Should only 1BHK, 1.5BHK, 2BHK, 3 or 4BHK be the criteria when buying a house? Definitely not! It is not just the number of bedrooms that matter when you decide on a house. The bedroom is a truly private space in the house and hence there are many design considerations in the bedroom that should be taken of – big, small, significant and avoidable features that make a world of difference to your home, your family and your lifestyle.

Evaluate your lifestyle and make a note of the following factors before you make the house-buying decision:

NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY

• The number of people in the family will give you an insight into the number of bedrooms you will need to live comfortably. Also, if possible, think into the future and account for probable family expansion or changes. If you keep having a lot of guests or an extended family that stays for longer times, ensure you have an additional bedroom that caters to the visitors and their comfort.
• Always as a rule of thumb map the users to the toilets. The pre-identification of toilets for diverse users helps to ensure that the bedrooms are well maintained and toilets are adequate for all. The access to the particular rooms is thus restricted.
• The location of the bedrooms can be important in the case when one of the rooms is converted into a permanent guest room . In this case, the guests can enjoy utmost privacy in a bedroom that is secluded, with an attached washroom or a common washroom close by.

Lifestyle Analysis

• The proximity of the bedrooms to each other and to the entrance matters. Keep in mind the users – senior citizens, adults or children when evaluating the size, type and location of the bedrooms. If the seniors require assistance, ensure that bedrooms are close by. In the case that young adults need their own time and sleep late in the night, bedrooms that are separated will add to their privacy.
• Check the location of the master bedroom and who shall use it. An attached washroom can be important for both youngsters and senior citizens.
• The size of the bedroom, big or small, should be adequate to place the furniture, relevant for the user, comfortably. For instance, check if the bedroom space is good for placing a bunk, a queen-size or a king-size bed, as per your use and preference.
• As far as possible, the bedroom should be set away from the noise and the clutter. A bedroom that is bang opposite the traffic lights, IT Park, airport or metro station, can be troublesome throughout the day. Sound cancelling windows or doors can help tackle this inconvenience for ensuring a comfortable living experience.
• If you are someone who enjoys nature, reading, early morning exercise, opt for a bedroom that comes attached with a private balcony. The private balcony can give you the chance to enjoy time outdoors, while letting in ample natural light and air.

Bedroom Space Utilization

• The dimensions of the bedrooms matter. For example, a 10ft.*10ft. square room may look perfect on the unit plan . However, a 9ft.*11ft. room with the effective same space will better accommodate the furniture and offer more free space.
• Always ask from the sales team for your unit plan with standard furniture sizes. The furniture is the most important part of the bedroom since 80% of the room is taken over by the bed, the wardrobes, side tables and the dressing. By checking the standard furniture sizes, you will be able to get an idea of the actual useable room size. The width of the leftover space will be really important for easy circulation.
• When comparing different floor plans , always make a room-to-room comparison. Because the overall area may be similar, but the space occupied by the different rooms may differ. Prioritise the plans that appeal more to you in terms of the actual useable space available in the rooms that matter to you and your family the most.
• The location, fittings and switches for the electrical equipment such as the AC, the night lamps, the TV should be taken into consideration. The distance between the bed and the TV, the position of the AC for maximum cooling and the accessibility to the switches matter when you start living in the house.

Design Elements

• The entrance to the bedroom, the toilet door, and the window and terrace or balcony door are important to ensure that the usability when inside the bedroom is high, without compromising on the other aspects such as the wardrobe length, bed placement etc. A wrongly placed toilet door or window can hamper the experience by becoming an obstruction to everyday activities.
• Check for the volume of the storage space that the bedroom offers. The more storage space for luggage, party outfits, kids’ toys, the cleaner and more organized your home shall be. Check for the individual dimensions of the spaces provided. For instance, the depth of the wardrobe space is important. A very small depth will not accommodate a standard size wardrobe and will call for additional costs of customized furniture.
• One important consideration can be the location and electrical point available for the dressing unit with or without a mirror.
• If the doors of your wardrobe will open outside, make sure there is enough space to open them comfortably. Take note if the doors when fully open will block the circulation space around the bed or not.
• Many unit plans have offsets such as structural columns and beams that hamper space utilization. These offsets limit your flexibility in placing the furniture and stop you from making the most of every square foot.
• Apart from this, a bed right in front of the door, a bedroom receiving harsh sunlight, a room with no privacy and one that falls in the most common circulation path is a strict no! All these factors can hamper the sleeping experience.

Check for the plan nitty-gritties and master the art of a great sleep and a great bedroom design.