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karen_campbell5507913

large master or bigger study/office?

3 years ago

We are building a panel-build construction home, and our walls just arrived for install. Everything went beautifully, then we realized one window was off about 15”, placing it in the middle of a wall that divides our master suite from our study/office. We are now faced with a decision. We don’t want to move the window (the walls are prefinished on the exterior and this would risk making the siding look weird. So do we downsize the study and move the wall? If so, the study would be 7’x11’ and master would be 18x14’. Or do we move the wall closer to the master, making the study 9.5’x11’ (a better bedroom size) and the mast 14.5’x14’?

Our architect says ‘do what makes you happy. Our builder says go with the smaller master and bigger ‘spare bedroom’. Anyone out there have an insight? What’s more valuable, a generously sized master or a generously sized home office. PS, we only work from home on occasion (6-10 hours a week). So the office would be either mostly a white place to lounge or a pair of desks when we need them. Thanks

Comments (15)

  • 3 years ago

    My vote would be for the smaller bedroom and larger office so that it can be considered a bedroom.

  • 3 years ago

    I also would choose a bigger study. We have a huge square master bedroom and don’t really need all the space there.

  • 3 years ago

    Think about how long you are going to live there. I would want a bigger master - 14 by 14 is a bit tight.

  • 3 years ago

    Our bedroom is 12x14, and it comfortably fits a king bed and chest of drawers. I would much rather have a larger second room.

  • 3 years ago

    Will you ever use the two chairs in your master? We never sit in ours. The larger study will be more useful.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Not enough context. For 6 or ten hours of work from home? A dining table and a lap top/ phone is usually sufficient.

    Do you need a guest space? How large is your family? Add that a chair in a primary suite, is USUALLY a dumping ground of the clothes you just took off : ) and don't feel like hanging/storing asap.

  • 3 years ago

    Would the spare bedroom ever get used as a guest room or anything else? 7 x 11 is small. Who lives in your house? Do you ever need to escape to your bedroom to avoid guests, small children, do you want hang out space in there or is a bed and dressers enough?

  • 3 years ago

    Easy answer for me. Smaller bedroom, bigger extra room. As long as the bedroom fits a king sized bed, it is big enough.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    I agree the space you spend more working hrs in is the one you want bigger and in this case that office space needs to be bigger if it even will be used as a guest room.

  • 3 years ago

    The bedroom furniture layout of aspirational (my guess) - does anyone really "lounge" in their bedroom? and making an already small secondary troom smaller is a bad idea - esp if things having and you need it for something else (or - even for a more used work at home office - hello pandemic?) you'll appreciate the additional space.

  • 3 years ago

    Bigger extra room. A main bedroom at 14 x 14.5 foot is a nice size.

  • 3 years ago

    This isn't a decision you crowd source - it's entirely personal. If you are planning to live here indefinitely, pick the option that best suits your needs - would a larger master allow you to incorporate more clothing storage (I might use the space to place a separate console/chest of drawers for my husbands t-shirts or something)? Or if the study was larger, would it allow for secondary use as an extra guest sleeping space? The difference is negligable in terms of resale (the potential second bedroom is already really small - two feet isn't going to make a huge difference - I think 7 feet is the IBC requirement).

    Keep in mind that many jobs are becoming permanently remote/hybrid - having a dedicated space to work from home is becoming more valuable than it once was (if you're worried about resale). Not saying it outpaces the value of an additional bedroom, but it's not entirely "wasted" either.

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    No matter what you decided? Your plan is too congested, your primary bed on the wrong wall

    See below, and you may also have room for a pretty drawer chest outside your primary closet.

    Not to mention a less pinched upper hallway




  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Which room will have the most daily activity? Hint: that should be the larger room...!

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    An office used ” six to ten hours a WEEK?” Dining table and clean up. 0r writing table in the living room, and clean up

    Fix the second floor tight paths( above

    ) whatever size either room. Too cramped

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