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Original poster

Do lots of MNers live in big houses?

147 replies

Wishimaywishimight · 24/12/2023 11:24

Just curious as there are quite a few posters having people staying over Christmas.

Here it's just me and DH in a 3 bed semi so plenty of room for just us but only suitable for 1/2 guests in the spare room (box room is my office).

I live in Dublin (suburbs) and I always envisage Londoners living in the fabulous spacious houses from Outnumbered and Motherland (I know of course this is not the case)!

OP posts:
Grinchwithlove · 24/12/2023 12:37

I have a small first floor 2 bed flat and not ashamed of it in fact i love it its cheap.
But i dont have anyone stay its my space for me plus i dont do christmas.

Lizzieregina · 24/12/2023 12:37

I live in a 5 bed/2 bath but have a full house due to adult kids still being here. No space for visitors at the moment, but in the past have had lots of people staying.

I’m in the US and basements are a thing here, so they provide a huge amount of extra living space. If I had to, I could let people sleep on the couch or an air mattress in the basement. It’s very comfortable.

I have a tiny backyard though.

Werehalfwaythere · 24/12/2023 12:38

We have 4 guests staying one night. 2 parents + 2 kids. Parents on sofa bed in the living room and kids on blow up mattress next to them.

We live in a 3 bed semi with 3 kids so no chance of having a guess bedroom but we don't really like hosting much anyway so it's usually a 2/3 times a year thing max so not worthy of the extra mortgage payments to get a 4bed.

But also, remember it depends where people live. We live in the SE, so for what my house is worth, I could probably get a 6 bed in parts of the NE. So whilst some may seem to have excess bedrooms, they may also have lower valued houses and may also have mortgage payments that are ridiculously high or in lots of debt. It doesn't always tell you much iyswim.

the80sweregreat · 24/12/2023 12:40

I would like an extra bathroom tbh ( or even a small en-suite would do)
I do feel we have failed at life not having an extra bathroom ( do have two loos though and two loo brushes ) 😀
Judge away !
( just lucky to have bathroom / shower I know)
Home is what you make it anyway

festivetinseling · 24/12/2023 12:42

Positively acres.

I wish 😂

the80sweregreat · 24/12/2023 12:45

I wouldn't want a huge garden as we are not gardeners and it's just more work !
Ours isn't that big , but it's still an extra room to sort out keep on top of etc
If I ever won the lottery and could afford a gardener , then I might consider a bigger garden / land , but that isn't going to happen any time soon

Timeturnerplease · 24/12/2023 12:47

We live in a beautiful, sought after village in East Sussex in an AONB….and our house is a tiny 2 bed terrace originally built for workers in the church.

We’ve added a driveway to the front and a playroom to the back, but haven’t been able to extend the mortgage enough yet to convert the loft so young DDs share a room. We have a sofa bed in the playroom but it’s not ideal, and the table squeezed into our tiny kitchen only seats 4.

No major hosting for us!

LondonQueen · 24/12/2023 12:49

My house is quite large, however it's not set up very well for more than one couple to stay as we use the other bedrooms as a snug and and office. I don't see the point in more than one guest bedroom!

Octavia64 · 24/12/2023 12:50

5 bedroom townhouse rural east Anglia.

Should have two bathrooms but is being renovated and only one at the moment,

I'm hosting DM, DD and her gf, and DS. The "spare" bedroom currently has tools and decorating stuff in it.

DM us with me for three weeks the others for one.

We have a lounge, dining room (big) and large kitchen with sofa plus utility room which I use as gluten free kitchen.

Plus three cats who own the place

Timeforanewnam · 24/12/2023 12:51

Nope , two up two down terrace here .

and the big bedroom has been split in two for the two children.

we are snug .

one kid has a bunk bed that could sleep a lucky visitor in an emergency

it’s stressful when we are leaving the house at the same time ( wanting bathrooms and trying to get in the porch ect)

but otherwise we make it work

FloofCloud · 24/12/2023 12:53

5 beds and 2 reception rooms, we can fit another 5 people in our spare rooms, but we rarely have people to stay as I hate guests lol

brawnthesheep · 24/12/2023 12:54

I think a fair few have big houses but I don’t think many have big houses in London, although it will be age dependent. My parents & in-laws do, we have a 3 bed.

FreshWinterMorning · 24/12/2023 12:55

I would not believe everything you read on the internet @Wishimaywishimight Sooo many posters on here claim to have 15-20 guests staying over Christmas, which does tell everyone they have a big house and a big kitchen. 🙄 Several posters claimed they had 20-30 guests. In real life, I barely know a single person/couple/family who is having more than 2-6 people including children. The small number of families I know who are having more are still only having 7 to 9 tops. (And that includes them and their children.)

There was a thread on here a few days ago 'show me your normal houses, and not the big inta-ready ones.' Cue a bunch of posters posting a 20 feet long by 17 feet wide kitchen, with a massive range, or 2 or 3 ovens, a big island in the middle; and also a big dining room, with a massive dining table that seats 12. 🙄

I am not sure how many were genuinely that poster's kitchen/house, but the OP asked for normal/basic/small homes. Some people couldn't resist showing everyone their 'massive house' though... Not only the kitchens, but also the huge bedrooms with ensuites, and massive beds, and bespoke wardrobes and furniture la la la... Wink

BiblicallyAccurateAngel · 24/12/2023 12:55

I live in a 3 bed semi with 2 children.

There isn't much room for guests, but we have had people stay overnight on an airbed, or in one of the children's rooms.

the80sweregreat · 24/12/2023 12:56

I hate guests too , always had the old excuse ' No room ' !
These people who go on ' escape to the country' go on about space and lots of visitors etc. sounds like hell to me tbh!

christmaspawpaws · 24/12/2023 13:00

FreshWinterMorning · 24/12/2023 12:55

I would not believe everything you read on the internet @Wishimaywishimight Sooo many posters on here claim to have 15-20 guests staying over Christmas, which does tell everyone they have a big house and a big kitchen. 🙄 Several posters claimed they had 20-30 guests. In real life, I barely know a single person/couple/family who is having more than 2-6 people including children. The small number of families I know who are having more are still only having 7 to 9 tops. (And that includes them and their children.)

There was a thread on here a few days ago 'show me your normal houses, and not the big inta-ready ones.' Cue a bunch of posters posting a 20 feet long by 17 feet wide kitchen, with a massive range, or 2 or 3 ovens, a big island in the middle; and also a big dining room, with a massive dining table that seats 12. 🙄

I am not sure how many were genuinely that poster's kitchen/house, but the OP asked for normal/basic/small homes. Some people couldn't resist showing everyone their 'massive house' though... Not only the kitchens, but also the huge bedrooms with ensuites, and massive beds, and bespoke wardrobes and furniture la la la... Wink

I mean I have a giant bed and an en suite and a fairly big kitchen but I live in a 2 bed apartment that cost the same as a top end Range Rover so... Grin

MaisyMary77 · 24/12/2023 13:00

Big house here. I love it normally. But I host Christmas every year. Normally for around 16 people for about 3 days. We’ve got lots of space so no one is on top of each other. My family is great for pitching in and helping out. I usually really enjoy it but this year my back is knackered, I can’t remember the last time I had a decent night sleep and I’m starting to think it’s someone else turn.
DH and I are talking about downsizing within the next couple of years.

Shithole101 · 24/12/2023 13:01

I don't understand the i have no room for visitors to stay thing. Of course that is sometimes the case. But its like the guest must have a bedroom, a proper bed etc. Whats wrong with a blow up bed/folding bed, so that more people can stay

Deedippy · 24/12/2023 13:03

We have a 4 bed house but actually our house is a very small standard two up two down London terrace but we have the loft done a few years ago to squeeze in the 2 extra beds and shower room. A few times I've had two closest friends and their families to stay so that's 6 adults and 7 kids. Sleeping no issue. All the big kids get chucked in teens room on floor. Blow up in youngest daughters room so that then sleeps 2 adults and 1 kid and then sofa bed and single campbed in spare room. It's cramped but find for a few nights. Biggest issue is feeding everyone all at once. Breakfast we always do bacon sarnies and just put it all the table and everyone just makes one when they want one and usually eat out in the evenings

ChristmasCracker23 · 24/12/2023 13:03

We live in a five bedroom house with a holiday let cottage on the grounds. DH and I will be spending Christmas on our own, I really can’t be arsed with hosting loads of people. The only people I do know who are hosting 18 people is DD’s in-laws, we were invited but spending 3 days in a house with 18 other people made me shudder 😂

InflatableSanta · 24/12/2023 13:03

My parents have 8 double bedrooms and a kitchen table that comfortably sits 16... It makes for an absolutely lovely but chaotic Christmas if there's a houseful. They are in their early 70s and should probably be downsizing but love how easy it is to have family to stay

StolenCookie · 24/12/2023 13:04

I live in a tiny converted flat (from Victorian house) in SE London. One big bedroom and box room for baby. In laws insist on sleeping on our living room floor!

InflatableSanta · 24/12/2023 13:05

We have a 5 bed but with four children who are all reluctant to give up their bedroom it's tricky to have people to stay.

Bonjovispjs · 24/12/2023 13:08

I wish. Studio flat in London, all I can afford on my own.

Soj34 · 24/12/2023 13:09

We have a 3 bed semi with living/kitchen/diner extension, a separate living room and snug. We also have a large garden with a summerhouse. We could have guests on airbeds in the snug I suppose. I wouldn't want other people staying in our beds, I'd feel really funny about that. We have one full bathroom and an extra toilet.

In practice, it wouldn't happen as I like socialising but also like it when they go home.