Who here has a downstairs Master Bedroom?

[Aimeedyan]

When we bought, we would not look at any house with an upstairs master. It was a dealbreaker for us - and we're not old

Reasons:
- poor resale value. You can't sell homes in our area that have upstairs masters
- we wanted privacy once we had older children in the house
- we wanted to be close to the exterior in case something happened (I don't like not hearing what is going on outside)
- DH already has bad knees from years of basketball and a blown kneecap and he'd never be able to walk those stairs for very long
- most laundry rooms we found were downstairs and I don't want to lug my laundry up and down (though some have them upstairs now - which is great!)
- when we have guests, we want them to have their own space upstairs and privacy
- upstairs in a few years will be kid territory so they can be tucked in at night and we can continue to stay up and not bother them; plus the downstairs is always presentable to guests!

Our master is plenty large enough for a basinett or even a crib for when we have a baby so that won't be a big deal. We can get upstairs to a child's room very quickly if we needed to - the stairs are right outside our door.

 

[JennaTX]

I wonder if it is so mommy and daddy can get freaky, lol.

You figured me out, that is why it was a must on my list when looking for a house, lol!

 

[Galahad]

The downstairs bedroom is very popular with older(ish) folks. No stairs on the old creaky knees! As the Baby Boomers get older and start to think about buying their "last" homes, this becomes a big selling point. The same with the roomy bathrooms that are large enough for a wheelchair or walker.

DW has RA and had double knee replacement a few years back. She can still do stairs, but it won't be long before she can't. Originally we were going to put in an elevator. Lately we've been talking about adding a "downstairs bedroom" instead. We take the approach of assuming this IS our last home and we'll just modify it as we need. It is already wheelchair friendly - looked for that when we bought it.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Count us in the bad knees group. DH has osteoarthritis, 11 knee surgeries to date. We're actually looking for a home with 2 bedrooms downstairs as I don't want DD upstairs by herself just yet. Found a nice one yesterday that had 2 downstairs, 2 upstairs. Figured we toss the playroom and guest room upstairs. Once she gets old enough, swap old her bedroom with the guest room. Now to convince DH that he wants to spend that kind of money.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

When we bought, we would not look at any house with an upstairs master. It was a dealbreaker for us - and we're not old

Reasons:
- poor resale value. You can't sell homes in our area that have upstairs masters
- we wanted privacy once we had older children in the house
- we wanted to be close to the exterior in case something happened (I don't like not hearing what is going on outside)
- DH already has bad knees from years of basketball and a blown kneecap and he'd never be able to walk those stairs for very long
- most laundry rooms we found were downstairs and I don't want to lug my laundry up and down (though some have them upstairs now - which is great!)
- when we have guests, we want them to have their own space upstairs and privacy
- upstairs in a few years will be kid territory so they can be tucked in at night and we can continue to stay up and not bother them; plus the downstairs is always presentable to guests!

Our master is plenty large enough for a basinett or even a crib for when we have a baby so that won't be a big deal. We can get upstairs to a child's room very quickly if we needed to - the stairs are right outside our door.

Great points and, but for the knee problems, we bought our 4 bed, master down house for the exact same reasons. For resale in Florida, with so many retirees moving down, a master down home is so much more valuable.

 

[chyam]

The downstairs bedroom is very popular with older(ish) folks. No stairs on the old creaky knees! As the Baby Boomers get older and start to think about buying their "last" homes, this becomes a big selling point. The same with the roomy bathrooms that are large enough for a wheelchair or walker.

I really think this is the reason we are seeing more MBR on the first floor, it lets the older folks stay in their own homes longer, I have also seen homes with a master on the second and on the first floor although the one on the second is oftened referred to as a guest suite. The baby boomers are getting older and it is much easier than having to climb stairs everyday.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My brother in Houston has a awesome downstairs master BR.
It's big with a nice bathroom.
Their kids are 12 & 14 now and still like the BR downstairs.

 

[mom2rb]

In Houston almost all of the houses have the master downstairs. We have been looking at houses right now. The only house, less than 20 years old, that we have seen with the master upstairs, had a huge game room in the middle, kids room on one side , parents room on the other. We are in a one story right now. The boys are getting older and we are looking for more privacy. Besides, between the alarm system and the two big dogs, my boys will have to work extra hard to sneak out.

 

[Pin Wizard]

My home has two master bedrooms. One downstairs, one upstairs. The realtor I went through said that's a plus. Maybe in reselling, but not for me!

In considering making a move, another realtor said that's a plus for the older population looking. They don't have to run up and down the stairs.

Personally, the room downstairs is as large as the upstairs room, but downstairs has a plain ceiling while the room upstairs has a very nice domed ceiling...my room!

I'd MUCH rather have one master...being the Mom and getting the larger room! I really miss my HUGE master I had in FL while my son's room was very small in comparison. Now his room looks larger than mine because his furniture is much smaller. And my current master is way too small compared to what I had in FL.

 

[tw1nsmom]

We're going to end up with the opposite situation. We live in a bungalow with a hip roof. DH is currently making the attic into a master suite. It isn't practical to split it into three bedrooms because of the slant of the roof. Our master suite will have an office/sewing area, two walk-in closets/storage areas, bathroom, sleeping area and small living/tv area.

Right now we only have two bedrooms and the kids are sharing. When we move upstairs, they'll each have their own room. I'm not thrilled with this arrangement. I'd rather that all our bedrooms were on the same floor. Once thing that will ease my mind is that DH is a techno/computer geek, and I know he'll have cameras and alarms all over the first floor. That and our 95 pound black lab/mutt will be sleeping in the hallway between the kids' rooms.

 

[mom2riceboys]

I just moved from a house with the master downstairs and other bedrooms upstairs. I didn't like it. My children are little and it made me nervous with them being upstairs and me downstairs. Maybe I am paranoid, but I always worried about a fire and not being able to get upstairs to get them. Our new house has 5 bedrooms. Three upstairs and two downstairs. When they are older, we have the option to moving to one of the bedrooms downstairs. Also, there is a laundry room on each floor. Makes it nice not to have to carry laundry up or down!

 

[pozey]

Our master bedroom is downstairs and all other bedrooms are upstairs. We probably wouldn't have it any other way. Yeah, we worried a bit about the kids being upstairs, but as they get older, it becomes a plus.

I would guess that the majority of 2 story homes here in this area have downstairs master BRs.

 

[ducklite]

We built a single story home with the sole intention of living in it for many years to come, even as we get older and our mobility is more challenged.

We have a split floorplan, with the master suite on one side of the house, and the other bedrooms on the other side. We altered the floorplan so DS has a "master suite" as well, his bedroom is 13x20 with a large walk-in closet and a private bath.

If I had little ones I wouldn't want to have them so far away. For us it works well, DS's more of a night owl, and is often up until the wee hours, and his TV or video games or phone calls don't wake me up.

Anne

 

[Tuffcookie]

I do. I live in an older, 3 story colonial style home. I designed the mainfloor master suite myself, after my divorce. I made it my personal retreat from being Mom! I can stay up later than DS. It gives me more privacy.
I made sure to include all the things I love, sky lights, ventless fireplace, and a jacuzzi tub.
I'm trying to think up a workable plan for getting my washer/dryer out of the basement upstairs. Then everything I need will be on one floor, for as I get older.

TC

 

[icebrat001]

There are several advantages to a downstairs master. You can catch the kids trying to sneak out, you can get some couple time, when you are old or ill you don't have to climb stairs. There are disadvantages too, what if you can't hear that the little one had a bad dream, or if the nursery is upstairs and you are downstairs that sucks big time. I think a downstairs master is good once the kids are a certain age.

 

[icebrat001]

Also, there is a laundry room on each floor. Makes it nice not to have to carry laundry up or down!

Wow, you have 2 washers and dryers. Now that is cool!