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frank1203

I Want My Computer in My Master Bedroom, But..

18 years ago

Hi, I am in the process of remodeling my master bedroom and adjoining master bathroom. Thanks to your input, we took care of the master bath questions last week and this week I want to get your opinions on the bedroom.

Here's what I'm thinking so far.. The room is about 26 feet long by about 14 feet wide. I have two large reach-in closets in my MBR and I plan on reorganizing one of them with a closet designer (can't afford to do both). I plan on getting new furniture for the room, and I'm thinking that since one of the closets will now have extra drawers and shelves, etc. in it, I probably will only need to buy a dresser with a mirror and won't need a separate chest/armoire in the room. Of course, I would buy night tables and a king size bed as well that all match.

You're probably thinking that the room is big enough to hold two large pieces of furniture along with the bed, right? Well, now here's the dilemna.. Currently there is a large desk with a computer in the room set up caty-corner. It is an eye sore! Most people tell me to get the computer out of the room totally and put it somewhere else in the house and maybe use that area to hang a 37-40" LCD TV and buy a recliner. Problem is that I like the computer and desk in the room, but do realize that its out of place from a decorating perspective.

So, I would love any suggestions that you might have. I am wondering if maybe there is some furniture out there that will match the bedroom set and house the computer in a discrete way. I'm not sure and would appreciate any thoughts that you might have. Thanks as always!

Comments (19)

  • 18 years ago

    Since you won't have a large clothing storage chest or armoire, look into a computer armoire to compliment the style of furniture you are choosing. That way everything computer related can be closed away when not in use, and the chair you use can sit near the armoire, perhaps by a sidetable and lamp, and just be pulled up as needed.

    I would suggest that you think about getting nighttables that DON'T match everything else - it is much more interesting, and gives some design variety to the room.

  • 18 years ago

    won't need a separate chest/armoire in the room

    I think the obvious thing is a computer armoire. When closed it would look like any other armoire. Open, it holds all the computer equipment (including a printer, if not extremely large), with the keyboard on a slide-out tray.

    Many of these are made by KD furniture companies like Sauder, but fine furniture manufacturers also make some. You wouldn't necessarily have to choose your bed and other furniture from a line that includes a computer armoire; you could choose one in a finish and style that would complement the other furniture.

    The link below is to computer armoires at Home Decorators. I don't mean to recommend these - I have no experience with their case goods - but it was a convenient place to find examples.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Computer armoires

  • 18 years ago

    If I am understanding the problem here, it is that you want to keep the computer in the room but you say you cannot have two pieces of furniture with the king size bed in a 26x14' room.

    That is a BIG room, even with a king size bed in it. I don't see the problem with fitting in both a dresser and a desk. But if you need the extra floor space, I would consider getting a chest of drawers instead of a dresser with mirror as it would have a smaller footprint. I would also get an amoire desk that can be opened for use and then closed up tight reducing its size. I'm sure these two pieces of furniture could fit. Is the problem that you have too many doors and windows and don't know where they should go? There are some amoire style desks that are not so high and would not block a window. Maybe post a pic and get some advice on furniture placement. The wall where you are planning on having your bed may not be the best placement to maximize the use of the space.

    Have you considered building in a desk in the one closet? That way it would not be out in the room taking up floor space. You could close the door on it when not in use and open it and pull up a chair when you use it. It would depend on the size of the closet and the size of the door. Again, pics would help.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Computer Desk Amoire

  • 18 years ago

    Move your desk and computer to another room. Set up a
    wi-fi connection and get a laptop. Then you can watch your LCD tv in your recliner with your laptop.

    I browse this site all the time with my laptop watching my LCD tv. Great way to pass an evening.

    Cheers!

  • 18 years ago

    My husband actually worked from our guest bedroom by putting two filing cabinets, desk height, adding a skinny door as a desk top (Of course, I had to get the cabinets painted the same color and have the door finished, bought a piece of glass for it and the shelf overhead served as a place to put stuff, and he had two filing cabinets, one on each side in which to file. He did have a leather desk chair there, but we could move it to the side of the bed when he wanted to close the doors on his office (out of sight, out of mind). If he turned the chair around, there was my grandmother's old sewing machine holding a flat screen TV that he could watch when work was not too busy. He worked from that closet for more than 5 years.

  • 18 years ago

    You have a big bedroom and if you like having your computer set up in there, then you should. Do you have a desktop or laptop? A lot depends on your work or gaming habits and other components you need like printers, etc. It sounds like you have a large work area now so I think it would be hard to go with a small one. Personally I don't like computer armoires. Very cramped and uncomfortable to work. I also wouldn't want to work in a closet either. Your computer work station doesn't have to match your bedroom set. Just select one that looks nice and blends in well with the room.

  • 18 years ago

    I had the option of having the home office since I came home to work years before my husband. I have worked at home for 20 years. So I got hte home office. I wanted to turn our laundry room into an office for him and put the washer and dryer in the shop but he did not want to do that, and this is what he wanted to do, but he is very neat and organized, so that helps.

  • 18 years ago

    Hi - Once again thanks to all for your input and great ideas. First off - yes the bedroom is large (26' by 14') but it is broken up by three windows and 2 closets and an entrance into the master bath.. So, with the exception of one of the walls where the bed is currently located between 2 of the windows (and must remain), I don't have any other long stretch of wall except the wall that would hold a dresser. Thats why I was thinking about only buying a dresser and mirror and remodeling the closet for additional clothes / storage space so as to not purchase an additional piece of furniture to have to place in the room.

    Now - as far as the computer. I currently have a desktop and I have a fairly large 2 tiered computer desk which houses the tower and printer/router, etc. and is also used as a desk for paying bills, filing, etc. It's very functional, but honestly, it is an eye sore.

    I also considered a computer armoire and that is still not out of the question, but then I will lose the space that I was considering hanging an LCD TV. I am intrigued by the one suggestion about getting my existing computer out of the room totally and replacing it with a laptop connected Wifi. I could even go one step further, which is to use the LCD TV as not only a TV, but also as a "monitor" for the laptop. Of course, that would require some additional wiring and placing a jack near the chair for me to plug the laptop into when I'm not watching the TV (but using it as a monitor). I like the idea about putting the PC in the closet, but I'm wondering if the closet would be big enough (2 bi-fold doors - 4 foot opening and then almost 6.5 feet of space inside and about 3.5 feet deep). There are so many good ideas. Please keep them coming. Thanks.

  • 18 years ago

    going along the lines of getting a laptop... you could then just put a shelf (or 2) that would fit into the closet for all of your paperwork etc.

  • 18 years ago

    I went the route of buying a laptop to use in our master bedroom & hearth room, both of which have 32" LCD TVs and comfortable lounge chairs (one has an ottoman & the other has recliners.) It's nice to be able to keep dh company while he watches a program and read THS at the same time. However, I use a desktop for banking, investment mgt., etc.

    In the study, my desktop computer is housed in a short (just under 5 ft.) computer armoire. It's wide enough to hold both a 17 in. flat monitor and a small TV that's mainly used for watching the news. On a lark, I bought the Hannspree retro Mickey 10 in. TV for inside the armoire. I wouldn't care to watch a movie on it, but it's fine for its purpose.

    Here is a link that might be useful: little retro TV

  • 18 years ago

    I ordered a beautiful computer return/desk from Bombay Company off of their website. It's from their Statesman collection and looks more like a writing desk, very pretty. I was going to pull it up for you but they have already taken their website down preparing for their closings. If you have one in your town, it might be worthwhile to check them out. I have also ordered a Carrington Court skirted parson's chair to go with it (to dress it up even more.) Not planning on having a printer, because my husband's study will have one if I need to print anything, and I don't want to clutter up the beautiful desk.

  • 18 years ago

    In my office, I have an armoire (cherry) with a return. I have no idea why anyone would feel they were cramped up with an armoire like mine. Me somehow thinks some people are accustomed to living in the lap of luxury where there is a room for everything and a budget to accommodate it.

    I do like having room for my work. I have to have it and I have a small desk/table and the armoire, but the main reason I bought the armoire was because I had grandchildren and I knew curious little hands would want to touch things, so the armoire completely hides it and they had no idea what was behind it. It just looked, to toddlers, like another big piece of furniture.

    Frank, I would suggest that you not have a big desk, a TV and a recliner in your bedroom unless you are also going to accommodate it with a pool table and a bar.

  • 18 years ago

    Wodka - Is this the 'Statesman Desk' you are referring too? Its not Bombay Co, but I'm wondering if its the same thing.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Statesman Desk

  • 18 years ago

    I think that is a lovely desk and with technology requiring less and less space all the time to do what once took a computer the size of a dining room to do, I think that would be a great addition/edition for you. You can add this and edit out the huge desk. You could use same monitor for TV/computer.

  • 18 years ago

    I will not have a computer or a television in my bedroom.... I would hate to lose the intimate atmosphere that I've created in our bedroom. And both items are also really bad for the feng shui (if you're a believer).

    Your bedroom sounds great, from a size perspective. I envy you that. You've probably got so many choices you could go with. Figure out what pleases your eye and go for it.

    I also like the recommendation someone made of not matching all of your furniture. I have furniture throughout my house from brand new to going back 3 generations and I love the eclectic mix. It makes for a very warm atmosphere with the blends of various woods, ages and styles. Whatever pleases you visually and aesthetically will be something you'll be happy with for a very long time. Choose each piece on its own merit.

  • 18 years ago

    I sent a message but it disappeared. No that is not the desk, but it's lovely. I found a Bombay site still open (in Trinidad!) so you can go to www.bombaytt.com and put in the desk's item number, 1850864 in the "quick find" box and see if you like it or not. I paid $599 for mine (not in Trinidad - ha!) and saved shipping by picking it up at a store. With all of the Bombay stores closing, you might call a store near your area and inquire and get a really good deal. Good luck.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks Wodka! I did check it out and the desk is beautiful! I take it that the left side houses the tower? Does the middle drawer pull out for the keyboard? Do you have enough storage?

  • 18 years ago

    You're going to think I'm crazy, but we haven't taken it out of the boxes yet. (Sure hope it's in perfect condition!) I'm trying not to mention Katrina in every post, but to try to make a long story short, we lost everything, including our home, in Katrina. So, we have been renting for the last two years, and about March made the big jump and had a builder start building our new home. It should be ready within the next two weeks or so, but until then,everything we've ordered is either overcrowding my husband's office or blocking our every step here at this apartment. We're both about to go nuts.....if we don't move soon, I think we'll both implode!!!

    But, in answer to your questions, yes, the left side houses the tower (which I really liked, hopefully we can hide most of the wires on that side), and yes, the middle drawer pulls out for the keyboard, so we can hide it when not in use. I'm planning on using it in lieu of a nightstand and think I can pull it off with the right lamp, etc.

    I thought you might like it. I hope you can find it or one that will serve your purpose.

  • 18 years ago

    "I like the idea about putting the PC in the closet, but I'm wondering if the closet would be big enough (2 bi-fold doors - 4 foot opening and then almost 6.5 feet of space inside and about 3.5 feet deep)."

    If your closet is 3.5' deep you have plenty of room to put in a computer desk. I am not talking about having you to work inside the closet. Just having the desk and shelves in the closet. Then you open the bifold doors and pull up a chair and pull out the keyboard tray from the desk. You would have lots of breathing room. You wouldn't be *inside* the closet at all. You could keep all the peripherals off to the side in the closet behind the wall that you say you have for storage in the closet. When you are done move the chair back and pull the closet doors closed. All the paperwork mess is hidden. You could build a custom desk and shelving as another option.

    If you really want to put a TV on the room, why not consider puttting the TV on the wall above the dresser rather than having the mirror. Could this work for you? You have a connecting bathroom with a mirror to use and probably do not need another huge mirror a few steps away in the bedroom. Mirrors in bedrooms are bad Feng Shui anyway, then again, so are having TVs in the bedroom, but if it fits your lifstyle then do it. You could also get a matching modular entertainment center put the TV in it and use the drawers for your socks and sweaters. There is no rule that says you have to use the drawers for media related items.