A Snoring Room by Another Name

“Snoring rooms” are what the name suggests, however, builders, and indeed, many of the couples purchasing them prefer to label these specialty rooms as “duel owner suites” instead. The trend for building or adding flex space to the master suite has come about as couples have come out of the closet, or at least out of the bedroom, and talked openly about the difficulties of sleeping in the same room together. According tp research from Del Webb communities, that number is almost one-fourth of all couples.

While both men and women cite the snoring of their partner as one reason for heading out of the bedroom, others cite problems such as restless leg syndrome, other medical conditions, insomnia and opposite work-shifts. Other couples struggle with sleeping schedules that just aren’t compatible, such as a night owl and an early riser.

Whatever their reasons, builders have taken notice, and especially in communities for adults over 55, snoring or dual owner suites have become a popular option. Typically, these rooms are located right off of the master suite, and don’t require a trip to the other end of the house for the couch in the family room. The extra room may be linked to the bedroom by a pass-through bathroom, but will also have the door accessible from the hallway. The rooms may feature a day bed or full-sized bed, and usually have enough space for a desk to house a computer or television. So far, the homes containing these suites have not enlarged the footprint of the home, but have reconfigured existing square footage. For example, in the Del Webb community, the builders will adjust the space by slightly downsizing garage storage space or reducing the size of a large, master closet.

In other homes, once an attached nursery has been outgrown, this space could conceivably be converted into a snoring room.

In addition to a separate room, some designers have suggested incorporating or tucking the snoring room into the master suite to retain the feeling of the couples’ retreat, while allowing separation for each person. Another idea that has been suggested is an insulated glass French door between thee two spaces, to maintain light, openness and connection, while reducing noise.

Couples aree advised to make sure the room can be converted easily to other uses, so the room doesn’t become a drawback when it’s time to sell the home. Not every family wants or needs a “snoring room,” and the space should be adaptable as a hobby room or office space.