Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 11:39     Subject: Re:Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:It's a very common size in older homes in and around DC, but small in a new build. I have to ask, OP, since you are doing a new build why don't you tell the architect to make the kids rooms the same size? Or are you working from a standard plan?


We are working with some limitations imposed by our site and overall footprint.. This room is on the first floor; two more kid's bedrooms plus a master suite are on the second floor. To make this room larger would require rejigging of the first floor and it's too much work at this point. I definitely cannot make it the same size as the second-floor rooms.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 11:21     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:
To the poster who said we need a common area for supervised homework - really? How exactly does that work? I've never heard of that. I don't really plan to supervise homework for more than a handful of years,and I certainly don't want them to hold off doing homework until the evening when I come home.. Plus wouldn't it get noisy with all the kids doing homework, when they need to focus and concentrate?


If your kids can't get their homework done without help/supervision, and it's not because they have LDs, there's a problem with the homework.

My kids sometimes do theirs at the dining room table, but yeah, they like it quiet, so they usually retreat to their rooms. Their small rooms.

If they need to be connected to the Internet, THEN they're in the dining room, because I want to keep an eye on what they're doing, or at least I want them to think that I could be looking at their screens at any minute.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 11:16     Subject: Re:Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
It's a very common size in older homes in and around DC, but small in a new build. I have to ask, OP, since you are doing a new build why don't you tell the architect to make the kids rooms the same size? Or are you working from a standard plan?

Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 00:46     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to those who provided encouraging responses and to those who gave a shot of reality. I think we are going to be fine. The room is set up in such a way that we can recess the dresser into the cavity under the staircase (adjoining the room), thus saving the floor space. The other two kids' bedrooms are much larger, 12x14 at least. We also have ample playroom space so no need for toys in the bedrooms.

To the poster who said we need a common area for supervised homework - really? How exactly does that work? I've never heard of that. I don't really plan to supervise homework for more than a handful of years,and I certainly don't want them to hold off doing homework until the evening when I come home.. Plus wouldn't it get noisy with all the kids doing homework, when they need to focus and concentrate?


Kitchen table. Either while you are making dinner, after school or before bedtime depending on how your family rolls.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 00:45     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:Our bedroom is 10x11 and way too small. We can't even have a dresser.


The key here is that you are trying to squeeze two adults into the room. The OP is trying to fit one pre-teen child into the room. There's a big difference in space requirements.

That was the size of my bedroom growing up. I was the youngest of 3 and I was fine in that room until I was 11 and my oldest brother went to college. I got to move into my brother's room when he went to college. There were two beds in the room, so we could both sleep there (or he could sleep in the smaller bedroom if he wanted) whenever he came back for a weekend. The only time I went back to the small room was when he brought a friend home for the weekend so they got the room with two beds. Worked fine for our family. Depending on the age disparity with OP's children, they could do the same when the oldest goes to college.

Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 00:37     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
It's ok if you have a separate homework room or nook
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2015 00:27     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Totally fine. My room was that size growing up. Double bed, highboy dresser, student desk, bookcase.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 22:27     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
I think its fine, but if i were building a brand new house i would try to find a way to make it more comparable to the other bedrooms. Buying an older house, ok sure, building not as much.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 22:17     Subject: Re:Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My teen's room is that size. Twin bed, desk, bookshelf, nightstand, and an Elfa closet system for all the clothes. No issues.





Did you quote the right post? Or use the wrong smiley?

+1
I don't find anything shocking about this post.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 22:15     Subject: Re:Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My teen's room is that size. Twin bed, desk, bookshelf, nightstand, and an Elfa closet system for all the clothes. No issues.





Did you quote the right post? Or use the wrong smiley?
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 22:07     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Our kids' rooms are 9x10 and 9x12 and they are totally fine - there's plenty of space for all their furniture (twin bed, dresser, bookshelf, toy chest), toys, and even a little reading nook with a big bean bag chair. It's pretty hilarious that people on here think it's so tiny -- I take it you all don't live in DC or the close in suburbs? Because this is pretty normal.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 21:56     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Right now my two share a good sized bedroom. When the decide they want separate rooms, one of them will get a significantly smaller one. Our plan is to get a loft bed with a built in desk and closet/bookshelves.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 21:47     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
OP here. Thanks to those who provided encouraging responses and to those who gave a shot of reality. I think we are going to be fine. The room is set up in such a way that we can recess the dresser into the cavity under the staircase (adjoining the room), thus saving the floor space. The other two kids' bedrooms are much larger, 12x14 at least. We also have ample playroom space so no need for toys in the bedrooms.

To the poster who said we need a common area for supervised homework - really? How exactly does that work? I've never heard of that. I don't really plan to supervise homework for more than a handful of years,and I certainly don't want them to hold off doing homework until the evening when I come home.. Plus wouldn't it get noisy with all the kids doing homework, when they need to focus and concentrate?
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 20:29     Subject: Re:Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
Anonymous wrote:My teen's room is that size. Twin bed, desk, bookshelf, nightstand, and an Elfa closet system for all the clothes. No issues.



Anonymous
Post 08/23/2015 20:28     Subject: Is a 12x10 ft bedroom too small or normal?
It's perfect - install a bowed window seat and it'll look and feel bigger!