**Title: What Qualifies as a Bedroom? Essential Guidelines for Home Buyers and Sellers**
**Introduction**
When you think of a bedroom, you probably envision a room where someone sleeps, perhaps with a window or closet. But what actually makes a bedroom a bedroom? While you can technically sleep anywhere in a house, certain legal requirements dictate what rooms can formally be referred to as bedrooms when assessing a home.
**What Counts as a Bedroom in Real Estate? 6 Defining Factors**
Whether youre looking for a starter home or your forever home, bedrooms are a major selling point and can significantly impact a propertys value. If youre buying a three-bedroom home, you would be disappointed to find that one of the bedrooms was actually just a closet under the staircase.
National and local building codes ensure homes arent sold with falsely advertised bedrooms and that existing bedrooms are safe to live and sleep in. To be classified as a legal bedroom in real estate, a room must meet specific requirements for the following:
1. **Size**
2. **Methods of Egress**
3. **Minimum Window Size**
4. **Minimum Ceiling Height**
5. **Doors**
6. **Heating and Air Conditioning**
**1. Size**
Room codes and regulations may vary from state to state, but for the most part, bedrooms follow the guidelines found in the International Residential Code (IRC). For a room to count as a true bedroom, it must have at least 70 square feet of floor space with a minimum of 7 feet in one direction. If a room is intended for multiple occupants, there should be a minimum of 50 square feet per person.
**2. Methods of Egress**
A bedroom must also contain at least one method of egress an emergency exit. If a bedroom does not contain a door that opens to the outside, it must contain a window people can access during an emergency.
**3. Minimum Window Size**
To be considered a bedroom, a room must have a window that opens at least halfway. It should also be at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide and have a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet. This window must also be no more than 44 inches from the floor unless a step or other permanent installation allows easy access to the window.
**4. Minimum Ceiling Height**
A low ceiling may also disqualify a room from being considered a true bedroom. Some states require that at least half of the ceiling in a bedroom must be a minimum of 7 feet tall.
**5. Doors**
A bedroom must be accessible from at least one common point in the house such as a hallway or living room. In most cases, a room cannot be considered a bedroom if it is only accessible through another bedroom in the home.
**6. Heating and Cooling**
Most states require bedrooms to have heating and cooling elements to keep the room comfortable and safe. In warmer states, laws may require a bedroom to have only a cooling unit while heating units may be the only requirement in some cooler states. Be sure you fully understand what is required of bedrooms in your area.
**What Qualifies as a Bedroom in a Basement?**
The same regulations that apply to regular bedrooms still hold true for bedrooms located in home basements. That means it can sometimes be difficult for basement rooms to qualify as true bedrooms because at least one method of egress that leads directly outdoors is required. The requirement for a window to be no more than 44 inches from the floor can be bypassed in a basement room by using a permanent ladder, but if there are no windows at all, it cant be called a bedroom.
**Do You Need a Fire Alarm in a Bedroom?**
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, including the basement, and should also be installed near and within each sleeping area or bedroom in a home, according to the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The absence of a smoke alarm in a bedroom wont disqualify it from being a true bedroom, especially if the room is in an older home, but it is a good thing to install for safety reasons as soon as possible.
**Tips for Turning Extra Space into Bedrooms**
If youre looking to convert extra space in your home into a spare bedroom, make sure that it meets all the above requirements as well as any local regulations. Remember, room restrictions dont always mean a room has to be built with the intention of becoming a bedroom for it to qualify as one sometimes, you can get creative.
An attic can make a perfectly good bedroom as long as it meets ceiling height requirements and has an acceptable window. A former living room or den is also often a good candidate for a bedroom, since it likely has methods of egress and meets other requirements already.
If youre struggling to divide up space for a new bedroom, remember that you can utilize room dividers or other large sheet-like objects like pegboard, too. As long as the room as a whole connects to a hallway and has appropriate methods of egress, it shouldnt matter much how you decide to alter the layout.
**The Bottom Line**
Whether youre buying a home, selling it, or just curious, its important to know what counts as a true bedroom to avoid confusion. If youre thinking of adding a bedroom to your home, be sure to research the bedroom requirements in your state to make sure your addition complies with national and local codes.
If youre ready to begin the home buying process, start your mortgage application online with O1ne Mortgage Inc. today. Visit [O1ne Mortgage Inc.](https://o1nemortgage.com) to request a mortgage quote, apply for a loan, or speak with a representative. You can also call us at 888-372-8820.
**Keywords:** bedroom requirements, real estate bedroom, legal bedroom, home buying, home selling, O1ne Mortgage Inc., mortgage application, home value, bedroom size, egress methods, window size, ceiling height, heating and cooling, basement bedroom, fire alarm in bedroom, converting space to bedroom.
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