Tiny bungalow…..

[MinnieGirl]

We currently live in a 3-bed terrace in a not very nice part of a not very nice town. We are in the south east, and the area is the one everyone wants to avoid..
Both getting older, have mobility issues so stairs becoming a problem. Looked at flats but would miss outside space and don’t want leasehold and service charges. A bungalow would be ideal, but…there are very few for sale and they are either beautiful chalet bungalows that are way too pricey, or complete wrecks that need gutting.

So one has come on the market that is in our price range. Nice area, parking nice garden and two good size bedrooms. Kitchen is tiny but I think we could make it work. The stumbling block is the living room…. It’s very nice, double doors leading out to the garden… but it’s our only living space. No dining room, and not even a table. Current owners eat their meals on an occasional table.
The house itself is lovely. Modern, up to date, neutral decor. We could move in and do nothing. We could meet the asking price and it’s a much nicer area than the one we currently live in. But is that living room too small? We would not be able to move again as we would be using a lot of savings.

I think you can fit a table in that lounge. You don't need two sofas. One sofa and an arm chair will do.

For some of the year you can make use of a garden table at least but I like @Fridgemanageress ideas.

Thank you, that’s really helpful. The TV on the wall is something we had thought of, and the sofa is currently against the wall opposite. I think that could work

I moved from a huge 4 bedroom house with a lovely large kitchen diner into a small 2 bedroom bungalow very similar to yours.
I’d never not eaten at a table and chairs so it was really important to me. Similar layout to this bungalow layout except it’s the kitchen on the back instead of the lounge, I couldn’t afford to extend the kitchen to add a diner or garden room. I’ve put the tv above the fireplace, and after going through many different layouts in the 5 years I’ve lived here, found a circular table and chairs on the right hand side with beautiful dining chairs and that works best.

I will add it was all absolutely worth moving to a much nicer area, and I absolutely love bungalow life. Although it’s a downsize the storage is so much better with a huge loft, larger garden and there’s a lot more light. I’d do it all over again.

If the wall between the kitchen and lounge is a stud wall it won’t cost must to remove it. Then block up the lounge door to the hallway (either fully or just with furniture/lock it). That would give you more wall space and you would have room for a dining table and lounge without feeling cluttered.

Carefully think about the furniture you actually need, not just what you already have. A new slimline sofa might seem extravagant when you have a decent sofa already but having one that fits in the space will make life a lot easier. 1 sofa and a couple of arm chairs (often better for reduced mobility as the arms can help you get up).

The lounge is similar in size to mine and we’ve managed to have a fold up and down dining table in there in the past so it is possible, especially if it would just be for the two of you most of the time. You may just need to consider what furniture you need quite carefully. Ie do you need just a sofa? two arm chairs and no sofa? Sofa and one arm chair?

I had a similar table, without the folding chairs in my last place. You can use one side or both and it folds against the wall. It was about £5 from a charity shop. When folded I would put a vase of flowers on it.

Where I am now there is room for a table, but because of where the doors are it would not work full time so I have a folding table that lives behind my sofa, it folds lengthways so it looks like a side board.

I also have a much smaller round table that will seat two and can also fold.

So if I am having people round for food I fold way the 'permeant' table and bring out the bigger one.

I’d use bedroom 1 as the living room and put a table like this into the bay window.

www.wayfair.co.uk/home/pdp/marlow-home-co-bowerbank-extendable-dining-table-rily1033.html

Similar layout to the tiny bungalow I moved into ( bungalow a lot more expensive than my house and retired like you so finances tight).

Builder knocked down stud wall between kitchen and the lounge and I have a small table there as it saves lots it walking back and forth and gives more space.

The cost was around £2000 so very cheap compared to the £20to £30,000 for a decent conservatory.

Please do look at whether you can both declutter to make it work.

Definitely budget for smaller/more versatile furniture. My PILs lounge feels tiny but it’s only because there are 2 layers of furniture, bookcases, piano, hifi unit jammed in as well as their big rise and recline chairs and a 3 seater sofa.
Couple of good armchairs, small sofa for 2 visitors, compact/ gateleg dining table. But I would get 2 good solid dining chairs not wobbly folding ones. Also consider if a bar/stool arrangement would be accessible with reduced mobility. I wouldn’t knock the kitchen through as you would lose wall space.

You have listed so many really important positives especially around mobility and loving the area. It’s just as dining table issue, it’s a relatively small part of your day. Buy the folding table and buy a lovely little patio set and make outdoor dining your thing. It sounds perfect.

I looked at several bungalows when I bought my first house. The common mistake the downsizers made was to continue to use the furniture they had bought for a larger home in the smaller space making it look cramped. So basically it might be improved if you can afford to get more compact furniture. Depends whether you are willing and able to let go of some of your possessions.

Lots of people fit a small dining table into their living room, and yours looks an okay size. I think it will be fine! I would do it.

Our conservatory about 6 years ago or so, cost 12k and is 10x12. Its triple solar glazed, blue tint so the sky always looks really bright blue. Its warm in winter as we have an oil filled radiator that is tucked down the side of a sofa, warms it up nicely, we have some blinds that come out in the summer but its usable all year round. We have 2 armchairs and a big sofa in there with a jute rug and lots of cushions and mats and its beautiful. Its the best room in the house. We spend a lot of time in there.

Our living room is about the same size (in a three bed townhouse) and we’ve got 2 huge sofas, a big kallax unit, a tv unit and a couple of occasional tables in it. We also regularly have 5 adults and 4 dogs in it 😂. If there weren’t so many of us, we’d get rid of one sofa and easily be able to fit a small dining table and a couple of chairs in.

I’d say definitely go for it and save like mad for a conservatory or garden room. Alternatively you could put a comfy chair and small TV in the bay window of the front bedroom, which would give you space to escape sometimes.

The benefits of a bungalow can’t be overstated, coming from someone with mobility issues stuck in a townhouse!

We live in a big 3 bedroom 2 reception terrace and are moving to a 4 bed 2 reception terrace and have this.

With 5 of us we need every bit of space so a fold down table we can slide up against the wall is the most logical sense. It has worked well for us for 12 years.

That's my ideal home, I wish it was me moving in.

I’d be more concerned about the lack of storage space! Taking the fireplace out in the living room would make the space more flexible. Lots of properties don’t have a separate dining room, I don’t see it being an issue.

All of the people suggesting conservatories are not taking into account the fact that she doesn't have the money to do that. They are retired and don't have any spare money!

OP has explained they need both bedrooms as bedrooms.

OP Do you need two bedrooms because you sleep separately or because you need one for visitors?

Well its about enhancing an asset and making a space more workable. Most glazing/conservatory companies do interest free credit, thats how we afforded ours.

Obviously if there is literally no room in the pot well thats that, but its worth thinking about given that personally I cant stand not having a separate dining area, although I understand if you're downsizing there are compromises to make.

Have a small foldout table as pp said, with a larger table outside the garden doors that you can use when the weather is nice

@healthybychristmas I came in to say the same thing! And to the poster saying a conservatory “ only “ cost 12k … if you don’t have it you don’t have it!!!

OP.. move now whilst you are in a position to do so. Sounds like a lovely house and you will adapt I’m sure. Your current living situation is untenable and you don’t want to leave it to the point that you are desperate

Is the hallway wide enough to fit in bookcases etc for some storage?