A master suite should be a place where you can go to escape the rest of the world. Most homes have a master suite that consists of the largest bedroom in the house and a bathroom. Some master suites also have a sitting room, balcony, walk-in closet, deck, or other features. If you're renovation your home and get to design your master suite, here are some tips for making the most of your space:
The Bedroom
The focus of the master suite should be the bedroom. It doesn't matter whether you want a soft, serene retreat or a bold, sexy cave-like room - your master suite's bedroom should reflect you. Before you start looking at paint chips and bedspreads, however, you have to determine the layout. There are three main paths you'll be traveling as you walk around the master suite: access to your bathroom, access to your door, and access to your clothing, all from the bed.
The bed will be your largest and most important feature, so place that first in the room to determine the fit. When you walk into the room, you don't want to immediately run into the bed, and you want to be able to access the bathroom quickly, without walking through a maze of furniture. Traditionally, the bed is centered on the wall opposite of the door, but you definitely don't have to choose that placement. The bed can be pushed up against one wall or otherwise off-centered, placed on an angle in the corner of the room, or even placed in the middle of the room.
If your master bedroom is large enough, it often makes sense to separate the room into two different floor plans. The first will be the bed area, and will include the dressers, while the second will serve more as a sitting area or nook, which is a great place for one person to get ready if another person is still sleeping.
The Bathroom
When designing your master suite layout, your bathroom can go in two natural places. The first place is the far end of the suite, away from the entrance. This creates a more private space, though the bathroom won't be as useful if you're in another part of the house. Instead, you can opt to place the bathroom near the entrance of the master suite, which creates the exact opposite effect - the bathroom is less private, but it is more accessible from the rest of the house. Placing the bathroom near the entrance is a good idea if there is only one other bathroom in the house that is shared by multiple people. That way, in the case of a schedule conflict or emergency, your master bathroom can be used without too much invasion of your personal space.
Wherever you place your bathroom, make sure that there is a very clear line from it to your bed. If you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, you don't want to have to maneuver around chairs or dressers in the dark. Don't just think about fixed pieces of furniture, either, since clothing and blankets can easily end up on the bedroom floor. If your have to stumble over the cover you've kicked off the bed to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night, you don't have the best layout possible. Try to predict this when making your floor plan.
Closets and Dressers
The best layout for your master suite is one in which you have more than enough room for all of your clothing. Some houses simply aren't big enough for a walk-in closet, but that doesn't mean that you can't have a large space for your clothing. Like with the bathroom, you want a clear line from the door and bed to the dressers and closets in your room. This is especially important if one partner gets ready in the morning before the other one - clear paths reduce noise.
When designing the layout, consider two closets, even if you don't have a spouse. His and hers closets don't have to be for two separate people. When you have two spaces, through, you can put your current wardrobe in one and off-season wardrobe or coats in the other. You'll also be prepared should you get married someday and the house will be more attractive to buyers in the future if you ever want to sell it.
Doors and Windows
Finally, when designing your master suite layout, be careful as to where you put your doors and windows. Your bedroom is where you'll get dressed, most likely, so you want there to be some sense of privacy without always having to remember to close the curtains. If you have more than one door, such as would be the case if your master suite gives access to an outdoor space, make sure that traffic can flow from one door to the other. Consider yourself lucky if you get to design your master suite from scratch, and work with a professional to fine-tune your design ideas to find the best layout possible for your space and budget.
Posted by: TrustedProsSuggested Reading For You
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