Why is Bedroom Size Important
At different points in life, our wants and needs may vary. When we’re younger, looking to start families, our lifestyle may require a larger house with sizable rooms. However, the older we get, the more difficult it may become to get around. Therefore, as we age, the preference may lead to a smaller home that provides comfort. Beyond the obvious, bedroom size is vital for furniture placement. Most individuals prefer having at least a bed, a television, a nightstand, and a location to store their clothes. Therefore, the average bedroom size is an aspect to consider before purchasing a house.
Additionally, most individuals don’t find their forever home, so real estate value and resale value are important factors to keep in mind. Bedroom sizes vary based on many factors, some of which include the type of home, whether it’s multi-family or luxury properties in addition to the location of the home. In certain areas, houses are built on large pieces of land, which allows for larger bedrooms. At the same time, properties within the city have size restrictions that can limit the average bedroom size.
What is the Average Bedroom Size in the U.S
As mentioned above, there are multiple factors to consider when determining the average bedroom size in the U.S., Such as property type, location, and era of construction. However, on average, the typical square footage range is as follows: Small bedrooms tend to be between 100 sq. feet and 120 square feet. This is ideal for smaller row homes or apartments in the inner city. Additionally, medium bedroom sizes are typically between 130 and 150 square feet. Luxury or newer homes emphasize space and comfort, so these homes tend to have larger bedrooms, which consist of 180-250 square feet, at times even larger. Each person is unique and has different preferences; some individuals prefer smaller and cozier rooms.
Average Bedroom Size By Type of Home
- Outside of row homes, apartments tend to have limited square footage for the bedrooms and common living spaces. Most individuals use apartments for transition or to get a feel for the neighborhood. Apartment complexes prefer maximizing profit, so in order to get more units, they cut down the overall square footage of bedrooms. Therefore, the average apartment bedroom size typically consists of 100 to 130 square feet.
- Single-family houses: Larger than your average apartment; however, single-family properties’ bedrooms are slightly bigger. On average, the size of bedrooms in single-family properties runs between 120 sq. feet and roughly 150 square feet.
- Older Homes “pre-1970s”: Homes constructed before 1970s were built to be more affordable with cheaper materials that emphasized the number of rooms compared to luxury. We’ve experienced a cultural shift, more relatives use to share a bedroom, especially children, without any complaints of limited space. However, over the years, it has changed to individual rooms with people owning more personal items.
- The average bedroom size for newer homes has increased to roughly 120-150 square feet. For most families, the bigger the house, the better. Additionally, preferring multiple living rooms, playrooms, home offices, and home gyms. Currently, in our society, families spend more time doing their own thing compared to years ago when there was more designated family time.
Master Bedroom Vs Secondary Bedrooms
In most households, the parents or the individual who pays the majority of the mortgage or rent typically reside in the “master bedroom.” These special rooms provide features such as walk-in closets or personal bathrooms. Therefore, the average bedroom size in a Master bedroom is roughly between 200 and 300 square feet.
Secondary bedrooms are ideal for children’s rooms, guest rooms, storage, or home offices. It provides privacy while not consuming much space. On average, a secondary bedroom is between one hundred & one hundred and fifty square feet. Most homes have multiple secondary bedrooms with only one master bedroom!
Minimum Bedroom Size Requirements
In America, there are building codes that real estate developers must follow. Some of which involve zoning, while others laws have bedroom size requirements. Therefore, in the U.S, the building code requires at least 70 square feet of floor space. Additionally, the minimum dimensions demand at least 7 feet of space in one direction. Lastly, the room must have a window. If the time comes to sell the property, if the home doesn’t fit all the building code requirements, the room cannot be advertised as a bedroom. Therefore, it could be considered a closet or storage space. However, when living in the residence, we are free to do as we please with our homes.
How to Measure a Bedroom
The proper way to find a room’s measurements is to determine the usable floor space. Excluding closets unless they’re walk-in. The equation is Length * width = total room square footage.
Design Advice for Maximizing Smaller Bedrooms
- As furniture continues to improve, it’s becoming more lightweight with additional features. Therefore, to maximize your available space use under-bed storage, whether it’s a cabinet or just storing items in a box. Additionally, consider mounting your television to a wall out of the way and utilizing the wall-mounted shelves for photos and other personal items.
- A common illusion to make a room appear larger is using light colors. The only time this tip would be beneficial is when the time comes to resell the property.
- Consider installing mirrors and smart lighting to expand the visual space. Again, this is another illusion to make the smaller rooms seem more appealing.
- Multi-purpose furniture. As individuals get more creative and invent things to make our lives easier, some furniture can be used for multiple purposes. A table work desk in the room can be used as additional storage. In addition to a bed that can be utilized as a chair due to the multi-use headrest.
Real Estate Perspective Involving Average Bedroom Size
Large bedrooms increase resale appeal.
- A larger bedroom provides more flexibility for furniture and use, including using the same room as a bedroom and a home office.
- Accommodate Growing Families. With larger bedrooms, parents can put multiple children in one room, which makes it easier to raise a family in the same house.
- Having the ability to use it for multiple uses. Such as a secondary living room, an area to store holiday decorations, a home office, a home gym, or a playroom for your children.
- Better long-term investment. Having the additional space may provide comfort and minimize the chances of having to resell the property to upgrade to a larger property. Therefore, homeowners can continue to build equity while locking in a reasonable mortgage interest rate. We cannot prevent inflation, although there are ways to minimize the negative effects.
- On average, having an extra bedroom can increase property value by roughly 15%. Especially in row homes and places with limited space.
Further Perspective Involving Average Bedroom Sizes
Home buyers tend to prioritize the number of bedrooms and overall size. At times, small rooms can hurt. For example, on a recent renovation project, we had the option for three total bedrooms or two larger bedrooms. A house across the street elected to make three smaller bedrooms, while we did the two-bedroom option. The quality of the renovation was very similar; however, due to the larger bedrooms, we sold our property three weeks faster. Therefore, when remodeling a home, weigh out the pros and cons of multiple bedrooms compared to the overall size of the rooms.
If the time comes to sell the home, consider using a home staging company. These individuals are professionals when it comes to getting the most out of each room. Pro stagers can make an average bedroom size appear bigger during showings. This drastically increases the chance of the home selling while minimizing the potential days on the market. Therefore, when put into perspective, using a staging company is well worth the investment.
Conclusion: Importance of Bedroom Size
Although there are building codes that require 70 square feet of floor space. It’s up to the real estate developer to determine the layout of the house. Different locations and property types may dictate the number of rooms and the overall size of each bedroom. However, the average bedroom size falls between 100 square feet and 250 square feet. The exact size varies depending on the homeowner’s needs and lifestyle. Some individuals prefer smaller rooms, although for most individuals, especially expanding families, bigger rooms at times mean better.
When buying or selling real estate, a bedroom’s usability and layout can be just as important as overall square footage. Search for ways to find multi-usage rooms to maximize the available space. Understand the average bedroom sizes and properly use the tips provided in this article to get the most out of each bedroom. If the time comes to sell the house, don’t hesitate to use a staging company to make the home more appealing. In addition to a licensed agent to help achieve the largest profit in the quickest time frame!