Masters of the House

Dual master bedrooms are gaining acceptance in homes throughout the country

By Patricia Rivera
CTW Features

Image courtesy iStockphoto

Let’s be real. The trend of couples sleeping in separate bedrooms didn’t arise overnight.

For as long as man was created, he snored. And who hasn’t longed for moments of solitude after a long workday?

But within the last five years, more homeowners have talked about wanting his-and-her master bedrooms. The demand is rising and it’s expected to grow substantially.

Around 60 percent of future upscale homes – those at least 4,000 square feet – will feature two master bedrooms by 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The "Home of the Future" study considers the long-term visions of architects, designers, manufacturers and marketing experts from across the nation. The shift toward homes with dual master suites caught some by surprise, though it has been gradually moving in that direction. About 25 percent of all upscale houses being built in the last couple of years have dual master bedrooms.

“It’s no longer taboo for couple to talk about their sleeping arrangements,” says Josh Rosenthal of Rosenthal Builders in Bethesda, Md.

In fact, the conversation reflects a larger tendency of homeowners customizing their home so that it truly reflects their lifestyle. While as in the past, separate bedrooms alluded to a failing relationship, it now reflects couples being honest with each other and their builders about their needs.

Experts say the desire for a good night’s sleep is even more necessary in today’s busy world, which involves both men and women taking on more roles and responsibilities.

Homes with two master bedrooms have helped couples deal with snoring, disturbances due to shift work and desire for solitude to unwind.

Realtor Jaclyn Erwin of Charlotte, N.C., says there’s also a demand for homes with two master bedrooms – complete with lounge space, a bathroom and a roomy closet – for couples who may have aging parents stay with them.

“They want comfort for their relatives as well,” she adds.

Baby boomers preparing to age in place, and who may have upstairs’ master suites, have also started to create a second master bedroom downstairs. Extended and non-nuclear families have also turned to dual master bedroom suites for more space as well.

Rosenthal says the trend is not limited to upscale homes or new construction. His company recently expanded a 1,500-square-foot home to almost twice its size to include an owners’ floor with his-and-her master bedrooms and a shared office in between.

Previously, the couple used a spare bedroom when one needed to catch up on his or her sleep. They originally didn’t bring up their sleeping arrangements with Rosenthal. When it casually made its way into the conversation, he proposed the two master suite idea and they lunged for it.

“It’s seems very practically when you start talking about it,” he adds.

Copyright © CTW Features