If your family is growing or you’re thinking of taking in an elderly relative, finding extra space for a bed could be necessary. But just how should you make room for an extra bed? Sharing a bedroom may be possible with young kids. If this isn’t practical, you’ll have to choose between renovating or upsizing. This post can help you to find the best solution for your circumstances.

Is sharing a bedroom an option?

If you’re expecting a baby and only have one bedroom, there may be no immediate need to find an extra bedroom. In fact, it’s recommended that infants sleep in the same room as their parents for up to 12 months. Of course, you will eventually need to find a new bedroom.

Siblings can usually share a bedroom when they are young. In fact, there are many benefits to sharing a bedroom. Once kids reach their teens, they will probably want their own space, which could be something to consider. It’s meanwhile advised that boys and girls do not share a room past the age of 10, at which point the older child will want privacy.

Can you add another bedroom to your home?

It’s possible that you may be able to convert an unused room into an extra bedroom. A room that is already converted for living (such as a dining room) will be the cheapest to convert. You may even be able to turn a living room into a temporary bedroom for a guest by buying a sofa-bed. In desperate situations, you could even sacrifice your living room and turn it into a permanent bedroom. 

Attics, basements and garages can also make great extra bedrooms if you have these spaces, although some may require a lot of work to be legally used as a bedroom (such as adding electricity, appropriate flooring and insulation). This is where you will need to start weighing up the cost and disruption of renovating vs upsizing. For most people, converting an attic, basement or garage is less expensive and less disruptive than moving.

An addition is another option. This is likely to be more expensive than converting space, plus you may need to seek permission. However, it could be the best option if you do not want to move, do not have space to convert and have available land to extend upon.

Should you move to a home with additional bedrooms?

If sharing, converting or extending is not an option, you will likely have to move home. Moving to a home with an additional bedroom will typically be more expensive, but there could be ways to reduce the cost.

You could make a home with more bedrooms affordable by moving to a cheaper area. This could mean having to move somewhere a little more remote or generally less attractive, so bear this in mind. When buying a house with more bedrooms, you could also save money by buying a home that needs some work. Make sure to also use a site like iMOVE to help shop for moving quotes so that you’re not spending too much on the move itself.