Real estate has seen downsizing of residential dwellings in general, and bedroom sizing in particular, throughout the years, an issue that has left home purchasers and tenants with questions.
But why are bedrooms so small in new homes? Let’s find out!
Here is Why are Bedrooms So Small in New Homes
The demand for more housing, the exorbitant cost of building, and the need to make new homes more practical and usable by cutting down on air conditioning are among the factors influencing minimizing bedroom space allocation in contemporary home designs.
Whats Consider Normal Size Bedroom?
An average-sized bedroom should be 11 feet by 12 feet, or 132 square feet, with enough space to comfortably fit a regular or double-sized bed and a medium-sized closet. There are, however, bedrooms that are larger than 144 square feet.
Mostly, the space accorded to bedrooms and other rooms, in general, depends on the size of the house. To ensure that bedrooms are spaced accordingly, the International Building Code recommends that at no time should bedroom dimensions be less than 70 square feet.
To say the least, a bedroom is determined by the size of bed it fits into.
This is because a bed defines a room while giving it shape or a layout plan. From there, one can figure out what furniture pieces to add to the available space or what wall colors to play with.
The 70 feet squire is a small room that can accommodate a single person but for it to take a queen size bed, at least 50 square feet should be added into it.
In today’s busy world, most people spend their time in the bedroom sleeping because they relax in the foyer and work or study in the library and that is why many are not entirely rattled by small bedroom allocation.
Is 10×10 too small for a bedroom?
Even though the minimum is 70 square feet, a 10×10 bedroom is modest and not what most people consider spacious. Many people are more concerned about how to arrange it without having to sacrifice their beloved items.
A bedroom space is not entirely about enough space to accommodate a queen-size bed but is also space that will accommodate a few pieces that will make the occupant feel at home in their personal space.
This includes space or a closet that can take in clothing without the need to cut on them or look for alternative storage spaces.
When the bedroom space is generous, it means that cleaning and arranging it will be fluid.
Is a 9×12 bedroom too small?
A 9*12 bedroom is equivalent to 108 square feet which are quite small for an adult with a large number of personal effects. The walls will seem closer but for someone branching out or starting over, this space is spacious and practical enough for them to come up with a good layout plan.
Larger bedrooms require regular cleaning and tidiness, but with a 9*12 However, one does not have the pressure to clean or arrange things every single day.
A room is all about dimensions and to make it more impressive and less overbearing, one can play with color variations to make it appear larger and brighter.
Darker colors bring walls closer while brighter or warmer ones extend them.
Another tip in arranging a 9*12 bedroom is to ensure that furniture and any other aesthetical piece come in small sizes. This is to ensure that the remaining room after the bed has been set is not swallowed up.
What Is The Smallest Size Bedroom Allowed?
A bedroom must be at least 7×10 feet in size; anything smaller than that is not considered a bedroom. It’s a tiny space, but it’s still a bedroom according to legal criteria.
But it is fair to consider that bedroom size variations depend on the location.
In congested cities and towns, bedrooms are smaller while in rural settings, they are more spacious because of the space available.
In the contemporary age, homeowners and contractors look at the demand for more housing to squeeze rooms as they try and find more space to erect more apartments to accommodate more people.
Many people dislike being confined to such little rooms and places. However, such a small area is uncommon. The majority of these compact chambers are referred to as walk-in closets.
Other criteria for a bedroom include the following. It should, for example, provide two entry and exit points. As a result, the door counts as one exit and the window as two.
A room cannot be regarded as a room by legal definition unless the preceding elements are met.
Are Master Bedrooms Getting Smaller?
The average size of a master bedroom in the 1930s was 15.34m2, but today’s master bedrooms are 13.37m2, which is two percent smaller than their predecessors. As a result, there is a noticeable reduction in the size of bedrooms.
A few years ago, big dressers and chest drawers defined the master bedroom. Today, the same furniture pieces have become insignificant and have been replaced by walk-in closets which many homeowners are allocating more space to than they are to the master bedroom itself.
The space allocated to the master bedroom should be able to complement the size of the home, but modern-day bedrooms are, indeed, the tiniest they’ve ever been.
But better of today’s measurements will be sliced out to add into the walk-in closet which is the highlight of modern master bedrooms plus the fact the closet of the modern individual is growing larger by the day.
Are All New Builds Small?
Most new builds are small since the ever-rising cost of land is inevitable and most homeowners and builders want to take up every opportunity that cuts down on building costs. Bigger spacious homes are facing out because homeowners want to maximize their return by increasing the number of homes.
Another factor is that families have grown leaner while in cities, the more the people the more the space is required to build more flats.
That explains the high rate at which new homes are selling. In recent times new builds sell up to 10.6% higher while existing or older homes are depreciating.
Is a small or big bedroom better?
Bedroom size is a personal preference, while smaller rooms are more snug and easy to clean and maintain, larger bedrooms are more pleasant with larger windows and maybe equipped adequately while yet allowing the summer breeze to ruffle the curtains.
For people that fear smaller rooms, bigger rooms suit them better and those that prefer cozy rooms prefer smaller ones.
But in general, too small or too big are impractical and leave a lot to be desired.
For this reason, a bedroom that is neither small nor too big and can adequately take in a queen-size bed, a bedside stand, and a dresser while still leaving at least 30” space around the bed to enable movement is what most people consider comfortable.
Otherwise, what one is willing to spend on housing as a tenant determines the bedroom size of the new home.
In the same breath, the more money one is willing to spend in building a home determines the space room and especially bedrooms are going to be accorded.
Final Thought
The size of a bedroom whether big or small is subjective, what happens in them is the determinant factor: whether it is sleeping, reading, relaxing/resting, studying, exercising, or watching TV is what will determine whether one will go for a smaller or bigger bedroom.
All in all, smaller bedrooms might not offer sufficient room for personal stuff to fit without cramping while bigger rooms need furniture and style to make it fuller.
Sources
https://upgradedhome.com/master-bedroom-dimensions/
