Creating an Ideal Master Bedroom Suite

Ah, Master Bedrooms. They symbolize so much of what it means to arrive as a home owner. It is your sanctuary, your retreat from the world, and the room where you spend the most time preparing for and recovering from the day to day grind. Needless to say, it’s an important room. So in these difficult economic times, how can you create a Master Bedroom that satisfies your needs as a homeowner? Like all remodel decisions, the first (and often most difficult) step is deciding what you want. How can you best use your Master Bedroom (or Owner’s Suite as it should more accurately be called) to create the home that works for you? Over the years I’ve seen trends come and go with varying degrees of success. Recently, as more homeowners are choosing to remain in their home and remodel instead of selling and upgrading to a bigger or newer house, Master Bedrooms have become more and more important. For homeowners looking to remodel to make their home more attractive to buyers, a mid-range Master Bedroom addition has a 72% return on investment.

As a licensed contractor I enjoy the design process and spend time with clients up front discussing design ideas and estimates on popular features. To give you a jumping off point, below I’ve described the top trends in Master Bedrooms and ways to remodel your Master Bedroom to make it better.

• Moving the Master Bedroom Downstairs

As I mentioned in my post about universal design, one level living can allow you to stay in your home even if you begin to have limited mobility. A downstairs Master Bedroom keeps the home accessible by eliminating the need to climb stairs or schlep across the house to retrieve something from the bedroom. Even if the top floor of a house becomes closed off because of mobility, having your living quarters on the first floor can allow you to remain in your home. By keeping the Master Bedroom on the same level as the kitchen and front door, it becomes the most convenient room in the house and therefore the most valuable.

Additionally, as children grow older and become teenagers, or move back in as young adults, it may save everyone stress and annoyance to give them the upstairs wing of the house while reserving a quiet tucked away Master Bedroom downstairs away from the hustle and bustle of music, computers, video games etc. In this case, having a long hallway leading to the Master Bedroom offers an additional physical (as well as psychological) barrier.

•  Multi-generational housing

In addition to teenagers and young adult children, some families may also have aging parents moving back in to their home. A Master Bedroom suite can serve as a comfortable “in-law” unit within the house that provides a parent with independence and a sense of private living space. For houses without basements, or households that can’t afford a major remodel of an attic space, a Master Bedroom is a convenient compromise that requires very little renovation for an older parent. Master Bedrooms are usually spacious enough to create a sitting area or small table. Additionally, Master Bedrooms also have a separate bathroom that are large enough to accommodate home health equipment like shower chairs or commode handrails.

Conversely, if there are both teenagers and older parents living in a home, a Master Bedroom could serve as a much needed breathing space for the homeowners to escape. The volatile economy has created an environment where many families are choosing to live together again to save money. Remodeling a Master Bedroom to maximize its use in a multi-generational home can create a living situation where everyone can feel comfortable and enjoy the house.

• Working from home

Master Bedrooms can serve two functions for people working from home. It can serve as the home office, a unit separate from the rest of the house where business is conducted and restricted. Having a private bathroom and sitting area can create the aura of an office suite and allow for increased productivity by being separated from household chores and distractions. With just one entrance, a Master Bedroom home office easily restricts access. Once you close up shop for the day and leave the room, you can rejoin the rest of the house without passing by your phone or desk.

On the flip side, the Master Bedroom can serve as a living space completely separate from your home business. If you have a home office within the main living space or even the garage, it may be comforting to know that the Master Bedroom is a sacred space where business does not enter. It is the sanctuary from which you can escape your work while still remaining at home. For the at-home worker who is never “off”, creating a Master Bedroom sanctuary can help mitigate the boundaries between home and work.

• Maximizing space

The age of conspicuous consumption is over. Gone are the trophy entrance ceilings that wasted heat or the just-for-show spa tubs that were rarely used. Using the space in ways that maximize utility and comfort is the biggest trend, particularly if there is an energy conservation element to accompany it. For example, an adjacent bedroom can be converted into a walk-in closet, larger bath, or both. For homeowners who choose to remodel rather than move, making the most of the space they have, as opposed to keeping up with the Jones’, will maximize comfort as well as utility.


What matters most, as always, is what works best for you and your partner. The Master Bedroom is a space to enjoy and taking time to plan it carefully will pay off in the long run. My favorite kind of Master Bedroom feels like a suite in a private wing of the house. It has a literal and psychological barrier from the rest of the house and creates a feeling that the suite is special and off-limits to the household in general. I also like the separation of sleeping, dressing, and sitting areas. Separating these areas transforms the room into a living space and not just a bedroom. In particular, the sitting area with a media cabinet allows for the room to function as a private space for relaxation.

One caution about design plans … I've seen sites lately that advise homeowners to remove their tub in favor of a larger shower. I personally think this is a big mistake. A home without a tub will lose value, plain and simple. There are times when a bathtub is necessary and a shower is a poor substitute (visiting grandchildren, injuries, washing the mini-blinds). And really, is there anything better after a long day than slipping into a warm tub and soaking your cares away? Remove your tub at your own peril.

Below are links to a couple of fun sites that offer inspiring design ideas for the Master Bedroom:
   

Six Bathroom Design Tips

Master Bedroom Layout and Design Tips

One final thought, if your Master Bedroom does not allow for extensive renovations, you may want to consider an addition. While the return on investment may not be as high as, say, a kitchen remodel, your standard of living can be greatly increased, especially if you don’t plan to move in the next several years. If you are looking to build a Master Bedroom addition the basic design must include: sleeping area, sitting area, walk-in closet, and master bathroom. Below is a general floor plan layout that adds on to the existing house.

Before:

After:

Whatever your reasons may be for rethinking your Master Bedroom, a good contractor can help guide you through the process. Regardless of the trends, you should choose a Master Bedroom based on your needs and desires. After all, they don’t call it the Master Bedroom for nothing.



References:

Builderonline.com, “Upstairs, Downstairs”
http://www.builderonline.com/marketing/upstairs-downstairs.aspx

Builderonline.com, 10 Lifestyle Trends for 2012
http://www.builderonline.com/design/10-lifestyle-trends-to-watch-for-in-2012.aspx

Builderonline.com, “10 Residential Designs You Won’t See in 2011”
http://www.builderonline.com/design/10-design-trends-you-wont-see-in-2011.aspx

Builder online, “Owner’s Suite Master Plan”
http://www.builderonline.com/design/master-plan.aspx

Remodeling.net, “Master Suite Addition”
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/article/mastersuiteaddition.aspx