Would you split a bedroom into two very small rooms to ensure children have their own space?

[Wiifitmama]

We are in a 3 bedroom flat with 3 kids (all boys). Eldest teen has smallest bedroom which is fine. Two other boys have a shared room. It's double, though not massive at all.

We recently tried to sell to move to a bigger house without success. We have decided to stay put for a good few years now. We really do like everything else about our place, but wanted the two younger boys to have their own rooms as they got older. (11 year old is already expressing his dissatisfaction with the current situation). I should also mention, there is no possibility to extend our flat at all as we are in a conservation area with very strict rules.

We plan to do a rebuild of kitchen/conservatory now that we are staying and could possibly gain a little space for their bedroom when we do this as it has a shared wall with the kitchen. If we gain this small amount of space, I think it would be possible to split their bedroom into two small rooms (each would be like their elder brothers which fits a high bed with desk and chest of drawers under, a single wardrobe and a book shelf - no extra floor space really except to walk through). We have high ceilings so it works to go upwards with furniture and doesn't feel as cramped.

My gut tells me this is the right thing to do as they could have their own rooms. But I do wonder about resale in the future. Our bedroom is a very good sized master bedroom with ensuite, but it would leave three other very small bedrooms.

So would you do this?

What about from the kitchen to the bedroom - again much much much cheaper than moving the kitchen wall as I think that would be structural and make the kitchen too small when the living space is so small for a 3 bed flat.

Just flagging up that you will probably need the consent of the freeholder and your mortgage lender to carry out the works you are proposing. I well remember a very lucrative case when I was still a solicitor, where the freeholder took the flat owners to court over lack of consent for moving an internal wall.
Check your lease very carefully.

Is the room high enough to build a mezzanine floor which can be accessed by a staircase. Found an example of a student duplex room which could work

No mortgage. And yes we do need freeholder's permission but it won't be a problem.

I am coming round to the idea of a door from the lounge. It would be right by the door into the kitchen anyway so would not look that odd. And it would solve the issue of that bedroom feeling really claustrophobic as you could keep the door open during the day which would help flood the room with light as our lounge is very light - also it would feel less shut away from the rest of the flat.

Thanks!

This is what that room looks like IRL

Perhaps a rearrange of the lounge with new furniture etc would help it all work better too

I shared a duplex room with another student in my first year at university and really loved it. Felt quite private and chalet like but with enough space. Luckily we liked each other's music

Yes had to share as a teen, it massively impacted my relationship with my (younger) sister, negatively. I had nowhere private and hated it.

We've split a 12' x 8' bedroom into two bedrooms by pinching a bit off our bedroom.

We have a similar high bed arrangement to what you're talking about but they're custom built to maximise every last inch of room space. Its an idea that might be worth playing around with because a few days of a decent handyperson will no doubt be far cheaper than rebuilding your kitchen.

I can take some photos tomorrow when the DC are awake.

DS1 has a high bed with wardrobe, high chest of drawers and big cosy bench seat under. He has a sort of step/ shelf/ staircase arrangement to get into bed (physically challenged, dyspraxic and can't do a ladder) but this provides lots of extra storage. He has an Ikea slim but very long desk along one wall with shelves above.

DS2 has a high bed with a sofa under (acts as a guest bed), drawers under the sofa, single desk, chest of drawers and lots of shelves. He has a wall mounted ladder to access his bed so the sofa is not enclosed by the ladder.

They're small spaces but very personal to the boys and we have no regrets splitting the room.

Yes please for pictures tomorrow! Sounds a wonderful arrangement. I am not against bespoke furniture if it gains us something. I might go with the furniture we have for now as we already have it. But I love the idea of a wall mounted ladder so as not to block access underneath.

I have to say, one thing I am not trying to create is guest space. I LOVE not having anywhere to put guests :) It means I never have to have people staying over! On the other hand, I do wonder what will happen when the boys are much older and want girlfriends to stay. Single beds won't work. However, that may be a blessing!

Could you make the reception their room and then have a smaller living room? When you did the kitchen you could block the door and move it? Not ideal maybe but would give 2 decent rooms.

I'd be wary of opening the bedroom into the living space - ideally a bedroom should have access to a bathroom without going through the living area - think if you have friends over ! It's a bit awkward for a child to have to go through your lounge then to get to the loo !
Agree with the previous comment about maybe having the wardrobes separating the room as will help with sound minimising too ... Maybe talk to the boys and see if they want high or low beds ? ( can't sleep hence 4am post !! ) yawn !

I think visitors seeing my son walking through the lounge in his pjs to go to the loo maybe once a year is preferable to him having a much smaller bedroom the other 364 days a year. I would put a door in the lounge and a dividing wall and get some custom furniture made. It's a much cheaper and better solution.

You said you failed to sell - but would it rent?
Could you rent it out and rent somewhere else yourselves?

I wouldn't split! I have the same problem - 3 kids, small flat and we have decided to use the furniture to create separate spaces for now. Mine are boy and girl and say they want separate rooms but actually they always seem to like sharing. Small split rooms are a bit sad imo!

First two photos are DS1's room which is about 8 x 6 from memory. The third is DD's room which is slightly smaller. Her bed is shorter than standard to allow for the steps and she's particularly short so will unlikely be much over 5ft so this shouldn't be an issue growing up.

DS2's even messier room to follow.

To be honest, i things that wall between kitchen and bedroom looks like a load bearing wall, which mean it would be very expensive to move.
I would be great to be able to do things in an optimal way, but frankly, there isn't enough space to avoid opening one of the bedroom doors into the living room or the kitchen.

If you have high ceilings, the best bet would be to put the beds on a mezzanine (like the photo posted above, each little bedroom with its own mezzanine) that will give each kid a 2x3.xx which should be enough for storage and a desk.

I think the key is to stop seeing the space as 2 bedrooms but see it about two "pods".

How old is your older child? Any chance of him disappearing to university before the other 2 kill each other?

I think, not I things...

Good grief... Apologies for all the typos, need to check before posting...

Thank you all for your continued input into this! Its really helpful to read everyone's thoughts. Those pictures are fab and I love the beds hanging from the ceiling. Although we have high beds already (Flexabeds) which allow space for a desk and chest of drawers underneath, I am always bemoaning the fact that our ceilings are high enough to allow the beds to be higher so you could stand up underneath but the beds don't go any higher! So I will definitely investigate the idea of beds like in those pictures. It also means less floor space taken up by the legs and frames.

I have thought loads about it over night and discussed with DH and DS2 (11) and we all love the idea of the bedroom opening into the lounge. Yes, it means he would have to walk through the lounge to go to the toilet but I can't see what that problem is? He never gets up in the evening anyway.

DS1 is going to go to Uni in London and continue to live at home so no chance of taking his bedroom unfortunately. And we all feel that giving the boys individual space is very important.

I think you are right about the kitchen was being load bearing too. I would prefer not to move it - especially as it doesn't gain us much.

I just measured. Our ceilings are 3 metres and 5 cm off the floor.

DS2's room is just about 2m x just under 2m so small but really cosy and when we had the chance to move to a much bigger house he strongly wanted to stay put because amongst other things he loves his room. It needs a tidy (it's Saturday so mess has accumulated) so avert your eyes if it will offend.

Mis - love it! Thanks so much for sharing your pictures! How did you find a company to make the beds? Was it pricey? We have a great builder who I will get in next week to have a look at all this. I suspect he can make the beds as he makes bespoke cupboards among other things.