Would you move to a smaller ground floor flat with a garden etc?

[anniewil]

I currently live in a first floor flat and I have been offered a ground floor flat. I used to know the person that lived there so have
already seen inside so know the size/layout etc as I used to visit her and have coffee the odd time!

Living room and bathroom are half the size of mine, the bedroom, kitchen and storage area are bigger. I currently have a large 3
Seater sofa and a chair and I would need a two seater and debatable if a chair would fit as well as all furniture.. I know I would
Have to get rid of some of the furniture I currently have which I don’t really mind.

It’s just had a new kitchen installed.

It has a year old wet room.

It has solid wooden floors in the living room and bedroom.

It has French doors leading out into the back garden.

I need to make the decision by tomorrow morning and feel people are trying to put me off because of the size of the rooms,
I’m not even sure if it would bother me or not (previous to the flat I’m in now I was in a three bed detached house and it’s never
bothered me) also I live alone, no kids etc and that will not change (I’m 50 now)

Would you stay or go if it was you?

I would. I would far rather have a garden than a large living room or bathroom.

I would.
It would be lovely to have French doors leading to your own garden

Do you think you will be bothered by noise from the residents above you?
If that wasn't an issue I would take it.

You can think of a garden as an extra room - you can have outdoor furniture, plant up pots, grow some tomatoes whatever. Outdoor space can be wonderful if you use it.

https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/storage/a71183319/things-to-get-rid-of-when-downsizing/?HearstNode=14DC1AFD92ECE166D91776FB513A45A685AF994584D0730E98A8E532B4A46CA8&utm_source=crm&utm_term=SUBS_N&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HSB_N_20260517

Can you swap the living room for the bedroom in any case?

I would! In fact I'm looking to do very similar as I'm in a 2 bed flat but would happily give up a bedroom and large lounge for a garden.
Unless the extra two bedrooms have a genuine purpose such as a regular guest or workspace then they will only be used to store things you don't really need.

If it's your own private garden/outside space I'd jump at it 100%. Furniture can be downsized to fit, look at IKEA stuff. I know you're only 50 but if you have a permanent tenancy, then a wet room and ground floor access will be invaluable as you get older. I know, I know you are only young but still!

I like the idea above about swapping bedroom for living room, but the layout may not make that feasible. Have you a floor plan? Doesn't really matter anyway, the flat sounds great to me and if I ever needed to move to a flat, the one you describe would be perfect for me!

Thank you for posting this, I'm trying to declutter at the moment so this article will hopefully help the OP and help me!

I would be too worried about a noisy neighbour above and how stressful that is having been there more than once.

I know you're only 50 but if you have a permanent tenancy, then a wet room and ground floor access will be invaluable as you get older. I know, I know you are only young but still!

I agree with this and the idea to possibly turn the bedroom into a living room if the layout allows.

It will also be much easier to bring in shopping, deliveries and move new furniture and appliances into the groundfloor apartment. No more carrying heavy bags up a flight of stairs!

Is it arranged so that the garden area is absolutely private or possible for other people to wander in?

I would absolutely chose garden.

And how does the bedroom compare to the living room? Is it feasible to swap the rooms about if one is bigger?

Yep, a garden will make up for the lack of space inside. You can also peg washing out. Do you mean the other flat has a new kitchen and wet room? Sounds like a good deal.

I need square footage ideally

because a 900 sq ft 5o 700 sq ft for a 2 bed.
No problem
650sq ft to 500 sq ft on a 2 bed 😱

But overall yes id trade. I love my garden.

Depends if you want a garden or not. I have a small garden and love pottering about. If you wouldn't use it I don't know if I would swap. It sounds like a good deal to me.

100% yes.

How big is the garden and are you a gardener or wannabe gardener?
I think it's a yes but give us a bit more detail please!
I know it's different but we've recently moved from large living room tiny garden to smaller living room bigger garden and I am thanking my lucky stars every day for the sequence of events that brought us here, even the neighbour dispute! I'm so happy to have a decent garden at last and it's so good for my mental health: do some gardening, love all the plants, just sit outside looking round and thinking this is my garden, how lucky am I? 🌳🌿🪴
Edited to add we have a smaller crappier bathroom now too but I'm still over the moon to have the garden. 😂

A garden would be a wonderful addition to your living space and I think you'll regret it if you don't take this opportunity. You've already said you only have yourself to consider and don't need a massive sofa etc, so go for it!

When you used to go and visit her how did you feel, did you think you'd like to live there? If the answer is yes then go for it.

I did the same and a garden makes a huge difference to how I feel in general - the outdoor space means I never feel the small flat is an issue and I just feel generally happier.

I'm team #goforit x

It depends how much joy the garden would give you. If a lot, then move. Are you at all worried about security in a ground floor flat?

I love having outside space. I think I'd compromise on the living room in order to gain a garden.

My only reservation would be - which way does the garden face? If it's a small north facing garden then possibly not.