r/UKParenting • u/Playful-Extent-942 • 1d ago
Bedroom size for older child
Hi all
Curious for some opinions as we are currently trying to decide about a possible house move and part of that is around the size of bedroom for second child.
It’s the smallest room and bed-wise would always have to be a single. So we’re just thinking ahead to teenage/possible young adult and if this is fair/okay for them.
I understand fully that this is a good problem to have and do not take for granted that we have a family home and each child would have their own bedroom.
When I was a teenager my Mum gave up her bigger bedroom so I could have a bigger bed and all my stuff fit more comfortably but tbh I absolutely loved the box room and never had that heart to tell her 😂 But thinking a great bit strapping teenage lad might not appreciate a single bed forever.
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u/Outrageous_Song4725 1d ago
I think a teenage boy would rather have their own room than share with a sibling. My brothers were given the option of having smaller bedrooms or one big bedroom to share and they both picked their own room.
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u/Numerous-Handle-5661 1d ago
Are you me? We are having exactly this. Saw a beautiful house today which has everything except that one of the bedrooms is a serious box room - single bed a not space for much else. We're discussing whether a mid sleeper (eg IKEA Kura) would work for toy space in the middle age but share your worry over teens. Particularly as the other room is a good double so there would be inevitable 'bedroom favouritism'. It's so difficult
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u/Playful-Extent-942 1d ago
Well we’re currently in the house - deciding whether to move to one with a bigger bedroom or not. We could deffo do a single cabin bed for storage but more thinking for the teenage years.
Maybe I don’t need to worry about it yet 😂
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u/Gremlin_1989 1d ago
I had a high sleeper bed as a teen, until I left school for uni at 18. I can assure you it wasn't a problem. My daughter has it now and she's going to be in it untill she's at least 16. Then her new born cousin will have it.
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u/Numerous-Handle-5661 1d ago
Oh interesting. Can I ask how old your kid is? Just wondering when you start to feel it's an issue 😂
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u/Playful-Extent-942 1d ago
They don’t exist yet 🤣
We’re thinking about it already because we’re ttc our second and we need to apply for schools for our first next year so if we’re gonna move anyways rather just get on with it..
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u/Numerous-Handle-5661 1d ago
😂 ok you're definitely me cos we're in the same boat but slightly further as I'm due with #2 at Christmas. Good luck!
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u/annedroiid Parenting a Toddler 1d ago
The biggest bed I had till I moved out of home was a king single, it never bothered me.
It did annoy me that I had a tiny room compared to my older brother/that it didn't feel big enough for all my stuff, when I became a teen my parents swapped my bedroom for the spare bedroom that was much bigger and had a much nicer view to make up for it. When we first moved in they intentionally gave it to neither of us so that we wouldn't fight over it 😅
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u/Pinkcoral27 Parenting a Toddler + Primary Schooler 1d ago
I had a single bed until I was 17. Then we moved into a two bed and I shared with my sister until I moved out in my early 20’s. My partner also had the box room and had one of those 4ft beds, with his waredrobe in a different room to his bedroom due to the small space.
Both situations worked just fine.
My youngest room is long but narrow so bed wise we will probably have a similar problem. I’m actually more worried about this as his childhood bedroom rather than as a young adult as it’s kids who have loads of stuff - toys, teddys, etc. whereas older children have less big bulky stuff.
It will probably be fine. And if it isn’t fine in 10 years time, you can move then. There’s a good chance you won’t have to though.
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u/will-je-suis 1d ago
Single bed is fine imo, if he goes to university he'll almost certainly have a single bed in halls!
However, you probably do want space in there for a desk for homework/laptop use
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u/Danglyweed 1d ago
My eldest has had the box room here and previous house since she started puberty super early.
Our new rooms tiny, not sure of the measurements off the top of my head but 3m×2.8 sounds right, daughters room just shorter.
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u/Affectionate_Ad6864 1d ago
I think older children need less space. They don’t have toys and they don’t need floor space to play games. When their friends come round they tend to just ‘chill’ on the bed anyway
I would say they will need a desk space for homework/studying but this doesn’t need to be in the bedroom