Dining Areas. Bedrooms. Bed Positions

It is often desirable to have space in the kitchen for eating snacks, breakfast etc. and use the dining room for main meals only. This can be provided by including a retractable table, with a height of 70-75cm, which is pulled out of a base unit (4). A movement area of at least 80cm is needed to the left and right of the table. If sufficient space is available a fixed table against a free-standing unit can be used - (5).

Another alternative is the breakfast bar arrangement - (6). This requires less depth than the fixed table, even though the surface is also 40cm deep, because of its elevation but this also means that special stools are required. Depending on their design, full dining areas require far more space but they can obviate the need for an additional dining room – (7) + (8). A corner seat and dining table take up the least amount of space (8).

It is useful to be able to extend the dining room through wide doors or a folding wall for special occasions - (11) + (15). To eat comfortably an individual needs a table area of 60 x 40cm. A strip of 20cm is needed in the centre of the table for dishes, pots and bowls – (1). Lighting should not be dazzling: the ideal distance from lower edge of the light to the table top is around 60 cm (1).

Suitable locations for dining rooms are shown in (14) – (16).

Bedrooms. To ensure comfort while sleeping, the bed length should be 250mm longer than the individual's height. Based on average heights, beds are produced in a range of standard sizes: 900 x 1900 mm, 1000 x 1900 mm, 1000 x 2000 mm, 1600 x 2000 mm and 2000 x 2000 mm. The bedroom layout should give at least 600 mm, preferably 750 mm, around the bed – (1). This is important to allow the bed to be made easily and also, if there is a cupboard standing parallel to the bed, to give enough space for movement even if the cupboard doors are open.

There should always be a bedside cabinet to the left and right of double beds and a headboard, onto which one can fix clip lights for reading, is also useful - (2). Bedside lamps should be provided in addition to general lighting.

About 1 m of cupboard length should be planned per person. If there is not enough room in the bedroom, then space can be found in the corridor – (10). At least one mirror, in which one can see oneself from head to toe, should be fitted in a bedroom: mirrored cupboard fronts are even better.

Bed Positions. The position of the bed within a room can have a significant effect on a person's feelings of well-being:

A self-assured person is happy to sleep anywhere in the room whereas somebody with an anxious disposition may prefer to sleep next to a wall:

In addition to room decoration and furnishings, a restful atmosphere also depends on the orientation of the bed (head best towards north), position with respect to the light (looking away from window) and the door (looking towards door). Where there is more than one bed their position with respect to each other is important:

Different arrangements of beds may be desirable if friends, sisters, brothers or guests sleep in one room:

The arrangement of double beds (and single beds placed side by side or as bunks) has more to do with personal preference than space. Separate beds have now become common for couples whereas an enclosed double bed was customary in the past:

The last example is formed like a basilica and lit by a special ceiling light when the curtains are closed. These last four examples show how the room and furniture decoration has depended strongly on the customs of the era.