The Advantages of a 4-Bedroom House

Go For Space Efficiency and Flexibility with These Homes

 

The “traditional” single-family home with more than 2,000 square feet lives on!

Just think of the wonders of an open floor design, a spacious kitchen, covered front porch, rear patio, backyard, multiple bedrooms, and bathrooms.

While the Tiny House movement captured the attention of the American population, it will not replace the solid foundation (no wheels), comfort, flexibility, and efficiency that a conventional home can offer to a family and its various needs. So given the option of living in a larger home, it’s “adios, tiny house” and hello again, space and comfort of a big house.

 

And as reported in the recently published study of the residential building industry by the U.S. Census Bureau - 2018 Characteristics of New Housing – the median size of a completed single-family house was 2,386 square feet. Of the 840,000 single-family homes completed in 2018, 376,000 had four bedrooms or more. 

Let’s take a look at 4-bedroom house plans, their many features, and what they offer in space, comfort, and flexibility for families. 

 

Why Four-Bedroom House Plans Make Sense

Because the average American family has increased in size to include at least three children, homeowners are faced with a new set of present and future needs. For a growing family looking for the right amount of living space for everyone, there’s nothing like the 4-bedroom house for flexibility and versatility. 

Even Gen Xers and millennials enamored of tiny houses may reconsider their initial impression of larger homes and admit that 4-bedroom homes may be the ideal size for them as they start their families. Just imagine how that Great Room and the extra bedroom can come in handy when they host get-togethers and entertain overnight guests or weekend visitors. 

The four-bedroom house offers more choices in special features. In some situations, the fourth room can serve as a multi-purpose room – from a guest room to a hobby/crafts room, den, media center, exercise/yoga space, and more.

 

Features/Design Options

Some of the typical features of four-bedroom homes include open floor plans, Great Rooms, high vaulted ceilings, two or more bathrooms, outdoor spaces, and attached garages. Let’s focus on other design options.

 

1.  Eat-in Kitchen

The comfort, efficiency, and informal design of an eat-in kitchen are one of the appealing features of a four-bedroom home. You don’t need a gourmet kitchen to whip up your signature dishes and desserts – and have fun with family and friends.

 

A kitchen with ample space for two chefs to move around and a kitchen island with an easy-to-clean countertop, cabinets, and pull-out drawers for storage will do the trick. In fact, the kitchen island can double as additional prep space and counter dining. Throw in a sink or cooktop on the island – and you have the convenience of being face-to-face with your family and guests while cooking.

Last but not least, think of adding a breakfast nook with cozy chairs where you and the family can relax and enjoy your morning “cup of joe” or tea.   

2.  Mudroom

How many HGTV shows have we seen where a mudroom is on the “must-have” or wish list of homebuyers, particularly those with children? It makes excellent sense – and can be added easily to a four-bedroom home.

All families need a place to get dry, shake off mud or sand from the beach, the snow, and the rain before going into the main house. A mudroom provides a place where the family can hang umbrellas, jackets, winter and rainwear, backpacks, sports gear – and bins for shoes and snow boots. And this desired space is doable in a four-bedroom plan.

 

3.  Laundry Room

Another “must-have” for families looking for a four-bedroom home is a dedicated laundry room. Since this is one of the most used spaces in a home, you have to give its design and location serious thought. Whether the laundry room is on the main level or the second floor next to the bedrooms, be sure it is situated away from traffic paths and outfitted with counters for folding, cabinets, drawers, and/or bins for storage. 

 

4.  Bathrooms… and More Bathrooms

One can never have enough bathrooms in a home. And four-bedroom plans provide ample space to have from 2.5 bathrooms to as many as four-and-a-half baths (that’s a private bath in every room and a powder room for day guests). You can’t ask for more than that.

 

5.  Bonus Room

Oh, the things you can have with a four-bedroom plan! For starters, a bonus room gives homeowners the ability to deal with unexpected living situations. Whether used as the fourth – or fifth – bedroom, the bonus room can be a dedicated guest room/in-law suite with its own bathroom and separate entrance.

In other situations, a bonus room can be converted into a number of combinations as a multi-purpose space that serves as a hobby room/home office; playroom/den/media room; a sitting/reading room/library; or an exercise room/yoga/meditation area.

And in today’s environment, that extra room can be designed and furnished as the ultimate Man Cave or She Shed.   

 

6. Outdoor Living Spaces

From courtyards to covered front and rear porches, decks, and patios, outdoor spaces are a big trend in the architectural landscape. With the available square footage in 4-bedroom plans, these outdoor “rooms” can be designed in style - with all the modern amenities and creature comforts, and still be cozy, warm, inviting, and appealing.

 

7.  Attached garage

Always a convenient feature, especially in cold climates that get a lot of snowfall, an attached garage provides seamless access to the house. Think how easy it is to unload groceries and packages from a garage that leads directly to the main house. The attached garages are also less expensive to build and can raise a property’s value.

 

Advantages of Four-Bedroom Plans

1.  Lots of space for everyone -  whether it’s in their bedrooms, in the living/dining areas, family room, and outdoor living spaces

2. Flexibility of design – There are options for split-bedroom layouts in one-story plans, with the master suite at one corner and the other bedrooms at the opposite side. In two-story homes, the master suite is usually on the main level and the three bedrooms on the second floor.

3.  Versatility – Four-bedroom plans provide more options when it comes to special features and other amenities. They can be modified to construct outdoor living spaces like porches, decks, patios, and balconies to suit their lifestyle. Extra rooms can be renovated or converted into special areas like craft/hobby rooms, exercise corners, studies, dens, entertainment centers, etc.

 

Style Choices and Layouts

Perhaps, the best thing about 4-bedroom homes is that they come in many architectural styles: ranch, country, Craftsman, modern, contemporary, traditional, European, and more. In addition, these plans allow for different variations and configurations, such as one-story, 1.5-story, and two-story layouts.

In a single-level home, bedrooms flank the Great Room (kitchen/living/dining areas). And in a traditional two-story layout, bedrooms are on the second floor and the living/entertaining spaces on the first level. There are other plans where the extra bedroom is an apartment built atop a garage – and most often used as a guest house or an in-law suite.

Here are examples of several four-bedroom houses in various architectural styles:

 

One-Story Plans

• Craftsman Style

 

• Ranch Style

 

• Mediterranean Style

 

1.5-Story Plans

• Farmhouse Style

 

2-Story Plans

* Country Style

 

• Colonial

 

* Victorian

 

Imagine all the wonderful architectural designs and layouts at your fingertips when you choose a four-bedroom home. Just be sure that it meets all your space and creative needs – and, more importantly, that it suits your lifestyle!

 

Footnote: The lead image in this article is a stunning 1-story, 2,525-square-foot ranch style home with four bedrooms and three baths. For more details on the house and its features, click here (Plan #153-1210)