Should we move house due to not liking the layout?

[FigTree123]

I feel a bit crazy for asking this and very aware it sounds like such a non-problem! We moved into our current house just over 2 years ago (3 bed detached) with DS who is now 4. I had no real desire to move from our old house which was admittedly smaller and a bit tired - we had been there 7 years, DS was born there, and although it was missing some things we would like as a growing family, it felt like home and I was content. DH really hated it there by the time we moved so he pushed for it and I went along with it.

I digress... The current house although certainly an upgrade just doesn't do it for me. It's mainly the layout. Everything is on the ground floor bar the living room which is on a lower level (garden has to be accessed through there or down stairs at the side of the house). I don't like coming up to the kitchen and leaving DS downstairs, also it feels there is nowhere to sit when you come in the front door other than the kitchen table or DSs room which seems to happen often as it's the first room you come to. I feel there's no privacy with the bedrooms and the living area does not get used well. It doesn't feel like it flows well especially with a kid. So, we're considering moving but I worry that I'm being really silly about this?? If we moved it would be a similar size i.e 3 bedrooms but likely semi detached and cheaper, as we've also discovered we really don't have a lot of spare money just now to do many renovations alongside balancing holidays and what-not. As much as it's not working for me I still feel this ache that this is our home (a lovely one at that on paper) and we'd be starting again. Help!

i would personally hate that layout and look to move

how would you even renovate it?

why did you buy it in the first place?

@mmsnet honestly it was a rushed decision. DH was miserable and I was feeling the pressure. The difficulty is he loves it here and doesn't see these things as problematic. I don't think we could change the layout. We spoke about extending into the driveway to make a second living room or converting the garage but realistically it's too expensive on an already expensive house.

extension cost could easily go over £100K on a house youre not sure about.

DH made you move last time now its your turn to move

Floor plan please!

@mmsnet thanks, I feel better knowing someone agrees with me. An extension realistically isn't an option on this house. Whereas a cheaper house that we could always convert the garage in the future for example if we needed the space, does seem more realistic.

@OffTheHookAtLast

That layout would be a no from me- especially with young children.

so its essentially a bungalow with a room downstairs

i live a in very hilly seaside town, some properties here have 2-3 levelled gardens, just seemed exhausting

i just wanted a normal house with front/ back garden and parking

but each to their own

Turn one of the bedrooms into a snug/living room. And the lounge into a bedroom. Problem solved.

No one needs to keep rooms as they are on paper.

definitely an idea to consider

Tbh I am surprised I am the only poster to suggest this! It's the most obvious solution. I would have had the sofa in that first room after being given the keys to the house - you need to have somewhere to sit!

Move the kitchen diner downstairs? It would make more sense to me to have the kitchen opening out into the garden anyway. Make it into a kitchen/family room rather than a traditional dining table have a sofa and dining area and that way DS can be with you when youre in the kitchen. Use the existing kitchen as a lounge/whatever you want it to be.

@user1476613140

ive never been creative 😂

though ive wouldve gone for a more traditional house anyway

It’s the dream house for a tween/teenager where they can have their own level.

for now lots of different options for swapping rooms around

With a 4 year old you’re in the cusp of big changes that it’s hard to see and plan for. So I guess it depends how tight money is and whether you can spend 20 grand on stamp duty or renovations to make it work.

Can you not just swap the rooms around?

Edit, as has been said already

I agree, bedroom(s) down stairs ,living room upstairs. Perhaps veranda with outdoor stair case to garden if the garden access is an issue. There must be a solution. It is such an odd layout. Or move kitchen downstairs with living area. Further small lounge upstairs and bedrooms? Something like that. Sounds quirky.

Swapping rooms around was definitely something we considered. If we put the master bedroom downstairs, I'm not sure how I would feel about DS being upstairs on his own and then being left with a tiny living room (bedrooms aren't huge as it is). And the door to the garden would then be through our bedroom. I think the best option is putting kitchen downstairs but again it was the cost to do all of that, it wouldn't be cheap at all. Im so confused and conflicted 😕

Use one of the bedrooms for the lounge or convert the garage so it’s all on one floor?

How many children do you have? Could they share for a while so you’re all on one floor otherwise. As far as I can see you’ve only mentioned a four year old?

need to really decide if after spending money on redesigning the rooms you could grow to love the house

Do you need 3 bedrooms at the moment? As you probably want to sleep on the same floor as DS at the moment, leave the living room as is but use a bedroom as a snug/tv room/playroom for daytime use. Then you and your DH can retreat downstairs in the evening, and all use it when everyone is home.
Is there a balcony off the kitchen? That would be a nice addition.

Smaller dining table with a sofa and tv in a corner of the kitchen dining room so you have a chill out space?

@FigTree123 moving is expensive. Short term you could turn a bedroom into a lounge/snug to give an upstairs living space. OR the kitchen looks big enough for you to put in a sofa and a TV (maybe by having a smaller dining table) to make it more of a family area. Ultimately I would make the downstairs a huge kitchen/lounge/diner with its direct access to the garden if/when finances allow and make the kitchen into a master bedroom with ensuite. Increasing from a 3 bed 1 bath to a 4 bed 2 bath house without having to extend but increasing the value potentially by more than you need to spend.

I would probably put the master bedroom downstairs too. If you didn't want to do that could you turn the spare bedroom into a playroom and then have the downstairs as more of an adult/ entertainment room. Once his is a little older it won't seem quite such a hassle. By the time they are 5/6 yrs they are generally happy to play on a different level to you.

If you put the kitchen downstairs you are still leaving DS upstairs alone in the living room when cooking etc. My suggestion would be two bedrooms downstairs, perhaps move your garden access doors so a small hallway can exist? The two upstairs bedrooms become one living room and the third bedroom stays as a guest room.

If you're planning more children then this may not work if you want to all have sleep spaces on the same level though.

Wow so many responses and things to think through... Believe it or not we have considered all of these options in detail! It's actually DH that doesn't want to commit to any of them due to cost or not feeling it will flow well. I'm well.and truly confused and we're meant to be having estate agent out on Monday to value!

@Wizardonabroom planning for a second at some point so that's another factor