To think this house IS big enough

[Coconutsandpalmtree]

For 3 kids and wfh (needing an office)

im not sure it is, but surely it should be and I’m missing a trick as to how we can make it work, DH and I have decided we’d like another child.

it’s a new house (6yrs now) so I took a pic of the floor plan from the developers. It’s pretty generic but it’s tight on space.

the front double is our bedroom, built in wardrobe and the space by the ensuite is a chest of drawers that we really need.

the smaller back ‘double’ (on floor plan) is more a single tbh, but that’s my eldests room. Front single youngest. Other double is a guest room/ office.

we really need an office for wfh. There’s no place for stud walls due to the windows.

we do have a garage though and a classic new build garden aka small.

what do you think? Can another kid fit here?

yabu- no way
yanbu- yes with some outside the box thinking that I’ll share :)

Okay but you did ask for opinions and she gave hers. It wasn’t designed to offend you. She didn’t say it’s not ok as it is, just that in her opinion having a third would mean the house size would benefit no one. I’d have to agree to be honest. Balanced replies are reasonable otherwise you wouldn’t be asking surely?

Perhaps, I don’t know, I think financially that wouldn’t be worth it, for the street and area

Or, you and your DH move into the smaller double. Get rid of the built in wardrobe and split that room in two so both get half the window.

Move the office to whichever is the smallest room upstairs.

we’re going to have to agree to disagree here, like in real life when anyone starts with ‘no offense but…’ and the says something offensive, when the poster starts with ‘I’m not trying to be mean but…’ then says something mean Like benefiting no one is quite strong

Give 2 kids the biggest bedroom. Third child the smallest. You and husband in small double and store your clothes in the office.

What ages are your current children? And are they the same sex? Least cost is to have 2 kids share the other double and have the single as an office. My sister and I shared on and off (moved a lot as kids), my Ex shared with his brother in bunk beds until he left home.

Next best option would probably be to convert the garage or part of the garage to an office. Is it attached to the house?

Not realistic for most people

Is that a Taylor Wimpey new build?
If so PLEASE pause and think before buying. Have a look at some of the support groups on Facebook like Taylor Wimpey -unhappy customers. The build is very, very poor and getting issues fixed is a massive challenge. They count on people giving up,
Obviosly some people fair better, maybe those early on in a development where the builders are still around. But when they’ve gone, aaargh.

It’s not attached no.

one of each so far, 2,5 years between them.

i think long term we will have to move if we had another, we just aren’t in a position to do it right now due to interest rates

They already live there…

About 6 years too late, we already live here.

oh I’m belligerent, they fixed everything even during the pandemic

Is it just me who thinks the obvious thing is to use the spare room as an office for now. Put a cot in it when the yet to exist third child moves out of parents’ room. That child won’t need a room they have to use in the day until they’re about school age and will cope with someone working in there until 17:30 every day. will they be in childcare after school anyway?
In 6 years you may be able to get a bigger place or just cope with a shared bedroom for a few years until uni age.

This is not a need at all, as evidenced by the many families with teens in two and three bedroom, one reception room houses all over the country.

It’s on the small side. I’d struggle with that space in your circumstances.

There are literally millions of families in this country who share a shower between 4 or more people. Our bathroom has one shower one toilet and one sink between 4 adults. We manage fine as do the millions of other people who have a set up like this. It is perfectly doable and has never caused us any problems.

I think we’d likely move in the long term. Even if we stuck at 2 kids we’ll 70/30 move in the long term due to aging parents

How big is the garden? If you have the space a garden room/office would be a good solution and is desirable for potential buyers when the time comes to move.

A family of 5 can fit in a 4 bed house. Thats beyond doubt given bigger families live in smaller. Generally because there is no choice. The fact there is dissonance in your case implies that there is a choice and possibly a debate.

My personal opinion is that children having their own room is more important than a home office and or guest bedroom. A regularly used office is more important than a guest bedroom. At the end of the day this can be affordable for some people and not for others. Just like kids not sharing is an affordability issue.

perhaps explain the issue that sits behind your question.

But kids wfh doing homework and it’s good for them to have their own rooms to do that.

I live in a much smaller house than this (mid terraced house with no garden plus it's only a 3 bedroom) with 3 children and I also work from home. Bespoke built in furniture in all the bedrooms, under the stairs, in the living room and utility room was the only way to make it work - the company that did it specialised in space saving and making practical use of every part of the house and its honestly amazing what they've been able to do.

Unless by "have another child" you mean "adopt another grown child immediately" I think you're over thinking it.

Any child you start trying to conceive now is going to take at least 9 months to show up, closer to a year if not more most likely. Then you've got a minimum of six months where they're in with you - if you're pushed for space it could be longer.

Anything can happen in that amount of time. One of you switches jobs to one that doesn't require home working. You move to be closer to elderly family. The house of your dreams comes up as a massive bargain down the street.

Off the top of my head
Lose the " guest room" and juggle bedrooms for guest to stay.. kids in your room or you use lounge when you have visitors
Put an office in an en-suite
You can manage with one bathroom if needs be
" shortie bunks" or custom made beds that go in at angles.. loads of options for those
Garden pod for office( off the top of my head 10k) Use as a multipurpose space for kids playroom etc
You will manage, it just means thinking outside the box and adapting space available
I had 3 boys in a tiny house( triple bunk/ room divider, we gave them the biggest room)
Vertical storage where necessary
Multipurpose furniture incorporating storage eg lift up beds

It could only work if you're prepared to convert the garage or ruin the already small garden with an office. I'd probably do the garage conversion and budget around £20k for it. But then you've lost your storage area.

I gave up the office when we had our second child, and installed my desk in a corner of the living/dining room.

Highly amused at "you need two lounges when you have teenagers." How many people in the UK have two lounges?!? I guess 90% of UK kids must vaporize when the clock strikes 12 on their 13th birthday.

I think it would technically be doable but will feel cramped.

I would prioritise my DC having their own space over my wfh set up personally. I would look into converting the garage and put a small desk in my bedroom in the meantime. I wouldn't be bothered about losing the spare bedroom but personally I wouldn't have another child if it meant my existing DC had to share a room. I appreciate others will feel differently though and some kids may be happy sharing.

A friend made a space under the stairs for her ‘office’. It was tight but it gave all the kids their rooms back?