“It’s awfully close,” said my new acquaintance when I showed her the ground floor bedroom level of my home and told her about the changes I’m planning for having a housemate. This got me thinking because I realized that she is right. You see, in the current setup of the house, the doors to the master bedroom and the full bathroom are side by side. But this bathroom is used by whoever is occupying the other two rooms on the same floor. So, the area at the bottom of the stairs, with access to both the bathroom and the master bedroom, becomes a “crash” space. One person heading to the bathroom crashes into the other who is leaving the master bedroom. It’s not horrible, but just uncomfortable. Can you see it in the diagram above?
Space and the layout of space can have a real impact on how comfortable it is to share the home with a housemate or two. Each housemate wants privacy when in their room. The best is separate floors. I’ve had that experience twice. It makes a difference. It also matters to have a way to come and go without necessarily walking through the house. I learned this when I lived in the finished basement of a ranch house. I had a way to leave from that level. I never used it, but I liked knowing I could.
Making Assumptions and Changes
When I first contemplated having a housemate, I assumed that person would have two rooms and the bathroom in the hall, while I would stay in the master bedroom. But then I started thinking about how this space is constructed and how to have it work better as a shared home.
My office is currently in one corner of the very large room that is living room, dining room and kitchen, It is above the bedrooms. The kitchen is in the opposite corner from my desk. I can’t see it because the fireplace/woodstove chimney is in the way. Having an office in the middle of communal space is not good and, in fact, was a bit of a problem for me and my partner. So, what if I move my office into a room downstairs? That leaves the upstairs available for communal living.
On the heels of that thought, I realized that renting the larger master bedroom, with its private bath and working fireplace, would be attractive. So, my current plan is to move into the smaller bedroom myself, and use the full bathroom at the foot of the stairs.
That brings us to the “crash” problem. How to fix it?
Here’s what I’m considering. Create a new door into the master bedroom from the hall under the staircase. Right now there is a closet which would go away making a small passage into the room. This will create a more private entrance that is also close to an outside door. I’ll leave the existing bedroom door in place so that furniture can be moved in and out. But I expect the housemate to put a bookcase or armoire against this door (removing the knobs?). In that way, my housemate on entering their territory will feel that it is private. When they want to go upstairs they will walk along the hall, which I will be able to hear and choose not to run into them. We won’t be startling each other.
The bathroom needs lots of work. I’m considering moving the door to increase the size of the bathroom. I may move the sink against the master bedroom wall. It would be good to sound-proof that wall too.
So, that’s the current plan. What do you think? Is it worth the trouble? Do you have experience with what works and doesn’t in the physical layout of shared housing? Let us know in the comments.
* Diagrams made with SweetHome3D.
Here’s another post you will find interesting! Sharing home with other adults? Remodel to Keep Peace.
I continued to write about my experience…
I’m a little confused, Annemarie. How does the housemate access the utilities/storage area without going through your bathroom with the new door layout? Or is that not an area you want the housemate to have access to?
You are looking closely at the layout! :) It’s a furnace and hot water heater area. Aside from paint storage, there is nothing else there so there’s no reason for the housemate to enter it.
Annamarie,
Tonight I smiled when I read that you were planning to use a closet as an entryway to master bedroom and leave the existing door in bedroom. It is also my plan to use an existing closet to make a private entrance into shared kitchen. These creative solutions to preserving privacy in sharing a home ensure peace and comfort.
Leaving the existing door in place provides options for future needs. Life is full of unexpected occurrences : We can not always make plans but we can make options
My grandiose plans for remodeling to make spaces for home sharing have gradually simplified making as few structural changes as possible. For example, rather than using drywall to cover an open doorway, a heavy curtain will do.
Preparing for the unexpected for is an option too. Towel racks can hide discreet grab bars. Trendy wood floors without rugs prevents falls and makes vacuuming with a light vacuum a breeze— great for dog lovers too.
A friend removed her tub using small tiles to cover a sloped floor with drain. A shower curtain was all that was needed to keep in water for a walk-in shower- no clunky shower installation.
Simplicity and forethought are needed in remodeling a home and in remodeling our lives as well as we meet the unexpected paths in our journey. Little things like making sure there are no collisions on way to bathroom preserve tranquility.
Remodeling can be a work of love to welcome in a new person to share the space and joys of daily life.
Kathleen