Remodel: The Master Suite
FACT: A master bedroom with a fresh look not only feels good, it can give you a return on your investment (ROI) between 40-80 percent. In comparison, high-ROI projects – like kitchen and bathroom remodels – come in about 85 percent (HGTV.com).
Key Points
The master suite should be your retreat from the world – a space that’s comfy and calm. It should reflect your personal style – everything from the window panes to the door panels to the sheets. And it should also be functional – offering adequate storage, a comfortable seating area and enough space in which to move around. To help you achieve these goals, we’re offering 10 of our favorite master suite remodeling ideas.
1. Increase square footage.
Determine how to structure your remodel by adding space to your master bedroom. You may need to remove interior walls, adding onto your home’s footprint, or even add a story above your existing home.
2. Upgrade the closet.
Don’t settle for a simple closet when you can have a well-appointed dressing room complete with lush carpet, custom shelves and a fabulous light fixture. Experts say well-designed, expanded closets with furniture-grade cabinets are at the top of the list of master suite remodels – 57 percent of renovators and 18 percent of decorators are including a closet upgrade in their projects. Among these, almost half or more are choosing to increase the size of their closet (59 percent for renovators and 48 percent for decorators).
3. Windows that wow.
Flood your bedroom with natural light and soak in a stunning view by installing floor-to-ceiling windows or a pair of French doors that lead outside. A truly all-encompassing master suite will offer a place to relax in addition to the bed. Additionally, you should have the most efficient windows in your home in your master bedroom. Casement and awning windows utilize compression seal technology around the frame of the window. When the window sash is cranked into a closed position, the compression seal evenly fills the space between frame and sash, making the window airtight. For this reason, casement or awning windows are ideal for use in rooms that require the highest levels of comfort. SSP Glass, known as soundproof and security glass, is another great upgrade you may consider in your master bedroom. Having soundproof windows in a room where you sleep can improve your comfort and well-being.
4. Add an adjoined deck or a beautiful balcony.
Basking in the sunset or sipping your morning coffee is even better when it’s done from a pretty, private perch right outside the bedroom overlooking the pool or garden area.
5. Add a fireplace.
According to a study supported by the National Association of Realtors, a fireplace adds 12 percent to the selling price of a home. Plus, a bedroom fireplace adds instant romance. Any master suite becomes a little cozier when it has a remote controlled gas fireplace.
6. Install a showstopper chandelier.
There is no hard or fast rule that says you have to save the chandeliers for the entryway or dining room. If your ceiling height allows, put a striking chandelier over your bed that becomes a dazzling focal point and makes the space feel super special. Low ceilings? Simply select an embellished flush-mount. So how do you know what size chandelier will work for your bedroom? According to Yanic Simard, Houzz contributor and founder, owner and principal designer at Toronto Interior Design Group, there’s a no-fail equation. Take the width of the room (in feet) + length of the room (in feet) = diameter/width of chandelier (in inches). So, for example, if your room is 14 feet long by 10 feet wide, a 24-inch diameter chandelier would look proportionate (14 feet + 10 feet = 24).
To choose the vertical dimensions of the chandelier, the classic rule is to take the room height (in feet) and multiply it by 2.5 to 3 to get a good range (in inches) for the vertical proportions of the light. So if your room has an 8-foot ceiling, this would mean your chandelier should be roughly 20 to 24 inches top to bottom. (8 feet x 2.5 = 20; 8 feet x 3 = 24).
7. Replace the floor.
New floors are a great way to transform your master bedroom without doing major construction. According to the HGTV survey, 77 percent of renovators and 43 percent of those decorating are updating flooring. Hardwood is the top choice for renovators (38 percent), and carpeting is the top choice for decorators (49 percent). Economical and environmentally sustainable bamboo is also gaining favor. And while your first tendency might be to make your bedroom floor the same as the rest of your home, consider how different materials might affect your goals. For example, to create a softer, quieter feel in the master bedroom, consider using an area rug or carpet instead of hardwood.
8. Aging in place.
It’s not just for the bathroom. If your master is currently upstairs, consider renovating the downstairs to accommodate a master suite. Also consider widening the doorways in your master suite, including closet doors and doors that lead outdoors from the bedroom.
Your master bath, too, may be a part of your master suite remodel. Consider these two suggestions:
9. Shower or bath?
Believe it or not, oversized tubs have fallen out of favor mainly because of the space they consume. Instead custom showers with bells and whistles are in demand. Consider installing a nice walk-in shower that includes overhead showerheads, wall-mounted showerheads, hand-held showerheads, shower tiles, rain bars, body sprays and steam. Or even a custom shower with a smaller bathtub. A great big custom shower takes up a lot less space than a great big tub.
10. Materials de Luxe.
For master baths, no material is too luxurious or too unusual. Homeowners are going over the top to make the master bath a spa-like space. Some are just splurging on one element, such as marble countertops, while others are going top-of-the-line from top to bottom.
Sources: HGTV.com, HOUZZ.com, divinedesignbuild.com
