What size bedrooms do teenagers *need*?

[GottaGetUp]

We have two dds, 10 and 8. They are currently in medium to small sized bedrooms. We are pondering an extension, which would give them both really quite big, equal sized rooms (one is bigger than the other at the moment, but not hugely so).

We are considering it on the basis that ‘teenagers need space’, but not having teenagers yet, I don’t know if that’s true.

I remember feeling fairly hard done by as a teenager in a box room, but then got a nice big room when my sister went to university, maybe without that contrast I would have been fine?

We have a lot of downstairs space, so they’ll have room for friends to hang out downstairs away from us.

Their current rooms are 2.9x2.5m and 2.9x2.2m (9’6”x8’4” and 9’6”x7’3”).

Obviously lucky to have their own rooms already etc., but if we can give them more, should we?

Oh god, the floordrobe. DD had a 10 X 11 foot bedroom from 3 to 19, and until DSIL moved in, it was like an odiferous rag pile. Having a baby sorted that sharpish, but you'll have wait for a couple of decades.

If there’s plenty of room downstairs for socialising and studying I wouldn’t be too bothered. The dc had space for desks in their rooms and they still ended up studying in the dining room as their desks amassed mountains of crap. If anything I think it’s good to have separate studying and relaxation spaces to help them switch off at night.

I would give them dedicated desk space somewhere - ideally in own room, that way they can leave their work out, it will not get messed with, and they will not distract each other.
But, you can get high level beds with desk underneath. (They are awful to change bedding on, though.)
DC1 had one from IKEA with wooden legs. We cut two of the legs short so it would fit over the 'box' in the box room.

I think teenagers need less space than younger children who may need floor space for toys, it's more important that they have their own space (if possible). Organisation and storage for schoolwork is important though.

We had a loft conversion done leading up from my box room when I turned 13.I had the loft as a bedroom and we used my old room as a spare/storage room

The beds they’ve got now used to be bunk beds and they’re designed to be adapted, so it would be easy to make them into high beds.

It’s making more and more sense not to bother with the extension.

Much depends on your financial circumstances. IMO big rooms are better and those dimensions are small. But building work is costly, costs often over run, and unless you’ve plenty of money it’s likely the money could be even more useful for other things, eg university costs, car

I had a boxroom and it was fine, cosy, but had nowhere quiet and private to study. I would have much preferred to hang out with friends in my room rather than downstairs.

My boyfriend and a friend had a high bed, primarily for the desk underneath, and by later teens were embarrassed about it!

I would give them cabin beds, with desks underneath.
Redo your current bathroom with a shower. If you are really going to be there for years, then have it how you want it.
Any future buyers may well do the extension / bathroom refurb anyway.
Give them an extra chill out room downstairs when they are teenagers

I grew up with a small room (about the size of your smaller room) and I managed just fine.
I had a single bed, expedit(kallax) 4x4 unit, and a desk, with hanging space attached to the wall. Once I turned 17 I swapped out my single for a small double which was a squeeze but made me feel less like a child.

My two have the 2 double rooms in the house - although they don't have boxes of toys etc I found that when they had friends round, particularly to stay over, it was easier for them to be in their room rather than in the lounge (as I had no where to sit and drink my tea in the mornings!)
I have the smallest room as all I need it for is sleeping (on a 3/4 bed as it just fits in).

One more bump as there hasn't been complete consensus.

Overall I think I prefer the idea of encouraging them to use the communal rooms downstairs rather than hiding in bedrooms.

And certainly cheaper to buy new furniture to make the most of the space they have than building whole new bedrooms!

Op, sounds like you’ve made up your mind anyway!
I’d want my children downstairs with me too.

For us the bedroom issue isn't a huge issue, they both have a box room with joint bathroom, however, we have a living room/ dining room joined so if they have friends over they have no space to all chill out. Were having a sunroom built so kids can take over lounge or sunroom with friends, also means they can all crash/sleep there when there is a group over.
We do live in the middle of nowhere so for us it's a frequent occurrence to have groups over.
I'd prioritize social living space over bedroom space

I think it's largely dependent on whether they have downstairs space. Both of ours had small rooms and I did wish that we'd moved somewhere with double bedrooms. However, that was because they took over the dining room with school books etc and had nowhere to hang out with friends. If we'd had more downstairs space for them to do their homework etc it wouldn't have bothered me.

My 2 teenage sons share their room small bedroom with a 7 year old. Meh. They'll survive. I did.

Just fit a million plug sockets for all the gadgets to be plugged into.

Hmm. Cabin beds may be practical, but all the teens I know want to get rid of them by 13/14 at the latest. If the ceilings are low they can be restrictive, they are a b@gger to change the sheets.

It depends on the personality of your DC - one of mine would no way work in communal space, and needed a large bedroom to have the desk space to work at. The other mostly prefers to work sitting on her bed, despite there being a desk in her room, but she often takes over the dining table - we are the closest house to school and her mates gather at ours in free periods for free tea and coffee and a place to study.

If I were in your position I would extend. Yes, there will be short term upheaval, but your dc will gain from it, and if you have people to stay your dc can share and you will have space to put people up. We regularly have extra teens staying over, as it is safer for two to come home together after a party, and I appreciate the fact there is space to put them up, without me tripping over a sleeping bag in the front room.

My DH never had a bedroom at all as a teenager. He and his brother used to sleep on pull-out beds in the sitting room of their tiny house. He first had an actual room when he left home. Teenagers might like big rooms but it's possible to live without one.

my teenage daughter has a box room she is 14 she has a cabin bed but she said she has no room to put things and she wears makeup and wants a vanity but she said she has no where to put it and I don’t know what to do