how to best use all 5 bedrooms (xposted in mindful home)

[Adamsmama]

Ok -- I think you ladies are pretty creative and realistic so I would like some opinions. If you lived in a 5 bedroom (3 up, 1 down+MB) what would you do? The MB has a bathroom connected and is right next to a small bedroom and full bathroom (smallest in the house). The upstairs consists of 3 very large bedrooms and a laundry room. We are expecting our 4th ... our 2 boys share a room, DD has her own room, baby will probably room with us for a while, like DD did and then eventually have own room or share with DD if she's a girl.

So ... right now 2 of the rooms aren't being used ... one has a bunch of toys in it but it isn't played in because it is upstairs and the kids like to all be with us all the time and will only play up there if I go up and sit with them and there is no where to sit up there (no furniture), the other room used to be my oldest son's room but now is completely empty (no furniture and really nothing in it). I hate going upstairs ... it feels dirty, messy, unorganized ... our downstairs is so uncluttered and nice ... laundry gets piled upstairs in the hallway because I can't keep up.

I would like all the rooms to be utilized and have a purpose.
Any ideas???

[sunshineafterrain]

I was just replying to another thread about a family closet, that seems like it would work since your laundry is on the same floor as the extra bedrooms

For the 2nd room, maybe a toy storage room as opposed to a playroom- a place to keep toys to be rotated into the main play space

I also think a hobby room would be awsome, a place where you could leave projects out and not worry about how it looks

Or if your children are young a gross motor room would be cool too- a place to ride little trikes, bounce, tumble, climb...not sure how great that would sound from downstairs...a nice carpet would absorb alot

Good luck!

[BarefootScientist]

The upstairs is where your family closet will be? I'd probably use the upstairs as sleeping space then - maybe your DH and your room, then a girl room and a boy room or whatever configuration. Then downstairs (I assume this is where you are most of the time when you're awake) you could use those rooms for hobby space, jumping around space, playroom, guest room, whatever. I'd probably stick a guest bed in the master and use the rest of the space in there for hobby and office space. Then use the smaller one as a toy room or something. I like having kids playing and sleeping on the same floor as I am though...I wouldn't like the playroom upstairs while I was working in the kitchen downstairs. That might be just me.

Good luck!

[brittneyscott]

I agree with the idea of having all sleeping space upstairs. Girls room, boys room, your room for the 3 upstairs. Then use the downstairs for hobby rooms and playroom.

[zoebird]

i would do all of the sleeping upstairs, and then use the larger room downstairs as a play/crafting room (the master). the smaller room downstairs can have many uses such as a home office, or a larger pantry (if you would need something like that), or even just a room for extra storage if you need that.

[artemis33]

I'm with Zoe and other PPs....I'd put all the bedrooms upstairs, use the smallest room downstairs as an office/guest bedroom (with a pull out sofa bed or a pop up trundle set up as a day bed) and the larger downstairs bedroom as playroom/craft area. That may not be desirable if there is only one bathroom upstairs though....

[Adamsmama]

Update:
I talked with DH. I want to thank you for all your great ideas. I loved the 3 bedrooms upstairs idea but DH wouldn't go for it and didn't think it was realistic because there is only one smallish bathroom upstairs and wouldn't be attached to our room either (attached to another smaller upstairs bedroom ... our furniture wouldn't fit in that particular one). So we decided to buy some inexpensive sofas and we divided the large bonus room/bedroom upstairs into a living area with our tv that was in our bedroom and our desk was moved here, as well, and then the other half has all the kids toys. The toys are kept in the 2nd half of the room (bedhind the sofas) but there is still plenty of play room and the kids love it because if we're up there -- they would rather be up there. I think the smallest bedroom will be made into a nursery after the baby gets here between the time he/she is rooming with us and rooming with siblings (we cosleep for the first 4 months or so and do part-time co-sleeping until the first year, usually). Thanks for the helpful ideas!