Planning Sleeping Areas

Sleeping areas: bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, and nurseries.

Should include sleeping space, storage space for clothes and personal items, and dressing space.◦ Playing, studying, relaxing, and other activities

may also need space.

Bedrooms

Each bedroom should have privacy of sight and sound.

Group plan: a floor plan where all the bedrooms are in one area of the home.

Split-bedroom plan: a floor plan where the master bedroom is separated from the remaining bedrooms to provide greater privacy.

Location

A bedroom should be located on the first floor of a two-story house for caring for a sick or elderly person.◦ Or to transition while aging.

Each bedroom should open into a hallway rather than another room.

A person should not have to pass through a bedroom to get to another room.

Each bedroom should be near a bathroom.

Size of bedrooms depends on number of occupants, their ages, the intended functions of the room besides sleeping and dressing, and the necessary furniture.◦ Minimum bedroom size: 100 sq. ft.

When arranging furniture in a bedroom, a bed should be placed first since it is the largest and most used piece of furniture in the room.◦ 22 in. need to be on each side of the bed to allow

for room to make it.

Size & Arrangement

Consider windows when positioning a bed.◦ Early morning light should not shine directly on

the bed.◦ Ventilation should be possible w/out causing a

draft across the bed.

Neither the bed or other furniture should interfere with the circulation into the room and to the closet.

Arrangement

Bedside tables should be the same height as the bed’s mattress.

40” is recommended in front of a chest of drawers or a dresser to pull out the drawers.

A 42” dressing circle in needed for dressing.

33in. clearance is recommended in from of a closet.

Recommended location for a closet is adjacent to the room entrance.◦ This allows a person to reach the closet without

walking around furniture. Closets should be a minimum of 4-6 ft. long

and 24-30 in. deep.◦ Freestanding: (wardrobes/armoires) pieces of

furniture. These are not attached or built into the walls.

◦ Walk-in closets should be a minimum of 4 ft. deep.

Closets

Recommended location for a door is in a corner of the room so it will not interrupt wall space.◦ Door should swing into the room and be able to

open completely.◦ To conserve space, pocket doors may be used for

the entry, and sliding doors may be used to the closet or patio doors.

Doors

Two windows on exterior walls are ideal for cross ventilation.

High ribbon windows are wide, short windows that increase ventilation.◦ These provide privacy and unrestricted placement

of furniture below.◦ They also prevent drafts from blowing across the

bed.

Windows

Some master bedrooms offer a conversation area, work area, or private garden in addition to a sleeping area.

Some master bedrooms have an adjourning master bathroom and closet/dressing room.

Master Bedrooms

The bedroom needs of children change as they grow, so future needs should be considered when planning the room.◦ Young children need plenty of floor space for play.◦ Older children need more shelves and storage,

along with a desk and chair for studying.

Children’s Rooms

An L-shaped room or room dividers can provide privacy for each child.

Twin beds offer flexibility in room arrangements.

Captain beds provide under-the-bed storage.

Beds with bolsters can serve ascouches for teen children.

Children Sharing a Room

Bigger and more bathrooms is the trend today. They are also more attractive and personal.◦ Water closet: toilet◦ Lavatory: sink

Vanity base or wall-hung unit

Bathrooms

Half bath: has only a toilet and sink

Three-quarters bath: has a toilet, sink, and a shower.

Full bath: includes a toilet, sink, and a tub with or without a shower.

Types of Baths

Should be located near the living areas of the home as well as the sleeping areas.◦ If only one bath, it should be centrally located for

all rooms.

2 story homes and split-level homes should have at least 1 ½ baths.◦ A full bath upstairs in the sleeping area and a ½

bath downstairs near the living and service areas.

Location

Ranch homes with bedrooms located away from the living and service areas also need

1 ½ half baths.

Houses with four or more bedrooms are more functional with two or more bathrooms.

Depends on number of people who will be using the bathroom and the activities that will take place in it.◦ Bathing, applying makeup, dressing, etc.

Clearance space around a water closet from the middle of the stool to either side should be at least 16”.

The clearance space to allow in front of the stool should be at least 24”.

The clearance space between the front of the tub and the opposite wall should be at least 30-42”.

Size

Toilets: can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted.

Sinks: can come in a vanity base or as a wall-hung unit. ◦ Vanities are good for storage of grooming

supplies.

Bathtubs/Showers: Most bathtubs have a shower head placed above. Some bathtubs have Jacuzzi jets. ◦ Some houses have just a shower in one bathroom and

then a tub/shower in another.

Standing showers (w/ no tub) are cheaper when building a house because they require less space.

Whirlpools: At least 30 to 42in. clearance is needed for enter/leaving whirlpool.◦ Skip proof steps are placed outside of whirlpool.

An exhaust fan or a window can provide ventilation.

Electrical switches controlling fans and lights should be placed so they cannot be reached from the tub.

Wall surfaces should be waterproof and easy to clean. ◦ Paint should resist soil and water.

Heat & Moisture Considerations

Adjustable shelves, clothing rods, etc. Doorways should be at least 3 feet wide to

accommodate a wheelchair. Beds should be firm to allow easy transfer

between bed and wheelchair.◦ May be adjustable to allow different mattress

positions. Clothing rods should be 40-48” above the

closet floor for wheelchair users.

Adaptations for Special Needs: Bedrooms

Tilting the mirror forward or mounting it lower so individuals in a wheelchair can look into it-or installing a full length mirror.

Medicine cabinets should be placed at a lower level.

Sink vanities should allow knee space for individuals in a wheelchair.

Installing handle bars near toilet. Install fold-away seats in shower, some showers

are made so a wheelchair can fit in it. Skid-proof steps and floor of tubs prevents slips.

Adaptations for Special Needs: Bathrooms