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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Good or bad idea - losing a bedroom to make a bigger master bedroom

36 replies

artyanklet · 27/10/2014 08:24

At present I have a 4 bedroomed house. The 4th bedroom is approx 7'8 by 6'3 (I only use it as my dressing room as I can't fit my triple wardrobe in master bedroom). The master bedroom is currently 11'6 by 8'11.

I have several options ;

Option 1 - leave well alone and carry on using bedroom 4 as my dressing room.

Option 2 - Pull out the small en suite and turn that space into fitted wardrobes/cupboards

Option 3 - Knock the wall down between master bedroom and bedroom 4, have dual aspect windows (they are equally matched in size and distance and would look pleasing to the eye!), keep the en suite. take a little bit of the landing and incorporate the airing cupboard into the master bedroom making the master bedroom 15' by 11'6 approx.

Would I be losing value/gaining value, so confused. I know what I want to do but at the back of my mind don't want to compromise on losing money or putting future buyers off.

Or does anyone else have great ideas - suggestions greatly received

OP posts:

magimedi · 27/10/2014 08:52

How long are you thinking of staying in the house?

If you are going to be moving in the next five years or so I'd leave it.

If it is your long term home, do what suits you best.

Haggisfish · 27/10/2014 08:55

Personally I think bad idea.

LondonGirl83 · 27/10/2014 09:05

It depends on your local market but that box room is not a bedroom. If I was viewing the house I would value it as a 3 bed anyhow. Also, a master bedroom that is 11.6 x circa 9ft is tiny for two people.

It sounds like a sensible plan.

HaveToWearHeels · 27/10/2014 10:42

Never loose a bedroom however small, it will devalue your house. Unless of course it is your forever home.

SolomanDaisy · 27/10/2014 10:47

We're buying a house where they have knocked two bedrooms into one. We will be putting the wall back in and have factored that into the price. However,the two bedrooms will both be bigger than your current master bedroom, which is very small for a master. Did it used to all be one room? How big are the second and third rooms?

BrieAndChilli · 27/10/2014 10:53

Could you not put a doorway connectin the dressin room with the master? Means if you sell it can be used as you are with a dressing room and the master just for the bed. But someone could use it as 2 bedrooms if they so wished. I wouldn't lose the ensuite either

Original poster

artyanklet · 27/10/2014 12:15

Not planning on selling it any time soon.

Other bedrooms are smaller than master but only just.

No it has always been 2 rooms.

Thanks for the input, I like the idea of a bigger bedroom but my head keeps saying about value and 4 beds. hmm.......

OP posts:

HaveToWearHeels · 27/10/2014 12:35

I wouldn't take out the ensuite, however if you are planning on staying for the foreseeable knock it through. When you get a quote to have it done also get an idea for having a wall put back up. Might help you make up your mind.

Riverland · 27/10/2014 12:55

Knock it through, definitely. A bigger bedroom, with an en suite , dual aspect, is a very definite plus point.

Your not really losing a bedroom, are you,just a box room.

RoganJosh · 27/10/2014 12:58

You're losing a study though which many people would value. I would do it but aim to chuck up a stud wall if I wanted to move.

Riverland · 27/10/2014 13:07

To be honest, at that size, it's a very poky study, and in exchange you get a more enjoyable and usable bedroom.

if I really very much needed to buy a house with a study because a study was important to my needs, I wouldn't buy a house with such a minuscule study.

PrimalLass · 27/10/2014 14:05

In this case I would either knock through or put a door between them.

MillyMollyMama · 27/10/2014 15:32

I would open it out into the main bedroom but fit it with wardrobes. Could be converted back easily. Houses these days often sell on floor space, not the number of pokey rooms. It will not devalue it provided it is lovely in all other respects!

burnishedsilver · 27/10/2014 17:59

For lifestyle reasons its a good idea, for resale value its a bad idea.
Putting a door through should give you the best of both worlds.

HaveToWearHeels · 27/10/2014 18:26

Loosing a bedroom will devalue the house, however small that room is.

Original poster

artyanklet · 28/10/2014 14:53

Thanks for the replies, not sure about an adjoining door as the bedroom doors are right next to each other.

Back to the drawing board I think
!

OP posts:

burnishedsilver · 28/10/2014 15:32

What about a doorway with no door?

TooSpotty · 29/10/2014 15:53

Our house is a 'four' bed house in which someone has partioned the big front bedroom of a typical Victorian house into a medium double bedroom and a single. I know it means we don't have the lovely large bedroom, and I do feel a bit of a fraud saying it's a four bedroom house, but that room is big enough to be a child's room or a study. When I asked an estate agent about the best thing to do, the advice was to leave it, as if we knocked the wall down, people who NEEDED the fourth room wouldn't be interested, but people who didn't need it would still look at the house.

We have three kids so it actually meets our needs; the room is easily big enough for a small child. But it entirely comes down to the needs/wants of the long term owner. If that's likely to be you, then do it! If not, I'd keep the flexibility.

LondonGirl83 · 29/10/2014 19:58

Rooms too small to be bedrooms don't necessarily add value HavetoWearHeels.

In London losing a bedroom to create a walk in closet / ensuite is common. Especially if a house will have at least 4 bedrooms even if one bedroom is sacrificed.

haretyme · 30/10/2014 08:29

Box room or bed room it's upstairs it's originally a bed room make of it what you wish. Why oh why do people think they have to try and live like gentry. We can only afford small homes we do not have ball gowns and top hats to store nor maids/butlers to accommodate - then again did anyone see the tv programme 'You Can't get the staff' and the three staff using the pokey kitchen! I would say do what suits your personal wishes for now OP.

LondonGirl83 · 30/10/2014 09:03

Box rooms usually when originally built were much larger in Victorian housing. The became unusable box rooms when bathrooms were installed.

Original poster

artyanklet · 30/10/2014 09:32

Thanks for all suggestions, still unsure of what to do. Would love a bigger bedroom but don't want to put potential buyers off when I eventually come to sell. (even though I plan on staying put for a good few years)

OP posts:

HaveToWearHeels · 30/10/2014 09:41

LondonGirl Round here (South East) loosing a bedroom however small WOULD devalue the house.
As someone upthread said
"When I asked an estate agent about the best thing to do, the advice was to leave it, as if we knocked the wall down, people who NEEDED the fourth room wouldn't be interested, but people who didn't need it would still look at the house."
However if I was planning on staying in the house I would knock through & would throw up a stud wall when I came to sell. You have to have space that works for you.

LondonGirl83 · 30/10/2014 09:49

Personally, I wouldn't even visit a house with a master that was 11.5 by 9. Is that normal for your area?

The best thing to do is look at sold house prices on Rightmove to get a sense of standard configurations in your area as that is what buyers will expect.

JustAShopGirl · 30/10/2014 09:50

7'8 x 6'3 - we have 2 kids in bunk-beds in that size of room (well 7'5 x 6'3) with a chest of drawers and a desk ... it is not "too small to be a bedroom"

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