3 bed now. I'd definitely save and do it properly if you have to, we did a very simple split to begin with but it made one of the rooms really small and there was no radiator in there either.

This long term. Dividers for now, that bunk with walls looks good. Gives loads of floor space when young and have clear sides.

justasking111 · 26/08/2023 14:12

Back to back wardrobes in a friend house also created a wall

justasking111 · 26/08/2023 14:10

youdialwetile · 26/08/2023 13:18

Whatever you do, use pocket sliding doors if possible to maximize floor space in each/one room.

Good idea. I've seen amazing ideas on Houzz.

Friends put in glass doors to maximise light too

churrios · 26/08/2023 13:55

Agree with previous posters re the bunk bed wall, sliding doors and both rooms having entrance from hall. I think it’s worth planning where you will put furniture including a desk at some point if this is your forever home. Also agree that wardrobe divider could work for now if you need to save for longer term solution.

TheNoodlesIncident · 26/08/2023 13:25

Goldbar · 26/08/2023 09:56

If you're going to be there for the long-term, this is what I would do. I'd have one bigger and one smaller room, but have really good built-in storage in the smaller room to maximise space in there (desk near the window with cupboards above and built-in wardrobes). I'd also move the cupboard in the current Bedroom 2. I don't understand why it's not already in the alcove so you have a nice, big, square Bedroom 2. I'd also leave a little bit of space for a built-in bookcase in the new corridor so that it's not just wasted space - you only need 25-30cm for built-in bookshelves and, that way, you could store the kids' books there and free up space in their rooms.

I'd do this too, but try to keep the sizes even and make the door in the stud wall a pocket door that slides inside?

It does seem best use of the space in the other bedroom too, moving the cupboard, but you would be best judge of that with the furnishings you have.

I don't know why posters are suggesting leaving it a few years and "they're only little", if the five year old is already irritated by the two year old! That's not going to get better any time soon...

youdialwetile · 26/08/2023 13:18

Whatever you do, use pocket sliding doors if possible to maximize floor space in each/one room.

justasking111 · 26/08/2023 13:06

bardos · 26/08/2023 08:36

Would anyone be able to give me a rough idea on how much it would be to create either of the options? One stud wall with a door or a lobby with two doors. We would be able to do the work ourselves

Get quotes from builders I would put the older child in the back room because it's further to the loo

UsingChangeofName · 26/08/2023 12:59

I'm not clever enough to do the pictures, but I agree with everyone you need to have a separate entrance and not have one room leading off another.

We did very similar when we moved in here. It was 20 years ago so even if I could remember the cost, it would clearly be out of date, but it certainly didn't cost very much - it is just a stud wall and some door frames.

I'd get the water tank moving costed, as that is clearly the best option, but whichever way you do it, it is definitely a better solution than the bunk beds.