What makes a bedroom a bedroom?

Have you inspected a prospective rental with bedrooms on the smaller side and wondered what actually makes a bedroom a bedroom?

Well, you’re not alone. Many renters over the years have pondered what counts as a bedroom. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.

Is there a legal definition of a bedroom?

There isn’t a consistent, legal definition of what makes a room a bedroom in Australia.

Daniel Meadth, a senior urban planner at property technology and generative design company Archistar, explained that while the National Construction Code requires a bedroom to be “habitable”, it doesn’t specify in size what that means.

“The (habitable room) category includes a bedroom, living room, lounge room, music room, television room, kitchen, dining room, sewing room, study, playroom, family room and sunroom,” he said.

“But (it) excludes a bathroom, laundry, water closet, pantry, walk-in wardrobe, corridor, hallway, lobby, photographic darkroom, clothesdrying room, and other spaces of a specialised nature occupied neither frequently nor for extended periods.”

A habitable room must have access to daylight and natural ventilation, which normally comes in the form of an openable window, Mr Meadth added.

Does a skylight count as a bedroom window?

With the National Construction Code citing access to daylight and natural ventilation as key to how a room can be used, it often prompts questions such as does a skylight count as a bedroom window? “A skylight could be argued to be access to natural light, however this would need to be checked against the performance standards used in the state or local government area and would probably only be supported in exceptional circumstances,” he said.

What about ceiling height?

Jill Henry principal of Stone Real Estate Lindfield, said the code includes ceiling heights, which determine if a room is “habitable” and therefore can be used as a bedroom. The minimum ceiling height is 2.4m.

“(If a room is) under 2.1m, it cannot be classed as a habitable room, instead called a cellar, storage, workshop etc,” she said.

Is there a minimum bedroom size?

Ms Henry said while 2.7m-3m by 3m has become something of an unofficial “minimum” across the country, there isn’t one set minimum size. Mr Meadth added that many states now also have design guidelines to “further explain the amenity performance standards expected” in stand-alone houses and for apartments.

“These design standards define the minimum dimensions for bedrooms, such as in the Victorian ‘Better Apartments Design Standards’, where it is 3m by 3.4m for a main bedroom and 3m by 3m for other bedrooms,” he said.

“The size of a bedroom should ultimately reflect its usability for its occupants with space for a queensized bed, bedside tables, space for clothing and space to actually move within the room.”