Help for narrow master Ensuite above garage

last month

last modified: last month

We are about to start building our double storey side extension in April onto the side of our standard 3 bed semi. When we 1st got the plans drawn up we believed we’d have a 2.5m width but it turns out the architects measurements were slightly wrong and we actually only have around 2.3m width to build out on to. Those extra 20cms make a difference on a narrow room.

I've attached the layout with measurements and I'm looking for anyones advice/tips on how to make best use of the space. I need to fit in ideally a kingsize bed with 2 small bedside tables and then if I've got space I’d love like a small walk through wardrobe that leads on to the very narrow ensuite. I will need to take into account the doorway into the room from the stairs but I cant find any free space planners that I can get to work well enough to show me what I can fit into the space and being a visual person I'm finding it hard to see if this will work.

We want the children to have the more spacious rooms as they play etc in their rooms so this will have to work and I'm happy to just have the bed and bedside tables wardrobe etc as this room will only be somewhere we sleep, change, wash etc.

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Comments (27)

Isla Cherry
last month
last modified: last month
As the width of the bed 1800mm kingsize is less than the length approx. 2000mm I don't think you can place the bed anywhere else except under the window as then you have the length. If you turned it through 90deg it won't work. That leaves you with very little space for bedside tables only about 250mm each side. You may have to only have one or consider a shallow shelf over the bed on which to place your necessities. I would consider a chest or similar item along the wall opposite the door. It's going to be very tight. If you change the type of door to your ensuite to a pocket or sliding door you will have more space for a wardrobe. I would change the access door style for the same reason. From your plan I am assuming that the 2100mm dimension is part of the third bedroom?
Jen S
last month
This is my friend’s house (30s semi) - the bedroom off the main bedroom has since been changed to their en suite.
The two kids rooms above the garage are small but they quite like having their own “wing” - the smallest one has a cabin bed with desk space etc underneath.
Just wondered if something like this was possible for you as an alternative?
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rinked
last month
Jen S' post is the best idea. And if you are set on having an ensuite, bedroom 1 should become the master bedroom and bed 3 could be turned into an ensuite.
debee20
Original Author
last month
As mentioned in my post thats not an option for us. this is the layout we are going for and we want the children to have the larger rooms.

i asked for advice or tips on how to make best use of the narrow space for ourselves rather than ppl telling me how i should give that space to the kids instead.
Jen S
last month
@debee20, I’m sorry - I do see that. My friend actually moved from another house on the same road to the one I showed above - her old house had this layout which is similar to yours and they used the bedroom above the garage as a spare room - unfortunately as others have said it was very narrow and hard to make work properly. They also had no storage in there at all and a desk at the other end for home working - so I could see a tiny en suite potentially being fitted at that end but it still leaves barely any room for wardrobes etc.
rinked
last month
debee20
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
Thank you so much. this is exactly the type of thing i was hoping to see. i get that we will need to think outside the box to get this to work and look nice but as a purely functional room where we sleep wash and dress this is doable. as you've said narrow boats manage it in some form and ive been in plenty of small hotel rooms. i love the way this works. i wanted to use pinks, golds, bieges, wood

etc earthy colours in this room.
debee20
Original Author
last month
debee20
Original Author
last month
I’m happy to use a double bed if needed also to make the space work.
Rosy W
last month
That is very lovely!

Are you able to put a window in the side wall or some sort of roof treatment to get light in and a focal point? If you can, how about moving the en suite to the far end, next to the bathroom, having the wall of wardrobes where the ensuite is and the bed (possibly custom built?) on the right hand wall as you enter the room, facing the new window. There would be little room to get round the end of it but as long as there's space on the far side for dressing, might that be doable?
Rosy W
last month
Sorry, just looked again at the layout. The wardrobes would need to be up the other end, along the wall opp the door and by the ensuite so that the bed area has all the available space to the right of the door. That makes more sense in any case in terms of dressing after showering, etc. I'd make sure the window/roof light is lined up with the bed.
debee20
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
Jen S, didnt mean to sound grumpy there, the childrens bedrooms have already been decorated how they want them as we wanted then settled in bedrooms. They have reading nooks and play with their friends and toys in their rooms. We spend much less time in our bedrooms as adults which is why we are happier to take the smaller narrower room as it works for us. the children also have the large middle room as a playroom which connects semi open plan onto the kitchen/dinnung area weve just had built onto the rear of the house and we have the smaller front room as a tv/sitting room which is mainly used by us adults in the evening once the children are in bed. As the children get older we plan to change that play room into a family room with TV, L-shaped sofa etc. off that room a utility space and downstairs shower room and garage will be built.

this was the only way to get what we needed out of the space we have unfortunately. we didnt realise the side extension would be quite so narrow. we may be able to squeeze a little more space out of it once it gets built but yeah this is what we have to use unfortunately. if we do sell the house at somepoint it would be fairly easy for someone to rejig it internally upstairs as it will just be stud walls separating the rooms. they'd just need to be moved to accommodate. we also have a large garden which we may eventually put a garden room in. the loft space could also be used in the future if needed by anyone who bought the house so there is still plenty of potential for new owners.
debee20
Original Author
last month
debee20
Original Author
last month
debee20
Original Author
last month
rinked
last month
If you are ok with a platform bed, here's an idea that would allow more wardrobe space and a larger shower:
debee20
Original Author
last month
Thank you Rinked. thats a good use of the space available to us. I think we may be best having the shell built and then deciding how we want to cut up the space available. Im a visual person so i find it hard to see how it can be used if its not there in front of me. I do appreciate everyones comments.
Rosy W
last month
The more I think about it the better I think it would be to have the ensuite at the far, left-hand, end. Obvs, big assumption about being able to put a window or roof light of some sort in the new end wall, but the bedroom door could stand open, with the bed hidden behind the door and anyone could nip into the ensuite when there's pressure on the family bathroom.
debee20
Original Author
last month
I think we would have to get planning approval again for a window on the side as it would look onto the neighbours house.
Rosy W
last month
Hmm, yes, and next door's wall is not a nice view in any case! Is there any kind of roof treatment instead? Unconventional possibly but something that would let light in and provide something to look at, even if its only clouds!
debee20
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
above the room would be the loft space so not sure that would work either unfortunately
debee20
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
I’m absolutely blown away Ursa, this is utterly beautiful and a fantastic use of the space. Wow, you are truly fantastic ❤️