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Original poster

Bedrooms in American TV houses?

57 replies

bluebluezoo · 30/12/2020 14:20

Watching This Is Us- one of the brothers is very well off, the size of his house is commented on regularly, a thing is made that it has a huge kitchen etc etc...

Yet it appears to only have 3 bedrooms, one being a small single. Any visitors sleep on the couch, in the basement, or one of the dd’s give up their room for guests.

Same in nearly every tv show, guests always on the couch. The OC, another massive house yet only 2 beds as Ryan stays in the poolhouse or the sofa.

Is there some weird US architecture that means houses have massive downstairs and tiny upstairs?

It’s really annoying me now! Along with how labour always starts with waters breaking with no warning, and an immediate rush to the hospital while millions of friends sit in the waiting area.

OP posts:
SebastianTheCrab · 31/12/2020 11:33

YANBU except re The OC - Kirsten originally puts Ryan in the pool house because he was a strange kid her husband had picked up from juvie and she didn't know if he'd kill them all in their sleep. Then he ended up just staying there. It's definitely more than a 2 bed.

lljkk · 31/12/2020 11:40

Of those who own their homes at all, maybe half of my American relatives/friends seem to live in condos. I don't watch a lot of TV, but there should be a lot more condos.

Original poster
bluebluezoo · 31/12/2020 11:51

YANBU except re The OC - Kirsten originally puts Ryan in the pool house because he was a strange kid her husband had picked up from juvie and she didn't know if he'd kill them all in their sleep. Then he ended up just staying there. It's definitely more than a 2 bed

I’m sure they had visitors at some point- kirstens sister? Who stayed in the pool house and Ryan shared with Seth for the duration.

There were definitely a few occasions where they got the perfectly folded pile of blankets and pillows out for the sofa too....

Interesting that spare bedrooms don’t seem to be a thing in the US. You’d devalue a property significantly in the UK getting rid of bedrooms. Even if you’re using a spare as a study or other purpose is’s advised you dress it a a bedroom to sell.

Do people not visit in the US? Is staying on the sofa a thing? Or are motels and hotels cheap enough that you stay nearby?

OP posts:

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redcandlelight · 31/12/2020 11:55

us houses sell on square footage not on number of bedrooms.

what I find weird about us bedrooms is that even in tiny rooms a twin bed is not pushed against the wall but in the middle of the room. might this have to do with the sheet&blanket bedding that's still very common?

DinosApple · 31/12/2020 12:50

I'm just thinking of DD2's obsession with Alvin and the chipmunks, and yes it's definitely a TV thing. 😂

Dave has a decent sized kitchen diner, a study, a living room, a large basement and yet the Alvin, Simon and Theodore all share... Grin

WickedGoodDoge · 31/12/2020 13:14

Do people not visit in the US? Is staying on the sofa a thing? Or are motels and hotels cheap enough that you stay nearby?

A lot of people I knew growing up had full basements which had been renovated to create more living space- dens, game rooms etc. When we were at sleepovers at friends’ houses or visiting relatives, we’d often sleep in the basement, usually on massive squashy sofas.

jambeforeclottedcream · 31/12/2020 13:36

@bluebluezoo

YANBU except re The OC - Kirsten originally puts Ryan in the pool house because he was a strange kid her husband had picked up from juvie and she didn't know if he'd kill them all in their sleep. Then he ended up just staying there. It's definitely more than a 2 bed

I’m sure they had visitors at some point- kirstens sister? Who stayed in the pool house and Ryan shared with Seth for the duration.

There were definitely a few occasions where they got the perfectly folded pile of blankets and pillows out for the sofa too....

Interesting that spare bedrooms don’t seem to be a thing in the US. You’d devalue a property significantly in the UK getting rid of bedrooms. Even if you’re using a spare as a study or other purpose is’s advised you dress it a a bedroom to sell.

Do people not visit in the US? Is staying on the sofa a thing? Or are motels and hotels cheap enough that you stay nearby?

The pool house defo was the spare room

Kirsten's wayward sister , Ryan's brother Trey and Marissa when Julie had either had enough of her or went on holiday all stayed in there.

And then Ryan moved into seths room or slept on the couch

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