This layout has become a must-have in modern homes. However, some believe that this is an error that reduces the comfort of living spaces.
In new homes and recent renovations, a phenomenon is increasingly intriguing planning professionals. While the living space does not really increase, certain rooms now take up a huge space in the plans. Result: everyday spaces sometimes become smaller, more constrained and less pleasant to live in. For Romain from RJ Habitat, construction expert, many owners follow a trend without always measuring its real impact on their daily comfort.
In recent years, modern house plans have evolved significantly. Open kitchens sometimes lose square meters, living rooms become more compact and circulation spaces are optimized as much as possible. Yet at the same time, certain private areas are gaining more and more space. For professionals, this development poses a real question: are the square meters used in the right place? Because in a house, each design choice ends up being made to the detriment of another space.
The layout highlighted by this expert is the XXL parental suite. Bedroom of 20 to 25 m², huge dressing room, ever-larger private bathroom: this model has become a standard in many recent projects. The problem, he says, is that these suites sometimes look more like hotel rooms than spaces truly suited to families’ lifestyles. As the master suite expands, the living room, kitchen or terrace become less comfortable even though they are the rooms most used on a daily basis.
The expert isn’t saying a master suite is a bad idea. On the contrary, it can provide comfort and intimacy when well thought out. But he believes that many owners reproduce a trend seen on social networks or in catalogs without thinking about their real needs. Because in the end, a bedroom is mainly used for sleeping. Most people spend very little waking time there compared to common living spaces. In some homes, a few square meters reclaimed from the master suite could completely transform the comfort of the living room or kitchen.
Before validating a plan, professionals therefore recommend first thinking about your real lifestyle. A family that likes to cook, entertain or spend time together will not have the same priorities as a couple seeking, above all, calm and privacy. A successful layout is not necessarily one that follows the latest trend. Above all, it is the one that intelligently balances spaces according to the daily habits of the occupants.
