You just might be surprised!
“What is a bedroom” may seem like an obvious question. How complicated can bedroom requirements be? Well, in the world of real estate, not everything is simple.
There are several rules and details that actually make a bedroom a bedroom, as they are important selling points in a home. So, what are the requirements of a room to be considered a “bedroom”?
Here are 6 features that define a bedroom:
1.) Minimum Square Footage –
Minimum square footage matters immensely when it comes to a bedroom. You want to be able to fit in all of the necessary furniture that comes with a bedroom such as a bedframe, a nightstand, etc. The minimum for a bedroom, depending on the laws in your state, should be 70 to 80 square feet.
2.) Minimum Horizontal Footage –
Horizontally, a bedroom should measure at least 7 feet. Again, you will have to be able to fit all of the necessary furniture into the room.
3.) 2 Means of Egress (Exit) –
There has to be at least 2 ways out of a bedroom. These ways can be a door, a window, and even a skylight. As long as there’s some way out, no matter how easy or complicated it may be, it counts as an exit.
4.) Minimum Ceiling Height –
At least half of the ceiling in the bedroom has to be 7 feet tall. Some parts of the ceiling may be shorter, but only as long as half of the ceiling meets the 7-foot requirement.
5.) Minimum Window Size –
The minimum window size for a bedroom should be 5.7 square feet, with a minimum opening height of 24 inches and a minimum opening width of 20 inches.
6.) Heating and Cooling –
The final requirement for a room to be a bedroom is that it needs to be temperature controlled. A heating system must be installed in the room, but cooling-wise, a window could count as your AC, depending on the climate.
You may be asking yourself, “what about closets? Are they a requirement for a bedroom”?
Simply put, no. A room does not need a closet to be considered a bedroom. While newer or modern homes do have closets in their bedrooms, some older homes may need a wardrobe or a more creative way to store your clothing items.
Finally, what would you call a room that does not meet the above requirements? Depending on state laws, these rooms can be labeled as an “office” or even a “bonus room”. These labels can also be seen as appealing to a buyer, even if it can’t be called it a “bedroom”.
If you have any questions about if your room is actually considered a bedroom, or if you need any assistance buying or selling a home, let me know and we can schedule a call or meeting. I am here to help you in any way I can!
Contact me and we can work something out!
Diane Waschenko
(914) 447-5847
diane.waschenko@cbrealty.com