Tips for choosing a house for teenagers

[MrsJamin]

We're looking to move location and upsize a little. Our boys are 10 and 12 so we're working out what they'll need in their teenage / young adult years from the house without yet knowing what its like to live with teens. We'd like a house in a nice location and do it up so we are looking at floorplans and potential extensions / building work to make it work for the long term. What would you say is important for teenagers in a home? The houses we like have quite small bedrooms but I was thinking if we had some great downstairs space (eg a garden room for beanbags and a PlayStation etc) then size of bedrooms would matter less. If bedrooms matter more then we'd consider loft room extensions instead. I'd like them to be able to have friends round in their own space or have a separate space they could hang out in the evening, for eg. Any advice really welcome as to layouts or spaces that work.

In Aus it is very common to have a "rumpus room" with bedrooms leading directly off. Sometimes upstairs, often lower ground floor and it is fantastic for teens. Sleepovers are generally kids crashing in this living space so bedrooms don't need to be big enough to accommodate extra beds - that is more of a younger kids thing. We are on one level so it doesn't work as well, we thought the living area near the boys' bedrooms (and shared bathroom) would be their space but because it leads onto the deck and pool it became a whole family space. Their mates usually ended up on the sofas there though if they stayed over.

Super interesting suggestions, thanks all. Eating together is important to me so that'd always be a central place in the home. I love the idea of a rumpus room, probably loads (or I should say "heaps"!) easier to accommodate in a one storey aussie home, though. I love the idea of a garden room where they could play their music and not be so aware of adults being around if they had friends over. Our 12 Yr old is very sociable, meets friends at the park loads rather than just texting or gaming online with them so I'd hope that we could have a space he could chill out with them when it's dark or the evening - when the sun goes down it's not very safe to be chilling out in the park!

I agree that local public transport is a good idea. Large bedroom each also good , so they can have friends round. We do have a games room. It was their Lego/Warhammer room when they were tweens and became their sound recording studio in their teens. I find it helpful because you can insist their clutter goes in their bedroom or the games room. Otherwise it tidal waves all through the house.