May
We live in a five bedroom home with six kids. My 11 and 10 year old boys share a room, my 8 year old twins share a room and my 7 and 5 year old each have their own room. My husband and I’ve been debating whether we should put an addition onto our home (most likely 2 more bedrooms, above our attached garage) or have bedrooms made in our basement. We’ve talked about putting walls up and dividing about a quarter of it off into two rooms. It is completed, and currently we use it for some of our children's toys, some exercise equipment and another area that is set up just like our living room upstairs. Our 11 and 10 year old like to hang out down there most often so we could justify giving them rooms down there. What do you think? My husband feels that the basement is “too far away” from the rest of the family. BTW, we’ve a walk-in basement because our house is built into a hill, if that makes it any better.
Answer:
If you feel your children are outgrowing sharing rooms I see nothing wrong with modifying your home to accommodate them. Personally, I think an addition would be the superior idea for the long run. If your boys are in the basement and your all the way upstairs they’ll be able to get away with a lot more as they get to be older. It will be harder to keep an eye on them than if they were upstairs with the rest of your family. However, if that arrangement is more logical and fits the needs of your family better, than go for the basement.
My husband and I lived in a two bedroom ranch home and just recently moved, we never planned to stay permanently. We built a home to fit the needs of our family and it has worked out great. I think a house that accommodates the needs of the entire family is important to the system and how the family functions. Everyone is happier when they have their own place and I think it would be great for your kids.
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Yes, my children share a room. My 16 year old and my 8 year old share, my 13 and 11 year old share and my only son (15) has his own room. I concur with your husband on the basement being so far away. We put my son down there when his baby sister was born 8 years ago and it was so hard. He was just 7. It is great now! I would build on for my children.
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my boys share a room, my girls share a room, and we’ve an extra room that nobody wants because they all prefer sharing. so no need for modifications here….. my husband shared a room as a kid and loved it. i think the concept that kids “need” their own rooms is a sign of a society with way too much money on its hands…..
Answer:
my children love to share a room, and we’ve plenty of extra rooms. Studies have show, children who share a room are more willing to share and compromise. I would never add an addition. Bedrooms are for sleeping in our home, nothing more. My children spend time in their rooms to sleep only. We all hang out together.
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We made those changes two years ago for our children. I have a 10 year old daughter and a 9 year old boy. I'm glad we did, because we don't hear “any more fighting” in one room. I have to be honest with you: even though now every one has their own room, they both hang out in my son's room. LOL !!
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I shared a room and loved it! I personally would give the older kids their own rooms, but I say if the arrangement now is working no need to mend what ain't broken!!
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We’ve a 3br home, with two children (boys) They share a room, and we’ve a guest room. If we ever have more children, somebody will HAVE to share, as an addition is not an option for us. I grew up with four brothers in a three BR house. I shared until I was 12, and got my own room only becasue I was the only girl. My brother moved to the basement, and the other three continues to share one room.
If money isn’t an obstacle for you, then ask the boys what they want to do. I am sure the basement is not too far.
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My sons share a room, and my oldest son & my daughter did share a room, up until 3 years ago. My boys love sharing, and if in the future they do want their space, which I have the ability to comprehend, we’ve two spare bedrooms in our home now, and when they are older, we’ll more than likely have moved into a more massive home anyway.
But, if we don't move, and we didn't have an extra room, no I wouldn't build on to our home to just please them. Their room is huge, and they have plenty of space and are close in age.
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We’ve a 3 bed-room home and currently all three boys share a room. They're not as close in age as your boys, but they all still love it. No one has asked to move to the spare room as of yet (we plan on the spare room becoming the girls room, if we’re blessed with daughters). I don't think sharing is a bad thing. In fact, it brings the kids closer. I shared with my brothers and sisters (all 5 in one room) because we lived in a small apartment. It was cramped, but I couldn't envision having my own room.
If your children ask for it, think about it. But if they're not complaining and don't hate each other, then sharing should be fine. You could save the money to pay for university.
Answer:
It seems like you’ve enough money to do what you want to. But ask yourself how much value would all the building on add to the home.
Also look, at how much use would the rooms add to the house.
Putting your kids a distance from you or giving them their own room to early might leave you with more problems later on.
I think bedrooms in the basement might be the better thing to do because you might feel more comfortable with the children closer to you at this time in their life. As they grow more into a teenager's life then the garage might be a better Solution.