sleepout bedroom ideas

8 days ago

We are in the process of re-doing the internal cladding and insulating a 7.2 x 2.6 metre sleepout. It has old louvres all the way around which need to be replaced. I'm planning to turnout it into a bedroom for my 3 kids and then later split it into 2 bedrooms when they get older. There's not a lot of internet inspiration for sleepouts, any houzzers have any experience with this? What is the best way to close in some of the window area so its not so cold in winter? what sort of windows should we use? new louvres or salvaged casements? The house is an art deco bungalow with curved fronts. The sleepout doesn't really have a nice view as there's an abandoned fibro shack right next door. Its on the side of the house and has 2 french doors opening onto what will be a 2 room living space once we open up the wall between. I don't really like toys in the bedroom and plan to make a play room.
I'd love some inspiration and some tips please!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

oklouise
8 days ago
we need plans with dimensions of the whole house to make any useful suggestions
pottsy99
7 days ago
I'd expand on oklouise's , and say photos would be real handy . Both the house , the sleepout but also how close they are .

Louvres generally are out of favour because they 'leak' , and also aren't as safe -- I have broken into places by wobbling louvres open haha -- in fact I own a commercial property and we realised when we were on the roof that it was relatively easy to do .

I guess my worry is your budget -- when you start talking second hand windows , you may spend as much on labour and end up with a compromise as far as sizes and styles are concerned . For resale , and even your families use , something planned , possibly even done in a similar style and colours to your house , and including bathroom and toilet would be best ( they may already be there , or planned , just saying ) .

It has potential , but also potential to be maybe not quite an eyesore , but not great either .
Related Discussions
Style Showdown: Plywood bedroom vs concrete bedroom
Q
Comments (43)
Either material can be made to look and feel beautiful, but the photos show the worst of both. I love baltic birch plywood with exposed edges, but it must be sanded smooth and clear-coated with a satin finish lacquer or urethane. Concrete (my passion and my business) can be tinted to give it a warmer shade, and either cast against a super-smooth surface or polished to make it smooth. Bedroom walls need to look and be touchable. The ones in the photos give me the shivers.
...See More
Creative ideas needed for a luxury bedroom makeover
Q
Comments (77)
Hi Houzzers You have all been so kind with your design advice, and helped us come up with this design. I think we are nearly there, and are pretty happy with the result...we still ended up with the door into bedroom from hall....but think it will be ok.....may swing the door the other way...will put doors on bathroom and sitting(not shown) I like the 2 dressing areas we have created either side of our wardrobes, and the seperate toilet. Very happy for any other input on this design before we send it off to the builder!
...See More
master bedroom design ideas
Q
Comments (8)
maybe change the brown to a softer beige, as as julie said white wash the larger side tables, leave the baskets natural, perhaps a Fokati floor rug, add a hanging light, what do you have on the larger window for interest you could add matchstick blinds cheap and effective you can even spray paint them, and add a plant
...See More
Help! Master Bedroom ideas
Q
Comments (7)
I would change the curtains to pale, at the moment they seem to divide your attention between the bed and the window area. Natural or white linen bedding would be lovely and then a chunky knit throw in a beautiful warm mustard or burnt orange. I would consider changing your bedside table handles to something trendy in a timber to match the blind and also bring in a few small timber accents, a bowl, photo frame etc on the bedside tables. And then go crazy on a mix of cushions. Also look up how to style bed cushions to give you an idea of what you might like.
...See More
fianou luca
Original Author
7 days ago
last modified: 7 days ago

bed 3 and 4 combined are the sleepout. It has no wall cladding right now so theres nothing to take a pic of! it's just a sleepout with windows all along. The house was built in the 40s.
pottsy99
7 days ago
Thanks -- that extra info makes it way easier for me to understand everything . I can imagine the style way better now -- almost an enclosed veranda with lots of louvres , and maybe 1 or 2 fixed windows seemed to be the style .

Just a note on terminology -- I'm in NZ and a sleepout is generally a seperate room on its own piles ( I think you call them stumps in Oz ) , or the modern ones are sometimes on little wheels . But now I realise yours is part of the house -- there's no note of a step-down or anything , so I assume its all the same level .

Anyway , basically louvres leak heat and sometimes water , especially if 1940's or even 1960's , BUT casements will almost certainly need a builder and additional 'studs' , and you'll presumably close in 50% of the wall area . Ideally , you'd need all the windows the same -- you might fluke it with different sizes and even thicknesses of the frames , but it risks looking likes a dogs breakfast and being all over the place .

The builder would be the one who would advise on panelling too -- you may be able to add windows and studs , and 'fill in' with gib board and render it all , or he may say the existing cladding would be best to come off too , so you strip back to the frame and start again .

A slight complication may be asbestos too , being from 'that' era .

Even if you keep all the louvres , don't alter the exterior at all , and it is reasonable air and water tight , and the floor is fine ( and not just originally a wooden or similar deck with no insulation that was closed in 60 years ago ) , you'll still need to insulate and line -- definitely cheaper , but will it be suitable , lots of glass ( mainly heat retention and air flow issues , but possibly even privacy worries ) ?
Kate
6 days ago
Pottsy, a sleep out is typically a converted verandah.
pottsy99
6 days ago
Not in NZ , but then of course we are more intelligent . . . . . . . oops ! Here , a sleepout is somewhere OUTSIDE where you take yourself in order to go to sleep -- you sleep-out in your sleepout haha .

In fact , even legally on www.building.govt.nz ( the official govt building rules website ) , it says that your sleepout must be located at least its own height from any legal boundary and any other dwelling on the property . In other words , your sleepout of say 2.4metres tall must be at least 2.4metres from your house . I may be wrong , but I assume it is likely to be something to do with fire regulations or similar ?

Anything built onto or into your house is covered as part of your dwelling , or an addition to it .

Anyway , different terminology in different countries .