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Original poster

Garden vs Bedrooms for kids

59 replies

MusicMum80s · 08/12/2023 19:12

In our neighbourhood our budget will either get us a house with 4 large double bedrooms and a decent 40 foot garden or a house with smaller bedrooms but a huge garden (100+ feet).

It has to do the houses with big gardens being in a conservation area.

Our girls now are still primary school age and would love a huge garden but I think as they get older bigger bedrooms would be more valuable!

Struggling to decide between two houses so keen to hear others thoughts!

OP posts:
Original poster
MusicMum80s · 09/12/2023 07:13

TheIsleOfTheLost · 08/12/2023 21:11

How many children do you have? Will they still have a smaller bedroom each? Can you potentially extend at a later date and add value, or add a garden room as a teen hang out? Do you actually like gardening? Once they have left home would you rather more house space, or more garden?

I would want the garden as I love gardening and would spend all my time doing it if I could. It would be a lot of maintenance if you have no interest though.

I've got two kids. They would each still have their own bathroom but one would likely be a single and there would be two bathrooms instead of three.

I don't have anytime to garden-- I'd probably have to hire someone but the girls love the big gardens at their friends' houses. The big garden would really be for them

OP posts:
Original poster
MusicMum80s · 09/12/2023 07:14

Also, there is no scope to extend any further to add bedrooms. The loft has already been converted

OP posts:
parkingsadness · 09/12/2023 08:44

Definitely bedrooms. You have enough of a garden and honestly kids stop using the garden in their early teens. They will appreciate bigger bedrooms a lot more.
You also need to future proof. We've accepted that it's unlikely that our kids will be able to afford to leave home after uni without a few years of working, living with us and saving like mad. Everyone I know with kids 18-25 has at least one still living with them. You can't have adults in single beds.

KinS24 · 09/12/2023 08:48

Bedrooms bedrooms bedrooms

SgtJuneAckland · 09/12/2023 08:52

We have 100ft garden, it's a lot more work than I expected! It does get used a lot in the summer, but the a good 6 months a year it doesn't really. Do the houses with smaller/fewer bedrooms also have smaller downstairs living space?

AutumnComfort · 09/12/2023 08:56

100ft garden - you could extend into, but v expensive

40ft garden - is still big. House doesn’t need massive changes (depending what you buy).

I now have a small garden and I appreciate not being tied to it.

Gardens are useful to distance yourself from neighbours..

I'd probably choose bedroom if the garden size is decent enough to use.

Original poster
MusicMum80s · 09/12/2023 08:57

SgtJuneAckland · 09/12/2023 08:52

We have 100ft garden, it's a lot more work than I expected! It does get used a lot in the summer, but the a good 6 months a year it doesn't really. Do the houses with smaller/fewer bedrooms also have smaller downstairs living space?

Edited

No, the down stairs spaces are fairly generous as they can be extended.

Its a strange situation as the houses with big gardens are in the local conservation area. So while overall the are grander houses in many respects, because of restrictions on converting the lofts the bedroom space isn't as good as outside of the conservation area. You can extend the ground floor spaces quite easily they tend to have good down stairs space, great gardens but only two really good sized bedrooms and then two smaller bedrooms at best.

OP posts:
sunshineandshowers40 · 09/12/2023 09:01

Bedrooms. As they get older they spend more times in their rooms.

jannier · 09/12/2023 09:05

Do you like gardening and have the time or can you pay a gardener?

ibelieveinmirrorballs · 09/12/2023 09:05

I’m about to move my early teen girls from a house with 100ft garden to house with courtyard garden and they were having a moan about it to my friend (🙄 - it’s a stunning well renovated Georgian house - they are very lucky). When my friend casually asked “oh I see girls - so how often do you go out in the garden at home now?” they very sheepishly had to admit the answer was almost never.

They are however forever in their bedrooms - I’d go for bedrooms over garden any day.

muchalover · 09/12/2023 09:10

Why do teens get to check out of family life and live in bedrooms? Why do parents set this up?

My kids didn't have TVs in their rooms and also had to share and everyone survived.

Also we spent time together, watched TV, talked through plots, consequences, what had happened to people in real life and historically in our family. Communication pathways were open, and we had lots of fun. They had to negotiate TV programmes which means they don't monopolise the TV like so many partners on here seem to.

We used to all clean up in the adverts which was so much fun and you get teens who contribute and a clean home.

I would still not have TVs in kids rooms now or let them become disconnected in their own world receiving advice about sex, drugs and relationships from other teens with little adult input via phones etc.

They also need to see parents as fun, fully rounded, real people and not TV versions of dull, old, bossy people.

morechaimama · 09/12/2023 09:10

Garden - more fun/useful when they're small and then they can have their own shed/den away from the house when they're older!

fentiman · 09/12/2023 09:11

Bedrooms. We've not been in our garden since October, and probably won't spend time there until March. Mine are 5 and 1. Even at young ages they don't spend that much time in it overall, as we have decent places to play out in the city.

SutWytTi · 09/12/2023 09:13

Garden.

GreatGateauxsby · 09/12/2023 09:14

Bedrooms.

100ft garden if you do not already have one is A LOT of work / time.

ours a 100ft and I thought it a bit small / was annoyed when we bought it. I grossly underestimated the work.
Now we have 2 kids it’s equally annoying but for very different reasons 🥴

Spendonsend · 09/12/2023 09:18

@muchalover my teen is doing his A levels and does his homework in there. This is several hours a day. He is doing well academically and its a quiet location. He doesnt have a tv or a games console in there. It doesnt mean we dont spend anytime together.

I also think the avergage 16 -25 year old is entitled to have some private time and friendships outside of family.

Beansandcheesearegood · 09/12/2023 09:30

Garden, we have a large garden the kids live in it for 8 months of year us too, but it is what ypu make if it, we're making an area of decking etc for a extra kidspace for they're friends round. They've both been out this morning on trampoline too so they do go out in winter.

Theimpossiblegirl · 09/12/2023 09:33

Bedrooms

Or a large summerhouse

It's a tough choice but either is a win.

LylaLee · 09/12/2023 09:34

Bedrooms.

They will be at their friends' houses with gardens, in the park and in the woods.

Plus there's still a garden. It's not like the choice is between a 3rd floor flat and a house with a garden.

Plus, as they get older, you'll be thankful for the extra bathroom.

TeaAndStrumpets · 09/12/2023 09:40

Massive garden here, a lot to maintain though. We just mow it now and leave the rest to the wildlife. When DDs were small their friends loved coming here, lots of trees to climb and dens to make. We had a palatial run for the rabbits and guinea pigs, too. It's far too big for us now in our old age, so bear that in mind.

I echo previous comments that a large garden can give a lot of privacy. One really useful feature, depending on shape of garden, is room for a large parking area. We have a massive driveway and it is a real luxury.

parkingsadness · 09/12/2023 10:34

Spendonsend · 09/12/2023 09:18

@muchalover my teen is doing his A levels and does his homework in there. This is several hours a day. He is doing well academically and its a quiet location. He doesnt have a tv or a games console in there. It doesnt mean we dont spend anytime together.

I also think the avergage 16 -25 year old is entitled to have some private time and friendships outside of family.

Exactly this.

shivawn · 09/12/2023 11:30

We had this exact dilemma recently and we chose the house with the huge garden even though the other house had lovely big bedrooms.

The garden in the house we decided on is half an acre and I love the privacy that that gives us plus the potential for extensions/garden rooms/pergola etc to bring living space outdoors if needed.

medianewbie · 09/12/2023 12:32

Bedrooms.

Isthisblocked · 09/12/2023 15:12

Bedrooms every time…..your teens will thank you

PuttingDownRoots · 09/12/2023 15:18

How small will the "boxroom" be? Would either child be happy with it really? My elder DD has the single bedroom and she likes the cosiness.