skip to main content

Flooring Design Dilemma Bedroom

New House, Japanese Room Design

6 years ago

Hello

I am a University Student seeking help with my out of the ordinary room.

I've recently moved back with my family from Tokyo to Sydney, and have been given the largest room out of all (siblings have all been married off) . My previous room in Japan was smaller, but I can now accommodate a larger bed base and mattress which I prefer. However this has cut down my room size and accessibility. Previously, my bed was a single King-sized mattress and base, allowing my room to be open and more accessible with a small Kotatsu (Japanese Table) and floor seating allowing study and computing/Gaming.

Now, I can barely setup my table and seating arrangements, and when friends are invited (usual in Japanese university student friendships :) , the seating is awkward. I have tried many floor plans on paper, but am too worried that it will not solve anything. I need to think out of the box. The main problem is the door and window arrangement. The door swings out wide to the right, blocking anything hugging the wall. The windows have been shifted to the right side of the wall also, limiting my options for fresh air in the summer if anything is blocking them. Obviously, there are options of downscaling my Wardrobe and Bed, but problems occur.

Firstly as a University student non-employed, I have little to no access on funds :/, and removing the wardrobe would mean disassembling it as its height prevents it from being removed in one piece (assembled inside the room). The Queen size bed is also non-removable, as I measure 196cm and my legs stick out on a King-sized bed. (in japan i did not have this problem as I slept on futons) I can't seem to find a simple solution. I want to create a space where I can enter the floor rugged seating table and study and have friends comfortably sitting, while also allowing enough room between my bed and tv/ computer table. Preferably I did want my Bed in the middle wall where flags are, but place the bed vertical to the window removes all the space.

I have not been back in Sydney for 4 Years, and this is the first site I have visited in a while (room designing is a big hit in Japan). The awkwardness of this room makes me want to return. If anyone can help or suggest some recommendations, that would be helpful. Sorry for my bad english in advance.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

3z3z3
6 years ago
Hi, Grant X, maybe one or more of these ideas would be useful to you.

1. Go vertical, cluster and stacking the furniture you have as much as possible on one wall. Maybe insert boards between levels of stacked furniture to create shelves. (You will probably need to anchor stacked furniture to the walls.)

2. If possible, get rid of lots of small pieces of furniture in favor of a wall of storage. Trade carpenter work for whatever skills you can offer. or

3. A wall of pegboard with hooks and shelves would work, too.

4. Raise the bed on concrete blocks or whatever you have so you can have storage underneath. Place stored items on a large sheet of cardboard and slide it in and out as needed. Shoes could go there (get rid of the shoe shelf) and out-of-season clothing in boxes or bags.

5. Get rid of the box springs and use just the mattress. If you can find some chests of drawers the right height, top them with a large sheet of 3/4" plywood and put the mattress on top. Even more under-bed storage.

6. A wall-to-wall shelf over the door could hold lots of books and other stuff.

7. You could arrange a pulley system to tilt your bed to a vertical position during the day, then lower it at night (if you haven't elevated it with ideas in #4 or 5).

8. Return to sleeping on a futon.

9. Corral like items into trays, bins or boxes rather than having them set out separately. You can lay tea or cereal boxes on their largest flat side and cut and/or fold them neatly for this use.

10. That wardrobe is monstrous. If most of your clothes are knit or jeans, fold them on your pegboard shelf and get rid of the wardrobe. Hang dressier clothing on a wall hook. Neatly-trimmed scavanged cardboard boxes could hold the clothing. Don't use grocery store boxes, they might have bug eggs in them. Liquor store boxes work well, and you might be able to build a matched set! You could paint the boxes if you want. Paint stores often sell mis-mixed paints for little money.

Good luck!
millworkman
6 years ago
Still struggling to figue out what this has to do with flooring.......................
Related Discussions
Landscape Design- Front of House/ New House
Q
Comments (12)
My suggestions are to mainly to simplify and embolden... Remove the low-starting, wide spreading limbs off of the two front trees. Create a bed of single variety plants below those trees. Increase the bed size at the left corner of the house and move the small tree in it farther away from the house. Increase the foundation bed front-to-back depth where possible (to the 6' range or greater.) Paint the lower portion of the power pole in some interesting scheme. Add an island with small tree in front of the breezeway area. Remove the pyramidal shaped plants flanking front door and replace with beds of annual color. Underscore the left set of windows with the existing shrubs, but don't let them extend beyond the end of house. Underscore the bay window with a single planting that will not obscure the window lower portions. Widen the front walk. Does not need to be exact same material. Anything compatible will do. Same material could form cheekwall at single step. Or get rid of that single step. It does not look needed. (Can't tell if existing bricks are laid OK, but the weeds growing in them should be sprayed out for an improved appearance. A canopy or awning of some type above the stoop would make the house face much more interesting. PS: Thanks for putting on decent pictures ... one of the extremely few times I have not wished for better!
...See More
Design choices/trends for new houses, Parade of Homes observations
Q
Comments (19)
Regarding a pocket office--- In my previous home, I had a big office space, but because it was upstairs, I went up there only when I was writing or editing for hours at a time. The day-to-day stuff was downstairs. Now, my office is my favorite new piece of furniture that is at one end of my long, narrow living room. I bought a secretary/desk from Arhaus where the inside space is large enough for me to connect my large monitor when I need to edit. I bought an adjustable leather stool, rather than a chair because it forces me to sit correctly when writing. The bottom area locks, has a file drawer and a printer shelf. Everything I need in one place! I also have an antique pie safe (with glass doors) that belonged to my grandfather. It is coincidentally the same height and width as the secretary. It's at that end of the room, too and I use it as a bookcase.
...See More
sound system design for our new house
Q
Comments (10)
As everything is going wireless, maybe the thing to do is to plan for electrical outlets where you expect to locate future speakers (bedrooms, kitchen, etc.). You'll be able to use these outlets for any speakers you chose whether they were Sonos or some as-yet-unknown future product. For Sonos speakers, you could use brackets to hang the speakers on the wall near the outlets. There are even brackets for Amazon Echo devices. For the living room, you could do the same and run wires from a central point where you think you might place an amp or receiver to the places on the walls where you think you'd hang speakers. Sonos makes an amp that supports un-powered speakers.
...See More
new house room design
Q
Comments (6)
Thank you decoenthusiaste. I appreciate the advice. Since furniture is taking a while to arrive these days, I’ll get to ordering soon. The bedrooms, I hoped I wouldn’t need to place headboards in front of windows. Would a low headboard be difficult to locate? As I don’t want to block the windows. Im searching websites and didn’t see blocked windows. have some research to do. The closets are in plans but didn’t include here. 3 WIC. And thanks for tip about piano and furniture not in a corner. I’m hoping to retire so zoom may not be in my future much!
...See More

Related Stories

HOUZZ TV LIVE Peek Inside a Designer’s Eclectic Dining Room and Powder Room

By Mitchell Parker

In this video, Jules Duffy talks about converting a garage into a dining space and creating a powder room ‘experience’

APARTMENTS Houzz Tour: Modern Japanese Penthouse Atop a Designer’s Office

By Becky Harris

Vintage obis, petrified wood, Samurai armbands and antique fans are just a few of the materials that warm this California apartment

DECORATING GUIDES Room of the Day: A Living Room Designed for Conversation

By Jeannie Matteucci

A calm color scheme and an open seating area create a welcoming space made for daily living and entertaining

DECORATING GUIDES Room of the Day: Multipurpose Design Brings a Room to Life

By Mary Jo Bowling

A neglected formal living room is redesigned for playing board games, watching TV and hanging out. A cohesive look pulls it all together

POWDER ROOMS Designer’s Own Powder Room Packs in History, Color and Charm

By Bryan Anthony

A special wallpaper print and curated antiques help update this powder room in a 1790 Boston home

HOUZZ TV LIVE Tour a Designer’s Cozy Colonial-Style Family Room and Kitchen

By Mitchell Parker

In this video, Sara Hillery shares the colors, materials and antiques that create an inviting vibe in her Virginia home

HOUZZ TV LIVE Tour a Designer’s Modern Glam Beach House in Rhode Island

By Mitchell Parker

Desiree Burns pulls together a green sofa, navy blue accents, rattan chairs and brass to create coastal style that pops

HOUZZ TOURS Tour a Designer’s Modern Glam Beach House in Rhode Island

By Mitchell Parker

Desiree Burns pulls together a green sofa, navy blue accents, rattan chairs and brass to create coastal style that pops

LAUNDRY ROOMS Designer Transforms a Dining Room Into a Multiuse Laundry Room

By Bryan Anthony

This Tennessee laundry room functions as a mudroom, office, craft space and place to wash clothes for a family of 5

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Living Room Update for an 1800s New England House

By Annie Thornton

Major renovation gives owners the open, contemporary feel they love

Sponsored

More Discussions

Coretec Conch Ash, need pictures & review of this flooring

7

Help! Dilemma With Red Oak Hardwood Flooring

16

How do install a hard wood flooring for my front t porch try to redesi

1

Do I need to water pop hardwoods if I like the stain already without w

4

Polished or matte porcelain tile teen bathroom floor

4