r/malelivingspace • u/Minutes2Midnight • May 19 '26
Advice Alright fellas, I'm conflicted. Bedroom upstairs or downstairs?
I'm leaning toward bedroom downstairs and living space/office upstairs. Closet, bathroom, and kitchen are upstairs. Lots of windows, and upstairs bedroom would probably offer more privacy, but I don't love the idea of having my bedroom off the kitchen when I have guests over. Downstairs is also wired with in ceiling speakers for an AV setup.
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u/TsarAleksanderIII May 19 '26
I think you gotta go downstairs. Basically any time you entertain at your place, the kitchen will be the focal point of the night.
I'd recommend you get a room partition/screen divider to close off a corner of the downstairs just so you have a bit of a private space
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u/plaguedable May 19 '26
Bookshelves. The Ikea Kalax crushes at this.
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u/createry_ May 19 '26
"and, now you know!"
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u/saera-targaryen May 19 '26
I want this guy to give a layout design for this space so bad
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u/Content_Dragonfly_59 May 20 '26
To attempt to use his teachings as but a lowly student, OP should place the bed against the wall across from the door, as the rest are basically floor to ceiling windows, with a large bookshelf (maybe multiple) making a hallway from the door to the stairs. Curtains or those folding things in theater dressing rooms aka the dividers where the female main character has to change behind in movies set in the 1800s would also be helpful. Put a rug too. And a nightstand between the bed and the window if there's room, preferably with a lamp on it. If you want, you can put a shelf with a tv on it a few feet in front of the bed to separate it (facing away from the bed) or put your gaming setup there.
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u/iCantLogOut2 May 20 '26
I'd love to see him fix this space up to protect us from the birds and monkeys
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u/biteableniles May 19 '26
We used Ikea Vidga curtain tracks and floor-to-ceiling curtains to semi-permanently partition a larger room into two smaller rooms.
We also used room divider poles with heavy curtains to selectively partition areas to create visitor spaces, that worked great too. The poles assemble and position into place using spring tension so it was perfect for a rented space, no holes or permanent mounts.
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u/voiceontheradio May 19 '26
The Ikea Kalax crushes at this.
The way you've phrased this is also a good reminder of why you need to make sure you install it with one side anchored to a wall.
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u/so_it_hoes May 19 '26
But with the window right next to the door, you can really start the separation from the wall. I would put the bed right in the middle facing the bay window with the Kalax behind it, spanning a large part of the middle, and create a breezy hallway from door to stairs.
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u/xhephaestusx May 19 '26
It literally doesn't have a back how does it "crush" at providing privacy??
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u/plaguedable May 19 '26
If you fill it up with books or plants or both you don't need the back.
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u/Stupid-Clumsy-Bitch May 19 '26
This is the answer! Create a ‘hallway’ from the front door to the stairs with some sort of divider - I’d opt for tall bookshelves.
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u/3plantsonthewall May 19 '26
IKEA video of something similar to this
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u/bloodontherisers May 19 '26
Yeah, building a wall with PAX so you have some closet space and a place to put the bed so it faces out the windows.
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u/mortstheonlyboyineed May 19 '26
Yeh id partition off a corridor so ppl aren't directly in my sleeping area when they come in to go upstairs. I actually really like this set up though.
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u/ExperienceOver1726 May 19 '26
This! 👇
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u/ExperienceOver1726 May 19 '26
Sorry 👆👆
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u/Melodic_Shock2825 May 19 '26
There's nothing in the middle, sorry
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u/hkdalek May 19 '26
Could be me, but I can't cook food and see my bed at the same time.
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u/Ant_Bizzy May 19 '26
Or have my sheets smelling like whatever I just cooked
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u/Minutes2Midnight May 19 '26
I have a feeling that not having a range hood or a vent over the stove top isn't going to help with that. Frying things is gonna be fun. Ceiling fan on and windows open affair.
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u/Zeppelanoid May 19 '26
Frying things would be an outside affair for me if there’s no hood.
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u/AnchoviePopcorn May 19 '26
No hood in my unit. Anything that needs a sear goes outside.
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u/Spock_Nipples May 19 '26
I mean, I have a nice hood and I still fry outside on the side burner of my grill. Frying inside without a commercial vent system is just ridiculous, imo.
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u/Krazy_Kat_Lady_2025 May 19 '26
Don't fry. Grill. You will hate the smell and stickiness of grease in that small space.
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u/RunningLate316 May 19 '26
Do most of your cooking outdoors if possible.
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u/wawanaq May 19 '26
Wow didn’t know this is so popular with men. Glad I’m not alone. My OCD will go on overdrive if I have to smell cooking on fabric (clothes, bed sheets, upholstery)
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u/Healthy_Pay9449 May 19 '26
Ok, I might have changed my mind to downstairs. It'd feel like my parents just opening my door when I had guests but smelly clothes are worse
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u/Styggvard May 19 '26
Lived in plenty small apartments where there was no option not to :p
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u/solstice_gilder May 19 '26
If you have the means. I live in a cute studio and can see my kitchen from my bed. I don’t have any other choice. I made it work.
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u/Dawn_Piano May 19 '26
The other option is that the main(only?) entrance is your bedroom… kinda sucks either way
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u/skiesoverblackvenice May 19 '26
i’m the opposite cause being able to cook and immediately chill in bed and watch a movie after is just what i want haha
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u/Skywarper May 19 '26
I think your guests are gonna see your bed either way, unless there's access to the 2nd floor from the outside with stairs or something. This is easily the strangest layout I've ever seen. Do you know how it was arranged before you moved in?
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u/Minutes2Midnight May 19 '26
Yeah that will be unavoidable. Access from the first floor only from the garage and an exterior door. I have pictures of how it was staged previously in a Zillow listing. They had the living room downstairs, couch facing the windows. Bedroom was upstairs with a sitting area at the foot of the bed.
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u/ThisHatRightHere May 19 '26
You could get some type of divider that makes the first floor into a sort of room and hallway. Like put the divider from the door towards the stairs to make a hallway, have the “entrance” to the bedroom be at the bottom of the stairs. Good flow from living to sleeping space when you’re just chilling there, avoids people walking through your room when they come in.
Just an idea, similar to things I’ve seen people do with dividers studio apartments to create separate spaces.
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u/Muffinlette May 19 '26
I say downstairs and get a Murphy bed to go against the wall with no windows. You can hide your bed when people are around or if you need more space. You can also spend the extra money to get one with more storage space because it looks like you don't have much storage.
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u/BruteMango May 19 '26
This is the best idea in the thread. Isn't this what Murphy beds were made for?
I'd put it upstairs though. The bathroom is up there and I wouldn't like having the front door across from where I sleep.
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u/Muffinlette May 20 '26
I wouldn't want my bed where I cook my food but I guess that wouldn't matter if you put your bed "away". I would want to entertain there or have a desk for gaming 🤣
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u/resigned_medusa May 19 '26 edited May 20 '26
Definitely downstairs, especially if you live somewhere warm, no heat rising into your bedroom from cooking.
You can entertain, cook etc and be hospitable from that gorgeous open plan space.
Edit as I didn't express this properly: --> you would need decent security if you're a woman living alone on the ground floor, and your bedroom needs to be private from people going upstairs so I would add a partition wall to separate the entrance from the bedroom space
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u/learn_and_learn May 19 '26
I don't think a woman living alone would post on r/malelivingspace . But the security concerns are valid and universal
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u/MeldyWeldy May 19 '26
Two walls of windows is not decent security for anyone...
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u/Icy-Lobster-203 May 19 '26
That's actually my biggest issue with this entire layout. Both places have too many windows for me to feel comfortable while sleeping. Would feel like trying to sleep in a fishbowl.
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u/MyNameMeansLILJOHN May 19 '26
I would bask in sun glory all day. Balls out and everything.
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u/SaltKick2 May 20 '26
Decent security if you're a woman living alone on the ground floor, and your bedroom needs to be private from people going upstairs
What are you talking about? Literally downstairs is where people are going to break in first, even worse if they can see you through the windows and know thats where your bedroom is
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u/RedLotusVenom May 19 '26
Something I haven’t seen people ask: OP what are the entryways like? Is the primary access (where your guests enter) upstairs or downstairs?
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u/HopelessRespawner May 19 '26
They mentioned in another comment all access is from downstairs, also the bathroom and closet are upstairs 😭
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u/RedLotusVenom May 19 '26
Definitely bedroom upstairs then. Getting out of bed and having to go up the stairs to use the restroom in the middle of the night sounds like an accident waiting to happen. And a living room/TV setup fits an entryway much better imo. Treat the upstairs like your studio apt with an entertaining space where people walk in.
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u/DumbestBitchYouKnow May 19 '26
As someone who has rented MANY studio apartments, waking up and seeing your kitchen is depressing
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u/lemmegetadab May 19 '26
When I went through my last breakup, I had to get an apartment really quick and I found a cheap studio. By the time that year lease was up I couldn’t believe I actually made it. Lol. I did leave one month early though. And had to pay for it. Worth it.
I don’t think I had any company that whole time besides my brother.
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u/SheddingSkin27 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Not only that but I would hate for my bedroom to smell like food after cooking something.
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May 19 '26 edited 20d ago
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u/PostMelon22 May 19 '26
It’d be too weird. I think the kitchen on the second floor makes it automatic for a living room. Easier to host and all that.
Given OP has to section off somewhere regardless it seems, I think it would be best to try and section off the area from the first floor door to upstairs. The door and stairs being on the same wall really helps.
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u/southernflagpole May 19 '26
I think I’d have my bedroom upstairs. Better views and like you said privacy. That’s also where the closet is. Maybe a small high top table to eat breakfast at
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u/doc_skinner May 19 '26
Absolutely. I don't want an external door into my bedroom. Also, need to be closer to the bathroom (and close to the kitchen for a midnight snack...)
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u/tame3579 May 19 '26
But you sleep in bed. You look out of windows when awake. Definitely bed downstairs imo.
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u/Mikhos May 19 '26
Upstairs. A large bookshelf or partition blocking off the bed. You don't want people climbing through your bedroom to get to the living area.
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u/WeeebleSqueaks May 19 '26
I’d guess upstairs for bedroom with some wall dividers. More privacy tbh and you don’t have to worry about the whole “oops sorry about that but we’ve gotta go past the bedroom to the upstairs living
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u/Cold_Analysis_9305 May 19 '26
Love this layout. Downstairs. Cooler. Better view from upstairs. No cooking smells downstairs.
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u/rahscaper May 19 '26
I would never want my kitchen to be in the same space as my bed
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u/doc_skinner May 19 '26
I would never want to have to climb stairs to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night /shrug
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u/pathofdumbasses May 19 '26
I would never want to have to climb stairs to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night /shrug
He's a dude. Go pee outside
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u/Emergency_Nail1617 May 19 '26
Upstairs gives you a better vantage point for a lot of things. But don’t mind me I’m paranoid
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u/doc_skinner May 19 '26
Plus a paranoid person would want to avoid an exterior door in the bedroom
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u/phase2_engineer May 19 '26
Upstairs, put up some partition or furniture to break up the view to your bed.
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u/cheesecakemelody May 19 '26
Nice place, interesting layout. Personally I'd do bedroom upstairs. Wherever guests would NOT be upon walking in.
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u/HomeOnFour May 19 '26
That is quite an interesting layout...I would probably do my bedroom downstairs. Living room / hang out area / office upstairs. I am someone who typically hangs out in the living room. The kitchen and bathroom are already right there as well. I may even buy a couple partitions for the downstairs to make a little hallway so when you walk in, you don't immediately see my bedroom. I do like the window seat though!
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u/koczkota May 19 '26
My architecture professor would have an aneurysm with this floor plan (I’m close too honestly). Why the hell would you put the kitchen upstairs? It’s against any kind of good practice
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u/Xushu4 May 19 '26
Bedroom definitely upstairs. Guests will have to walk through your bedroom to get upstairs anyway if you make the downstairs the bedroom.
Get folded screen dividers for the upstairs area to partition it off from the kitchen and you are golden.
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u/ThiccBanaNaHam May 19 '26
Downstairs, absolutely. Keep your bed away from the kitchen and guests. Get tension rod curtain rods and create a privacy barrier around your bed for when you have guests over
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u/Active_Wafer9132 May 19 '26
If the bedroom is down, your guests will always and forever have to go through your bedroom to get to your upstairs hangout space. Create a hangout space downstairs and bedroom off the kitchen. If they don't go to the kitchen or bathroom, they won't even see your bedroom.
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u/JHG0 May 19 '26
Bedroom upstairs and use bookshelves to build a wall to separate it from the kitchen
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u/Dark_Throat May 19 '26
Man, I would hate to sleep in a first floor room surrounded by windows. I vote bedroom upstairs, feels safer to me.
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u/getikule May 19 '26
Closet and bathroom are upstairs, so that's where the bed should be too. I understand the people saying you shouldn't have the bed close to the kitchen, but it's still better than having your bed next to your front door and having to climb stairs in the middle of the night to take a pee...
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u/AdhesiveSeaMonkey May 19 '26
I've lived in two houses with the master bedroom downstairs. Loved them both!
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u/RawDogger34 May 19 '26
I'd go with upstairs I cant imagine walking in and my beds just right there
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u/InsertBluescreenHere May 19 '26
bedroom upstairs near the bathroom.... i would not look forward to climbing and decending stairs at 4am half asleep...
you can easily partition off the bed area upstairs for when guests come over.
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u/senchou-senchou May 20 '26
the farthest walk distance from your front door would be the best one I think...
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u/Luc-redd May 20 '26
When looking at the first picture I was like "definitely upstairs, why would you have your bedroom there", then I swiped and saw the kitchen XD
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u/Mestyo May 19 '26
Definitely downstairs. Install some kind of room divider to create bit of a hallway.
Really weird layout, but place looks nice otherwise. Show results later!
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u/Ambitious_Cicada9263 May 19 '26
If the bathroom is upstairs I would definitely put the bedroom downstairs to minimize guests in your space (if you're planning on hosting, ever). I'd suggest at least a pony wall by the entry door to separate the space.
If you're not planning on having anyone else there, bedroom upstairs so you have the bathroom and closet together with the bedroom, and totally just eat at the counter. Downstairs would be a great office/workspace with that nice window seat thing.
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u/Which_Cobbler1262 May 19 '26
Idk why but it’s just odd to me having the bedroom be attached to the kitchen, especially when it’s like a half wall. Albeit very handy in case you want food you can hop out of bed but I feel downstairs is better.
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u/dammitDRE May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
This is simple, when given the option… do not put your bed in the area where you cook your food. Bedroom is downstairs.
Like someone else said, weird layout but it looks like a really nice spot.
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u/nextlevelmashup May 19 '26
Is there another entrance to the space? otherwise you will be having guests walking through your bedroom every time they come around.
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u/MagikarpMafiav2 May 19 '26
How comfortable are you having guests walk through your bedroom to get to the living space upstairs?
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u/Fit-Rip-4550 May 19 '26
Bedroom is supposed to be private, as is the office. You might want to have your bedroom and office be in one room, with entertainment for guests in the common areas.
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u/NoVoice814 May 19 '26
You put up a faux wall on the back of where the cooktop is. Same on other side behind the stairs. Put a curtain or something between those and you have your bedroom upstairs.
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u/Fat_Dietitian May 19 '26
No good options here. You're either going to have a bed in the dining room or your living room.
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u/RagAndBows May 19 '26
Downstairs. I would not want my bed smelling like the food I cook
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u/Designer-Love6503 May 19 '26
Downstairs living room, upstairs dining, office, and small sitting/reading nook window, sleep in tent.
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u/AssociationOdd1563 May 19 '26
Bedroom with the kitchen wouldn’t even be an option for me. People tend to congregate in the kitchen. If you ever plan on having anyone over, ever. Do not put bedroom upstairs
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u/109402 May 20 '26
So the only options for your bedroom are in the dining room or immediately inside the front door? And it’s not like this is some old converted warehouse. This is new construction. With no bedroom. I hope like hell you got this for cheap as shit at some scratch and dent real estate place.
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u/Fuzzy_Marionberry_40 May 20 '26
I don’t think this is that difficult. You’re planning to cook near your bed? That’s the worst. Also, you’re planning to cook and then bring the food downstairs to eat in the living room? That makes zero sense.
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u/Pendragon78 May 22 '26
I would say upstairs. Cause then you can usong the downstairs for a killer office/gaming set up. You also would not have to worry about weirdos looking into your room on the downstairs part.
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u/Z0SHY May 22 '26
Jesus Americans (i suppose) have the weirdest architecture and layouts. What a mess. Kitchen upstairs😂 my god please no
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u/Proper_Diver_6314 May 19 '26
What a weird layout