Bedroom
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Whether in a house or apartment, a bedroom is usually a place reserved for sleeping (among other activities). Key furniture items usually found there include beds and bedding, chests of drawers, wardrobes and bedside tables.
The majority of bedrooms – from the humble to the lavish – tend to be simple affairs, a throwback perhaps to Victorian attitudes to sleeping accommodation which was widely thought should be kept simple for both hygienic and aesthetic reasons.
Today, most adults’ bedrooms contain a double bed whereas a child’s bedroom will have one or more single beds, or perhaps even a bunk-bed if space is at a premium. Many adults’ and children’s bedrooms will also contain a TV.
The young person’s bedroom is typically a multi-functional space that is more than just for sleeping: it also doubles up as a place for study and play. Given that most youngsters’ bedrooms will have a PC or laptop, the space may also function as a living room for the young person and their friends.
[edit] Historical development
The bedroom as it is known today developed from its early beginnings in Tudor times and resulted from the interplay of two key factors. The first was the introduction of brick-built chimneys brought about by the availability of locally produced bricks at a fraction of the price of stone. This in turn hastened the demise of the large, open-hearthed hall which had originated in medieval times. Introducing a brick chimney rising through the upper regions of the hall allowed short spans between external walls and the chimney. This allowed the creation of accommodation on the upper floor which could be carved up into sleeping quarters. The second prevailing factor at this time was the increasing taste for privacy. Therefore, bedrooms as we know them today have their origins in the late 14th century.
The tradition of having bedrooms on the upper floors of houses continued right through Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods, through to the modern day.
[edit] Bedroom design
There are a few key rules to bear in mind when designing bedrooms, if they are to be fit for purpose.
A double-bedroom needs to be able to accommodate either a double bed or, as an alternative arrangement, two single beds. There must also be space for a wardrobe (freestanding or in the form of a built-in cupboard) that is a minimum of 550mm deep, with 600mm of running space per person. There should also be a chest of drawers and a bedside table. For multiple-occupancy bedrooms, there should be sufficient space for a single bed and a bedside table for each occupant.
Beds require space around them for making: for a 900mm-wide single bed, a minimum width of 350-400mm should be allowed for on one side at least. Whereas for a 1500mm-wide double bed it is advisable to ensure a 700mm-wide minimum access on either side of the bed.
Given the plethora of available electrical goods that can be used in a bedroom – bedside lamp, clock radio, hairdryer, vacuum cleaners etc, it is advisable to ensure the correct provision of electrical outlets. Currently, it is considered that a main bedroom should have three double-socket outlets, with two seen as the minimum. Single bedrooms are usually provided with two double outlets. Study bedrooms should have a minimum of two while single bedsit rooms ideally should have three double-sockets to accommodate the additional requirements of cooking, washing etc.
In the UK, the provision of bedrooms in a dwelling is the main indicator of size and is thus an important yardstick of measurement and the available space. A one-bedroom home is more likely to be a flat than a house, while a four-, five- or six-bedroomed dwelling is almost certainly likely to be a house. In continental Europe, the yardstick of a dwelling’s size is usually given by square metres of floorspace rather than number of bedrooms.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Apartment.
- British post-war mass housing.
- Building.
- Bungalow.
- Decent homes standard.
- Domestic building.
- Dwelling.
- Flat definition.
- Home ownership.
- Household.
- Housebuilder.
- Housing associations.
- Housing standards review.
- Master bedroom renovations.
- Minimum bedroom size proposals.
- Minimum space standards.
- Residential definition.
- Smart home.
- Terraced houses and the public realm.
- The future of housing.
- The history of fabric structures.
- Types of dwelling.
Featured articles and news
STEM ambassadors needed for ICE CityZen award.
Digital gaming competition for UK students aged 16 to 18.
Heritage protection in England vs Australia.
Fire doors and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
Three-quarters of fire doors fail inspections
UN International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
The role of geoparks, biospheres and world heritage sites.
BSRIA conference 2022, June 23.
Just one month to go ! Find out more here.
Restoring Broadbent’s Bath House
A new gallery for the University of Huddersfield.
Corruption in the construction industry.
What will it take to stop it ?
To celebrate world bee day 2022 !
Just one month until the changes to part L come into effect.
Not forgetting part F and the new part overheating part O.
Heat Pump demand rises by one quarter.
As energy prices jump up in cost.
With people in the UK from Ukraine.
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.