Bedrooms!

[Helena112]

A bit of background. Me and my DH have 3 children together, DS’s who have just turned 3 and DD who’s just turned 1. My husband has a DD who is 14. She is with us 3 nights a week Wednesday- Saturday morning. We live in a 3 bedroom house, with a very small box room. Currently we have the master bedroom, DSD has the second largest room and we have one twin in bedroom 3 and the other in the box room. Our baby daughter is still in our room.

The twins are at an age now where they are ready to share, so are going to move into DSD room as it’s the bigger bedroom. So we are planning to move DSD into bedroom 3 and our DD into the box room.

We have a large downstairs living space, open plan kitchen, dining, living area that we spend all of our time in. We also have a lounge downstairs that’s never used, it’s more of a dumping ground. It’s a large room, with a fireplace, large window (overlooks the drive) and close to the downstairs loo. It’s far enough away from the main living area so noise wouldn’t be an issue.

Would it be wrong of me to suggest to DH that DSD age 14 uses this as her bedroom? We can decorate, move all of her furniture into this room. Really make it her own ? Then our DD whos 1 can have a room of her own that’s not the box room? The box room literally just fits the cot bed in and that’s it.

DH long term wants to carry out a loft conversion, but really I’m not sure it would add much value to the house and do we really need it?

So my question is would it be wrong of me to suggest DSD 14 has the downstairs lounge as her bedroom ?

Don't see why not. I'd have loved that at her age.

I don't see why not at 14, you can discuss it with her and suggest ideas for it to be a sophisticated teen & guest room.

She might prefer it as it’s away from the young children. If not, I don’t think it’s a big deal for your daughter to have a box room for a few years until SD goes to uni.

My 14 year old self would have liked that. My own space and peace. My 40 odd year old self isn’t adverse to it either

I’d have loved it at that age. I don’t see what the problem would be.
Go for it!

Great idea!
Involve her in the prep & decorations. She should be very happy to have her own territory. Go for it.

Sounds great!

its not clear from your post if the lounge is open to the rest of the house or if it is closed off and she can close a door and have privacy. If it is just a room, previously used as the lounge, it sounds like a wonderful bedroom. If it is open plan, I wouldn’t do it unless you can put up some walls.

My friend growing up had this set up and it was the envy of us all!

My only thought would be is it genuinely space you can spare all week, as I don’t think it’d be fair to be designated her room then still used for storage or communal space when she’s not there. If it is though- absolutely sounds a great solution

I think it works, as long as you don't think you might want to start using the lounge as the kids get bigger.

Sounds ideal to me.

Thank you for all your comments ! Yes it is a separate room with its own walls and door. I'll suggest it to DH later. Wish me luck !

Good luck. Even if for whatever reason you didn't put DSD in there, I'd still put somebody in there, it makes no sense for somebody to be in a tiny box room if that room is literally not being used!

But she would make most sense for that being the eldest and safest to have access to downstairs, as well as away from any potential baby disturbance in the night.

This makes sense. Currently house hunting and it’s been discussed with my step daughter that this could be a potential outcome. She’s a little younger than yours but likes the idea.