1. Sleeping areas: bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, and nurseries.

2.  Should include sleeping space, storage space for clothes and personal items, and dressing space. ◦ Playing, studying, relaxing, and other activities may also need space.

3.  Each bedroom should have privacy of sight and sound.  Group plan: a floor plan where all the bedrooms are in one area of the home.  Split-bedroom plan: a floor plan where the master bedroom is separated from the remaining bedrooms to provide greater privacy.

4.  A bedroom should be located on the first floor of a two-story house for caring for a sick or elderly person. ◦ Or to transition while aging.  Each bedroom should open into a hallway rather than another room.  A person should not have to pass through a bedroom to get to another room.  Each bedroom should be near a bathroom.

5.  Size of bedrooms depends on number of occupants, their ages, the intended functions of the room besides sleeping and dressing, and the necessary furniture. ◦ Minimum bedroom size: 100 sq. ft.  When arranging furniture in a bedroom, a bed should be placed first since it is the largest and most used piece of furniture in the room. ◦ 22 in. need to be on each side of the bed to allow for room to make it.

6.  Consider windows when positioning a bed. ◦ Early morning light should not shine directly on the bed. ◦ Ventilation should be possible w/out causing a draft across the bed.  Neither the bed or other furniture should interfere with the circulation into the room and to the closet.

7.  Bedside tables should be the same height as the bed’s mattress.  40” is recommended in front of a chest of drawers or a dresser to pull out the drawers.  A 42” dressing circle in needed for dressing.  33in. clearance is recommended in from of a closet.

8.  Recommended location for a closet is adjacent to the room entrance. ◦ This allows a person to reach the closet without walking around furniture.  Closets should be a minimum of 4-6 ft. long and 24-30 in. deep. ◦ Freestanding: (wardrobes/armoires) pieces of furniture. These are not attached or built into the walls. ◦ Walk-in closets should be a minimum of 4 ft. deep.

9.  Recommended location for a door is in a corner of the room so it will not interrupt wall space. ◦ Door should swing into the room and be able to open completely. ◦ To conserve space, pocket doors may be used for the entry, and sliding doors may be used to the closet or patio doors.

10.  Two windows on exterior walls are ideal for cross ventilation.  High ribbon windows are wide, short windows that increase ventilation. ◦ These provide privacy and unrestricted placement of furniture below. ◦ They also prevent drafts from blowing across the bed.

11.  Some master bedrooms offer a conversation area, work area, or private garden in addition to a sleeping area.  Some master bedrooms have an adjourning master bathroom and closet/dressing room.

12.  The bedroom needs of children change as they grow, so future needs should be considered when planning the room. ◦ Young children need plenty of floor space for play. ◦ Older children need more shelves and storage, along with a desk and chair for studying.

13.  An L-shaped room or room dividers can provide privacy for each child.  Twin beds offer flexibility in room arrangements.  Captain beds provide under-the-bed storage.  Beds with bolsters can serve as couches for teen children.

14.  Bigger and more bathrooms is the trend today. They are also more attractive and personal. ◦ Water closet: toilet ◦ Lavatory: sink  Vanity base or wall-hung unit

15.  Half bath: has only a toilet and sink  Three-quarters bath: has a toilet, sink, and a shower.  Full bath: includes a toilet, sink, and a tub with or without a shower.

16.  Should be located near the living areas of the home as well as the sleeping areas. ◦ If only one bath, it should be centrally located for all rooms.  2 story homes and split-level homes should have at least 1 ½ baths. ◦ A full bath upstairs in the sleeping area and a ½ bath downstairs near the living and service areas.

17.  Ranch homes with bedrooms located away from the living and service areas also need 1 ½ half baths.  Houses with four or more bedrooms are more functional with two or more bathrooms.

18.  Depends on number of people who will be using the bathroom and the activities that will take place in it. ◦ Bathing, applying makeup, dressing, etc.  Clearance space around a water closet from the middle of the stool to either side should be at least 16”.  The clearance space to allow in front of the stool should be at least 24”.  The clearance space between the front of the tub and the opposite wall should be at least 30-42”.

19.  Toilets: can be wall-mounted or floor- mounted.  Sinks: can come in a vanity base or as a wall- hung unit. ◦ Vanities are good for storage of grooming supplies.

20.  Bathtubs/Showers: Most bathtubs have a shower head placed above. Some bathtubs have Jacuzzi jets. ◦ Some houses have just a shower in one bathroom and then a tub/shower in another.  Standing showers (w/ no tub) are cheaper when building a house because they require less space.  Whirlpools: At least 30 to 42in. clearance is needed for enter/leaving whirlpool. ◦ Skip proof steps are placed outside of whirlpool.

21.  An exhaust fan or a window can provide ventilation.  Electrical switches controlling fans and lights should be placed so they cannot be reached from the tub.  Wall surfaces should be waterproof and easy to clean. ◦ Paint should resist soil and water.

22.  Adjustable shelves, clothing rods, etc.  Doorways should be at least 3 feet wide to accommodate a wheelchair.  Beds should be firm to allow easy transfer between bed and wheelchair. ◦ May be adjustable to allow different mattress positions.  Clothing rods should be 40-48” above the closet floor for wheelchair users.

23.  Tilting the mirror forward or mounting it lower so individuals in a wheelchair can look into it-or installing a full length mirror.  Medicine cabinets should be placed at a lower level.  Sink vanities should allow knee space for individuals in a wheelchair.  Installing handle bars near toilet.  Install fold-away seats in shower, some showers are made so a wheelchair can fit in it.  Skid-proof steps and floor of tubs prevents slips.