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Original poster

Master bed in loft, kids on 1st floor,...

23 replies

growingweeble · 11/04/2017 14:17

We are looking at loft conversion options. We could put both kids in the loft but that requires three dormers and will be expensive. We would end up with 4 double bedrooms plus study, which is great but we don't really need more than 3 good bedrooms plus study.

Or, we have the amazing views and have our master in the loft and this will presumably be cheaper as only one dormer. We end up with 3 great bedrooms plus study.

I would rather the cheaper option and us be in the loft. But, I feel uncomfortable having the kids below us and not being able to hear them. It feels wrong that we are tucked away upstairs. Is that just me? They're currently 4 and 7 but more thinking when they are teenagers and coming in at night. But also now knowing if they're up and about in the morning and potentially getting into mischief.

OP posts:

LittlePear91 · 11/04/2017 14:25

My parents converted our loft with a dorma when I was younger and I moved into that bedroom as I had the box room previously.

My dad always said that him and my mum didn't move into that bedroom (even though it's the biggest by far in the house, with walk in wardrobe and en suite) because he couldn't bare the thought that if anyone was to come into the house, he would be putting us at risk instead of himself by us being the nearest to the front door.

I never understood his theory (I thought he was being a bit ridiculous!) until I had my little girl. Now I totally get it- I would hate to think that anyone could get to her before me. Very small risk of anyone getting into the house but it's in my mind all the same!

LittlePear91 · 11/04/2017 14:27

Could any of the children share a room? So that in the future (when they move out!) it could become the master bedroom? Then that would save further conversion in the future, or the kids being underneath you?

Original poster

growingweeble · 11/04/2017 16:09

I feel the same as your Dad LittlePear. Obviously very small chance anyone would come into a house wanting to run into another person. But, it must be an instinct thing as it doesn't feel right to me.

They could share the loft room but doubt by DH would be impressed!

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 11/04/2017 16:10

We moved when ours were 21 months and 4 years, and are in loft master bedroom a floor above them. Used the monitor to start with but it has been fine. Five plus years on, we get a lie-in while they help themselves to TV at the weekend.

Re teenage years - we'll have to see!

BumWad · 11/04/2017 16:10

Have your bedroom on the top floor.

It'll be fine.

Ledkr · 11/04/2017 16:12

We do too. I prop our door open so that I can hear them. It's lovely fir a bit of peace and quiet tho

TheElephantofSurprise · 11/04/2017 16:13

Ask the fire service. They don't like children in loft-space. Better to have the parents there.

countycouncil · 11/04/2017 16:13

My DS sleeps downstairs and we sleep upstairs. I hate it. I often wake up at night and go down and check him and all the doors. We rent and the layout is weird so it's the only real option. Baby is upstairs with us but will move downstairs eventually. I agree it's a protective thing and 2 years in this house and it still makes me uneasy

RicketyCricket · 11/04/2017 16:16

I've just bought my first house and decided straight away that I was having the loft conversion bedroom (DCs on floor below).

I like the idea of having my 'own' floor plus the incidence of child stealing home invaders here in Yorkshire is sufficiently low that it doesn't really worry me.

Mrsmull2017 · 11/04/2017 16:20

Have the loft and get intercoms for dc rooms?
Secure your house then reduce the risk of anyone getting to them before you!

We live in a town house. We are top floor. Some dc middle floor other side of the house, some dc on ground floor. . Never not heard them or lost any to child snatchers /burgers!

Ecureuil · 11/04/2017 16:21

We're on the second floor and the children are on the first floor, they're 3 and 1.5. It doesn't really worry me at all to be honest. Due to their ages we have a stair gate at the top of the stairs to the ground floor but one of us always hears them if they wake up anyway.

Ecureuil · 11/04/2017 16:22

Maybe I just don't have that protective mothering instinct.

LilaoftheGreenwood · 11/04/2017 16:24

Loft bedrooms look like a pain for adults to me because of the sloping ceilings, how much full-height wardrobe space do you really get?

Kiroro · 11/04/2017 16:50

how much full-height wardrobe space do you really get?

You don't need much full height if it is cleverly designed.

But I had 2 double PAX wardrobes in my loft. Was lovely.

museumum · 11/04/2017 16:52

I think fire is a bigger risk than home invasion / violent burglary so I would rather dh and I in the loft. So long as we could keep the doors open. Get a burglar alarm for downstairs and no one will get in without you knowing.

firawla · 11/04/2017 16:55

We're in the loft with the baby and 3 other dc on the floor below - it's fine they just come up the stairs if they want us in the morning etc. Plenty of full height wardrobe space if you have a dormer

Ecureuil · 11/04/2017 17:16

We have a huge antique full height wardrobe in ours, plus a built in full height wardrobe. Our loft space is huge.

sailawaywithme · 15/04/2017 01:02

I wouldn't. We actually looked at a breathtaking house that had this set up and we both instantly said no. For the same reasons that you've already quoted.

MrsJamin · 15/04/2017 01:35

We have children of 7 & 9, have a loft room and it is bloody brilliant. The room is large and square so fits a king size bed so well. Weekends the Kids go downstairs, make breakfast and we can lie in and not hear them at all. Plus when they are a bit bigger we will appreciate the privacy even more. If they need us they know to not sit and cry in bed but come upstairs to us.

user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 01:41

Why do you only need one dormer if you have the upper room but three if the kids do?

Mehfruittea · 15/04/2017 01:47

We have loft conversion and DS 5 below us. We just use a baby monitor in his room still. It feels a little PFB but at least we hear him when he shouts for us at night. We'd prefer that than him get in to the habit of getting out of bed and wandering the house.

It's fine, do it.

We also have those door handles that if you lift up, they lock. Just on our bedroom door. When DS is up he has breakfast in bed with us upstairs. I will jump in the shower and just lock the bedroom door while he snuggles and watches cartoons. Just for peace of mind!! If he went downstairs while I was in the shower I would never hear him if he had an accident. PFB!

And finally, we refer to 1st floor as Up and loft as Very Up. Then when we are Very Up, we refer to 1st floor as Down and downstairs as Very Down. The child totally gets it!!

Crumbelina · 15/04/2017 07:51

We're planning to have a loft conversion in the next few years which is going to be really expensive (London prices). The style of house means that it's going to be very spacious so we'll have a dressing room and en-suite bathroom. No way are my kids getting that. . I like the monitor idea though.

JammieDodgem · 16/04/2017 11:16

I vaguely remember having similar uneasiness when we planned our loft conversion. Took me a while to get used to but I love it.

We have a huge master ensuite and walk in wardrobe with office landing and big bright Velux windows. No way would I give this room to the kids

Ours are 1, 5 & 7 and sleep on the floor below, sharing the family bathroom. It works really well. We leave our door open anyway but have a monitor plugged in too. No problems have occurred in the 3+ years we've been up here.

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