Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Solution for small room?

48 replies

TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 09:53

The hatched area is the bulk head of the stairs, it goes more or less to the ceiling and I’m not allowed to put cupboards into it.

W is the wardrobe with it’s back against the bulkhead. This is the thinnest wardrobe I could buy and has shelving inside for clothes. I also store books and some toys in there.

D is the door.

B is the bed under the window. This fits in a small gap between the bulkhead and the window, it is literally single bed size. There is a tiny gap between the wall and the bed at the end but its not really usable for anything other than DDs blankets she doesn’t sleep with (rolls them from the bed when sleeping in it).

And that’s it, literally no space. The radiator is next to the bed (turned off) and the window above that which takes up half the wall (with the radiator the full wall on the side is taken up)

If I move the wardrobe the door won’t close. There is no room for the wardrobe in my bedroom as my room is literally a slightly bigger rectangle big enough for my wardrobe and my double bed plus bedside table – I don’t want a single bed if I can help it although I will.

Anything behind her door can only be accessed if the doors closed.

She can’t have a bed with a ladder as she has a joint condition which makes ladders dangerous (in short if she slipped she could dislocate or even fracture her hip), and any company I’ve asked to make a bed with stairs says I’d lose as much space in stairs as I would for the actual bed so not a solution. If the beds too high to account for the stairs you’ll lose light.

DD is 6 and starting to want to play in her room. She wants floor space. She will eventually want a desk in there too. There is a little bit of floor space but once you sit in it there’s no room for toys.

Flat is housing association and I can’t move – even if I do manage to prove DDs medical needs I need to stay near her school and I’ve been quoted 3-5 years for that so even if I start now she’ll be in year 5, 6 or 7 before I can move. I will probably aim for end of year 6 beginning of year 7 as the catchment for secondary is bigger so I can move further out, so I need a solution for between now and then. Not allowed to do anything structural, can pain, put up shelves etc. and decorate. Not allowed to block natural light in any room with anything other than curtains, I have twice yearly inspections to check this and don’t want the faff of having to change it for inspections to put it back again.

Ceiling height is high but I’m quite short so need to be able to reach it and I don’t want anything above the bed in case it falls on DD (Even cuddly toys as I’m scared she’d get buried and not move from under them due to her joints)

Any genius ideas from mumsnet? I have around £100 to spend on the solution but could throw more at it if I could pay weekly/monthly.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 09:53

Diagram

Solution for small room?
OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/05/2021 09:57

We've just switched DDs bedroom door for a bifold door. Freed up a lot of floor space.

Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 10:00

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

We've just switched DDs bedroom door for a bifold door. Freed up a lot of floor space.
It would only help access the tiny amount of space between her wardrobe and the wall/door, it wouldn't make much more floor room but I will look into it.
OP posts:
parietal · 14/05/2021 10:16

your diagram is not easy to make sense of. I'm not sure which bit is the bulkhead etc.

If you are allowed to put shelves in the bulkhead space, could DD keep all her clothes on shelves (+ hooks for dresses on hangers) in the space over the bulkhead. then you might be able to get rid of the wardrobe?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/05/2021 10:16

Would a bed like this work, so you won't need the wardrobe? Or would it be too high and the drawers inaccessible?

Small, odd shaped rooms can be very awkward. I hope you find a solution.

(My children like playing ON their beds will dolls, books etc. No good for Lego, puzzles etc though. With a desk, go about a fold down one?)

Last suggestion... Can you get to an IKEA? Their room layouts can be good for inspiration.

winesolveseverything · 14/05/2021 10:19

I know what you said about ladders- but would a cabin bed work with a slightly altered ladder- so instead of it being vertical it could be on an angle, and the rungs made thicker with some grips on them so sturdier? There would only be a couple to climb up.
You could then create a cosy den underneath with beanbags and a lamp- there would even be space for a small chest of drawers.
At the foot of the bed, would you be able to create a wall mounted desk that she could sit at cross legged whilst on the bed with some small wall mounted shelves above to store bits and pieces on? I've seen IKEA do a metal pin board type thing with little holes all over- you can hang little pots for pens etc on them and use magnets to stick anything else up.

You can also get those shelves that look a little like spice racks to put a couple of books on- they are very slim line.

Apologies if even the 2 step ladder is a no go, not sure if it could be a compromise.
I feel your pain as I've just had to redesign my 6 year olds tiny narrow room (although not as small as yours)

Got lots of ideas off Pinterest on tiny bedrooms and ikea kids rooms website also..

Egghead81 · 14/05/2021 10:19

How many bedrooms?
Could she share and then this room be a little playroom?

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 14/05/2021 10:27

does she need a wardrobe in there at all? Could she hang clothes in yours, or move the wardrobe to the hall if there's space? then wall mounted shelves for toy storage freeing up floor space? Also a bed with really deep drawers is great. DC1 has one like this in her tiny room, so she doesn't need a chest of drawers.

Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 10:28

@parietal

your diagram is not easy to make sense of. I'm not sure which bit is the bulkhead etc.

If you are allowed to put shelves in the bulkhead space, could DD keep all her clothes on shelves (+ hooks for dresses on hangers) in the space over the bulkhead. then you might be able to get rid of the wardrobe?

The big rectange with diagonal lines on.

There's no space above the bulk head it's more or less floor to ceiling, there's a small gap between the ceiling and it but I can't reach it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 10:30

@Egghead81

How many bedrooms? Could she share and then this room be a little playroom?
2 bedrooms but my rooms only really big enough for a double bed and wardrobe, i selfishly don't want to give up my double bed as I've just got it and started sleeping properly for the first time ever.
OP posts:
Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 10:33

@TheTurn0fTheScrew

does she need a wardrobe in there at all? Could she hang clothes in yours, or move the wardrobe to the hall if there's space? then wall mounted shelves for toy storage freeing up floor space? Also a bed with really deep drawers is great. DC1 has one like ]] in her tiny room, so she doesn't need a chest of drawers.
There would be room to hang school uniform dresses in my wardrobe but she has shelving inside it which I use for clothes (pants, socks, trousers etc) and books plus some toys there wouldn't be room for all that in my room.

The bed looks great but there would be no room to open at least 1 maybe 2 of the drawers due to the bulkhead, so it could become even more unused space.

She currently has a single wooden bed with underbed boxes underneath with all her out of season clothes (she doesn't grow very quickly) plus shoes etc.

No hall way space at all it's a very narrow corrider.

It's a tiny flat, it's not big enough for me and DD really but I'm grateful to have an affordable secure roof over our heads.

OP posts:
Egghead81 · 14/05/2021 10:43

As much of her clothing and stuff in your room

And then her room just bed and toys

Persipan · 14/05/2021 10:48

You can get beds that fold down to be a (normal height) bed, and up to be a desk (which everything stays in place in when you find it away). They aren't cheap, though, and I'm not sure how much clearance you need for the folding up and down.

Rummikub · 14/05/2021 10:50

Can you include measurements?
My dd has a bulkhead room and it took some figuring out.

saywhatwhatnow · 14/05/2021 10:50

Could you get a custom made bed from an independent company. Something that is slightly higher off the ground allowing for more storage underneath but not so high that it needs a ladder. She could just use a stepping stool initially if necessary.

Rummikub · 14/05/2021 10:56

I’ve put a shorty bed with sliding storage under the base in dd room. So even if one side is blocked you can still access from the other side.

mumwon · 14/05/2021 11:38

how wide is the area leading from the door (dimensions of room area including the Lshape)?
Could you fit a narrow bed ie 2ft 6ins in "corridor" entry in room? You can get 5 ft 6inch beds which would work for some time
this would leave the L shape at the end free
Or on wall at foot of bed fit hanging rail with shelf above if you cannot do this - you wont need wardrobe for hanging closes this way? if window isn't in the way you could put hanging rail from the wall of over stairs block to the outside wall across end of bed - it would need to be a bit higher than normal & you would need to climb on bed to access but it might give extra space (depends on whether the stair wall is structurally strong enough

mumwon · 14/05/2021 11:43

how about one of those beds which has a hinge which opens upwards - you will need to move mattress to access though
ottoman beds

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 14/05/2021 11:49

Can you put up photos of the space and measurements please?

I'm struggling to see how what you've drawn could ever be considered a bedroom. It looks like a corridor. Does it even meet HA minimum standards for a bedroom?

Rummikub · 14/05/2021 11:51

I keep checking back on this thread to see if the measurements are on.
I love configuring awkward spaces.

SE13Mummy · 14/05/2021 11:56

Can you get the door rehung to open outwards?

GlitterBicuits · 14/05/2021 11:56

I think some photos and measurements would help.
I'm quite good at maximising space.

Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 12:21

Sorry haven't got a tape measure so going to have to borrow one from my dad, I'm seeing him tomorrow so I'll put measurements on then.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLonelyCup · 14/05/2021 12:22

@winesolveseverything

I know what you said about ladders- but would a cabin bed work with a slightly altered ladder- so instead of it being vertical it could be on an angle, and the rungs made thicker with some grips on them so sturdier? There would only be a couple to climb up. You could then create a cosy den underneath with beanbags and a lamp- there would even be space for a small chest of drawers. At the foot of the bed, would you be able to create a wall mounted desk that she could sit at cross legged whilst on the bed with some small wall mounted shelves above to store bits and pieces on? I've seen IKEA do a metal pin board type thing with little holes all over- you can hang little pots for pens etc on them and use magnets to stick anything else up.

You can also get those shelves that look a little like spice racks to put a couple of books on- they are very slim line.

Apologies if even the 2 step ladder is a no go, not sure if it could be a compromise.
I feel your pain as I've just had to redesign my 6 year olds tiny narrow room (although not as small as yours)

Got lots of ideas off Pinterest on tiny bedrooms and ikea kids rooms website also..

It's the ladder thats the problem so yes that sort of bed would work as long as she can put her feet flat on each step/rung.
OP posts:
MangosteenSoda · 14/05/2021 12:53

Google wall mounted storage and wall mounted clothes storage as there are quite a lot of options for folding/hanging stuff. That would free up the floor space taken up by the wardrobe.

If a ladder bed isn’t an option, could you get a slightly higher bed/raise current bed somehow to provide more under bed storage?