Owner Suite Location - Upstairs or Main Level?

You've probably thought a lot about the details of your new home. Everything from the floor plan to the kitchen layout and the landscaping has likely crossed your mind. But when planning out your owner suite, have you considered where in the house to put it? There isn't one right answer, but there is a right answer for you.

Considerations for Owner Suite Location

Of course, this decision might be influenced by the shape of your homesite and the overall floorplan of your home. You could end up sacrificing backyard space or a walk-out basement by building an owner suite on your first floor. If you want plenty of space outside your home for entertaining areas, a swimming pool, or other outdoor structures, a second-floor suite makes perfect sense. However, long-term thinking might nudge you toward a first-floor owner suite. You can effortlessly age into a home that allows you to avoid stairs and remain on the same level – perfect for empty nesters.

To help you make this decision, let's look at some quick pros and cons of each.

Sleeping on the Main Floor

Pros:

• You can maintain distance between the owner suite and the other rooms in the house. (especially noisy children's rooms!)
• Great for aging into a house because you don't need to deal with stairs.
• Easy access to the other main rooms in your home.
• It can be converted into a guest suite for long-term visitors.

Cons:

• It can be too noisy if you frequently entertain and one person wants to go to bed early.
• Spouses with opposite schedules will find it impossible to keep the entire level quiet.
• Not ideal for families with young children that might need help in the middle of the night.
• Concern about security might be higher if you don't have windows that properly lock.

Building Your Suite on the Second Floor

Pro:

• You can build a spacious owner suite without sacrificing yard space.
• Great for couples wanting to create a relaxing, private space away from common areas.
• Sleeping is easy even when other members in your house are noisy downstairs.
• There's no need to worry about sleeping with windows or screen doors open.

Cons:

• It's not ideal for aging into a house. People with mobility issues, disabilities, or aging joints will have difficulty climbing up and down stairs.
• Families with older children or teens will be affected by noisy video games, phone calls, watching TV, music, etc.

So, What Should You Do?

As you can see, there's a lot to think about. Be sure to think ahead about how you plan on aging into your home. You might desire to have a suite away from noisy teens, but newborns need constant care that will require multiple trips up and down. Whatever you decide, make sure it's right for your family! It's your needs that come before anything else.