Tiny third bedroom, how to make the most of it?

[Monr0e]

We are currently looking for a new home. Due to schools we are limited to a certain area. All the properties have very similar layouts, mainly two decent sized rooms and a tiny third room. 8 year old DD has already resigned herself to downsizing and is being very good about it but we'd like to make the room as efficient as possible.

Would anyone mind sharing how they have furnished or decorated their tiny bedrooms? We are considering a builder also to maximise the space but have no idea how to do this. Thank you for any ideas.

You need to maximise the space taken up by the bed. So I'd go for a high sleeper with either wardrobe, desk, seating under, or a combo of the 3. Something like this
www.argos.co.uk/product/7381210?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:480-316-7430|cid:199887273|agid:17632544433|tid:aud-144400486596:pla-94416749313|crid:74692315233|nw:g|rnd:4728171700910333987|dvc:m|adp:1o5|mt:|loc:9045888&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInfnK9Nia4AIVgbHtCh2RvgR3EAQYBSABEgInFfD_BwE

Ikea have a great small room design which has a ground level bed with drawers underneath and then lots of storage above. We have a very small room to sort too and my 12 year old doesn’t like cabin beds. If you’re anywhere near MK Ikea they have the set up there.

That Argos bed is great and I'd definately consider it if the room is big enough.

We have quite a bit of storage from Ikea already so will be heading back.

We are viewing a property tonight, I'll be taking my tape measure

I'd actually avoid a high sleeper. They block most of the light in a small space which counters the additional floor space. Best bet is checking a single bed fits under the window (left to right against window wall). Then choose one with pull out drawers.

If there is a bulk head/cupboard above it, either repurpose the cupboard or knock out and rebuild a good wardrobe on it.

If not get a thin tall wardrobe. Utilise your Ikea storage and try wall storage in places too.

Consider a loft bed or a bunk bed with integrated desk/draws/sofa instead of a bottom bunk. You can get these in ikea.

This thread had great solutions.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3479663-To-ask-for-your-amazing-box-room-solutions

Love how the Argos bed is showcased in large dual aspect master bedroom situation.

I had one of these cabin type beds as a child in a very small room. The door would hit the draws if opened at the same time.

I absolutely loved it. It had a pull out desk you could hide behind. Me and my Guinea pig used to camp out behind there. Take me back several decades please!

How high is the ceiling is the most important thing to find out

Yes, take a tape measure for ceiling and the wall space (taking account of skirting boards, radiator etc). We have had a high sleeper and now have a cabin bed. Both were customised by a joiner to go over the bulkhead.

we have a desk like this in the box room

I would vote against a loft bed as overall they are bulky and make a small room appear smaller. I have a small box type room and moved the single bed to under the window and it just fits. That made a massive difference to the amount of floor space left and made the room seem much wider. I suggest painting the room in pale colours , I choose white, lots of shelving and blinds for a streamlined look. Plenty of ideas on pinterest for small room ideas.

We filled the bulkhead wall with a flat pack triple wardrobe - the sort that has hanging space but also arrange of shelves and cubbies inside, and drawers at the bottom. We hacked the back of one of the drawers a bit over the bulkhead but otherwise it just went in as is. 2/3 was for all the clothes, 1/3 for toys. Twinslot shelving on another wall - not pretty but holds a lot and you can change it around as they grow.

We've also (different bedroom) built in a bed over the bulkhead and put solid deep drawers on castors underneath. I think this is an underused option. A lot of cabin beds only have the drawers extending about halfway back so they don't hold as much as you might expect.

Hang the door to open outwards.

Less is more. Dress it with a funky colour changing light, don't go mad with cushions and throws. Sleepovers can be in the living room.

My son has a small-ish loft bedroom and we're having this bed built (much higher, obviously) and moving his desk underneath:

www.houzz.co.uk/photo/124904710-antique-cotuit-coastal-kids-boston

Are you able to convert the loft?

I agree with avoiding a high sleeper in a small room. Ds used to have one and other than being a nightmare to change they make the room dark and seem smaller. He now has a gas lift ottoman single bed with loads of storage underneath. Wall to wall built in storage on the opposite wall and lots of narrow high shelves for Lego and books.

This might not work but it's something I considered myself.
Get the 2/3 children to share the second bedroom.
Beds only.
Use the box room as a walk in wardrobe with toy storage/bookcases/homework desk.

Turned our smallest bedroom into a wardrobe room/walk in closet - works great & saves having to have wardrobes & drawers in the actual bedrooms

One option might be to move the wall between the small room and the neighbouring bigger one.

Ideally pick a house where the big room that's not adjoining the 3rd bedroom is suitable for a master bedroom. Then you can take that one and split up the space between the other 2 more evenly. I prefer squareness to sheer floor area in a master bedroom. You basically need space round a double (or pref king sized) bed and a wall you can fill with storage. Second bedrooms can be pretty good for this - the master on paper is usually the room with the longest measurement, but a smaller, squarer room can be as good or better.

I didn’t buy it in the end but I was considering one of these (Amazon, about £120, I liked that it was strong enough for an adult to sleep on as I often needed to lie down with dc). It’s only about 132cm high but has loads of room underneath - could fit a chest of drawers or just for toys and play!

Whoops, picture would help../

Some great ideas, Thank you

TheCanyon, that thread is great, lost a couple of hours reading it yesterday

No chance of them sharing unfortunately, DS is 12 and DD is 8. I think long term we would consider a loft conversion

DD has a lot of quite bulky toys, Sylvanian families stuff, our generation dolls and accessories. She currently has a playroom for it all but we will lose a room when we move so I've no idea where all this stuff is going to go

Does the new house have a loft you could convert OP, or could you create a dormer? So many people these days have to convert what they have, rather than move, that it's very common. Has anyone else on the street done that, as planning permission is much easier to get if someone else has already had it. Other ideas - garage conversion, home office/play space in the garden, extension on the ground floor, etc.

DS1 (15) has the box room. Built in desk across the window, built in bed sort of halfway up (so he can sit up) with storage under, and a high level bookshelf all round. Younger child has the bigger bedroom and all the bulky toys live in it.

If you have a mid/high sleeper, you will bang your head every time you lean down to pick up something from the floor. A lot. Just saying!

Could DS not have the smaller room? Or you will just have to have a large cupboard somewhere for her stuff. Understairs maybe?

Juneau, this is exactly what we have been discussing. DS spent the evening googling summer houses. We are viewing a few more next week. One has a large garden and a garage and is crying out for either a conservatory or some sort of extension.

I think I have been trying to think how we'll get all her stuff in one room but will need to think more practical and look at creating space elsewhere and keep the bedroom just as a bedroom. We just don't want to go back to all her toys taking over the living area.