Have you ever wondered why bedrooms are usually upstairs?
Bedrooms are often upstairs because they are private from guests and other people in the house.
However, this is just the beginning. To go more in-depth and to explain this phenomenon and paint an entire picture – read on.
Why Are Bedrooms On The Top Floor?
Let’s start with the most obvious reason your bedroom is probably upstairs – privacy. It makes sense that a public area, meaning where your guests and most people in your household are the closest to the entrance.
When your guests enter your home, they need to find the living room and the toilet. These are the rooms they will use the most. If they are downstairs and away from your bedrooms, there will be no need to worry about anyone snooping around.
It would be difficult for everyone to climb the stairs every time they visit you, especially if your bedrooms were downstairs. It would make very little sense. If you wish to relax or sleep, you need to do so in a place where you can’t hear the people, TV, or any music blasting from the speakers.
The second reason is that it’s just easier to equip your kitchen and living room downstairs. Just imagine how difficult it would be to carry cupboards, stoves, or kitchen islands upstairs. And every time you wanted to use the kitchen, you would have to go upstairs.
We assume you spend more time outside of your house or in the living room – when you aren’t cooking in the kitchen. It makes sense those areas you visit often should be easily accessible and close to the front door and each other.
Security is another reason behind this decision. If you had an intruder in your home, you would much rather have him be away from you for as long as possible and have a place to hide or feel safe. It is harder to access the top floor.
According to Feng shui, a Chinese pseudoscientific practice, bedrooms should be away from the door – especially the front door because your energy, or your Chi, would be pulled out during the night.
This practice claims that if bedrooms are upstairs, they bring out the yin energy – a calming, relaxing environment. Even if you are not a believer, you can try out some of the rules Feng shui has to offer – you might notice a change.
Additionally, the warm air moves up during the cold winter months, providing your bedrooms with just enough heat to sleep well. Read more about how human evolution influences the decision to have bedrooms upstairs.
Should Bedrooms Be Upstairs Or Downstairs?
It is definitely to have bedrooms upstairs unless you, as a parent, wish to keep an eye on everything. But that’s what the Master bedroom is for.
People with health issues due to age or illness and who cannot climb the stairs should often have bedrooms downstairs. Someone who can’t move properly and can get seriously injured by falling should not climb upstairs every night.
Children who often get up during the night or sleepwalk are also at risk of getting injured if they fall down the stairs, especially if you only have a downstairs toilet and need to use it often.
However, if you are healthy and do not need such conditions, your bedroom should be upstairs due to the other essential factors we explained above.
Where Should Bedrooms Be Located?
The best location is in the back of the house or behind the centerline of the house. Bedrooms that face east will be cooler late afternoon and evening, making them more comfortable for summer sleeping.
Ask yourself if you are an early bird or not since these rooms will be the first ones to feel the sunlight and will be cooler in the afternoon. If your bedroom faces north, you will have consistent light during the whole day.
Your room could get warmer than your liking, so consider getting some shades or curtains. West-facing bedrooms are at risk of overheating later in the afternoon but will still have enough light during the day.
Don’t sleep in a room facing South for several reasons: first of all, you will have low levels of daylight – so if you are working in your room, you will probably be bothered by this; you will also have little to no heat gain.
South-facing rooms are the most suitable for rooms people don’t spend much time in. for example, they will be perfect for laundry rooms, bathrooms, and garages – not living rooms or kitchens, and not bedrooms.
If you are interested in design and location to find the perfect layout for you, check out this website.
Where Is The Master Bedroom?
A master bedroom is a room where the head of the household sleeps, typically larger and better furnished than other bedrooms. Just think of Master Wayne and his enormous villa – the Master bedroom was upstairs, but he didn’t leave when he started limping!
Master bedrooms are often downstairs so that the parents whose children sleep upstairs can control the household.
They are the closest to the kitchen to get up in the morning and have coffee without bothering their children. They can also keep an eye on their garden or driveway.
Considering such a house where people live with their children, we should pay attention to future possibilities. Once the parents grow older, they won’t have to climb the stairs to go to bed.
Older people also need a warmer environment, so the warmth from the kitchen and the living room will be felt a lot more downstairs. This will help reduce illnesses and other potential dangers.
The worst bedroom locations are above the garage, kitchen oven, main bathroom, or a busy home office. In the layout of the actual bedroom, it is best to avoid a big window directly aligned with the bedroom door as this will lead to a loss of energy.
It is also essential to be mindful of the relationship of doors and windows inside the bedroom; at least, that’s what Feng shui says!
Next Steps
If the Master bedroom is upstairs, where the walls are often less insulated and not as thick, especially if the floor was built, later on, there could be problems with the draft, and the room could be much colder than the rest of the house.
This is not healthy for older people and needs to be inspected. Homes have now been built with the Master bedroom downstairs for about the last 15 years. It has become the norm of what people expect to get for the price of their new.
Most buyers prefer the master bedroom on the first floor, and it is an important thing when it comes to the house’s value. It is essential to consider your age, plans for the future, children, illnesses or diseases, and sensitivities when deciding on the bedroom position.
It is a great option to have it downstairs – Having a master bedroom on the first floor is ideal for aging in one place and remaining safe and comfortable in your home without dealing with stairs. It allows you easy and secure access to the rooms you use every day as well as the entrance.
We’ve compiled a complete list of frequently asked bedroom questions for new and experienced homeowners.
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For over a decade, Robin has been a real estate agent, interior design specialist, and mother. Through her trials and tribulations, she wanted to create the perfect website to help you save money and make your home look beautiful.