Bedrooms are used primarily for sleeping, but you can use them as offices, home gyms, playrooms, and more. More and more people are using bedrooms for different purposes and developing alternative sleeping arrangements. You may consider downsizing or upgrading the number of bedrooms in your next home.
Number of Household Members and Sleeping Arrangements
In most families, parents use the primary bedroom and kids take up the smaller spaces. Children may each have a room or share with a sibling. Families usually need another bedroom if the household includes extended relatives, like grandparents.
But some modern families choose a single sleeping room for everyone, referred to as co-sleeping. Couples with infants and young children may sleep better in the same room. Some households share a single large bed, have several beds in the same room, or use a combination of both.
Conversely, everyone may need their separate bedrooms, such as roommates sharing a house. Some couples have separate bedrooms to sleep more soundly.
Obeying Housing Occupancy Rules
Renters need to follow leasing agreements when it comes to the number of people living in the home. Landlords may limit occupation to those on the lease or based on the home’s size. Likewise, apartment buildings may have occupancy limits for safety reasons.
Housing authorities also have requirements for those receiving housing subsidies. For instance, the state may require children of different genders to have separate bedrooms.
Future Household Members
Your home should work for your needs now and in the near future. Are you planning on expanding your family? Are your kids leaving the nest soon? You will likely need more space with one or more children. Kids may share a bedroom now, but may want their own space later, especially as they reach puberty.
Your kids may leave home to go to school in another state or permanently relocate for a job or partner. Sometimes, adult children return home after college, divorce, or financial losses. A larger home could accommodate unexpected guests.
Will your elderly parents need to move into your home? You or your partners’ parents may need help with daily tasks but are not ready for a nursing home. Multi-generational households can benefit the whole family when grandparents babysit grandchildren.
Think of Your Guests
Do you host friends and family often? A spare bedroom can be convenient if guests frequently stay over. You may want a spare room if you host gatherings, have family stay for holidays, or entertain friends from out of state.
Alternatively, you may need a guest bedroom if you have a sleeper sofa or another area for visitors. Or, you may not want one if you do not have guests stay overnight.
Spare Rooms Are for More Than Sleeping
You can use an extra bedroom for other purposes besides sleeping. A spare bedroom could be an office, playroom, or anything that serves your household’s needs. You can store belongings and decorations in a small bedroom or use it as a huge walk-in closet.
A bedroom can double as a guest room and an office with multipurpose furniture, so you can always use the room. You can use an extra bedroom for whatever purposes you need.
Calculating How Many Bedrooms You Need
Consider how many bedrooms you have now and if it meets your current needs. Do you need another room for remote work or to work on your hobbies? Or is your guest bedroom collecting more dust than visitors? Think about how your household will change in the next few years to make sure every member of your household has enough space.
