How I Design HMO Bedrooms — And Why The Order Matters
( 3 Min Read )
A well-designed HMO bedroom does not happen by accident. There is a clear sequence to the decisions, and getting them in the wrong order causes problems that are very difficult to unpick later.
When it comes to designing en-suite HMO bedrooms, most people start in the wrong place.
They think about how the room will look before they have worked out how it will function. The result is a bedroom that feels awkward — furniture that does not quite fit, lighting points in the wrong places, and a layout that never really flows.
The process I use follows a strict order, and each step depends on the one before it.
Step 1 — Decide the en-suite position first
The en-suite dictates more about the bedroom than most people realise, so it has to be the first decision. There are two things to think through here: logistics and proportions.
On the logistics side, you need to consider where the plumbing and drainage runs, and what is practical given the structure of the building. On the proportions side — and this is just as important — the position and shape of the en-suite directly determines the shape of the remaining bedroom space.
A poorly positioned en-suite can leave you with an awkward, irregular room that no amount of clever furniture arrangement can fix. An en-suite placed thoughtfully, on the other hand, gives you a clean, well-proportioned bedroom where furniture sits naturally and the room feels right from the moment you walk in.
Step 2 — Anchor the room with the bed position
Once the en-suite is fixed and you know the true shape of the bedroom, the bed position is the next decision — and it is the most important one in the room.
The bed is the largest piece of furniture and the focal point of any bedroom, so everything else will be arranged around it. Getting this wrong undermines every subsequent decision.
Think about which wall gives the best natural proportions, what feels balanced when you enter the room, and whether the bed position allows for comfortable access on both sides. In most cases there will be one position that clearly works better than the others — trust that instinct and commit to it before moving on.
Step 3 — Place the remaining furniture
With the bed anchored, the rest of the furniture can be positioned logically around it.
For desks, I always aim to place them near a window where possible. Natural light makes a significant difference to the quality of a workspace, and tenants notice and appreciate it.
For wardrobes, I look for the nooks and recesses that most rooms offer — either side of a chimney breast, for example, or in the space behind the door. Wardrobes placed behind the door are out of sight when you first enter the room, which immediately makes the space feel less cluttered and more considered.
The goal at this stage is a layout where everything has a logical home and nothing feels like it was squeezed in as an afterthought.
Step 4 — Only then design the lighting and electrics
This is the step that catches people out most often. Lighting and electrical points — sockets, switches, USB points, TV points — must be designed after the furniture layout is fixed, not before.
If you try to design the electrics without knowing exactly where the bed, desk, and wardrobe will sit, you will almost certainly end up with sockets in the wrong places, switches that are obscured by furniture, and lighting that does not serve the room the way it should. Bedside sockets end up behind headboards. Desk sockets are on the wrong wall. Pendants hang in the wrong part of the ceiling.
These are expensive mistakes to fix once the first fix is in. Get the furniture layout confirmed first, then design the electrics around it — not the other way around.
The sequence seems straightforward once you lay it out, but it requires discipline to stick to, especially when contractors are pushing to move quickly. Rushing any one of these steps to save time almost always creates more work later.
Follow the order, and the room will design itself.
Need a second pair of eyes on your HMO bedroom layouts?
We offer 1-1 online HMO design consultations, bookable on a pay-as-you-go basis. Whether you are stuck on a tricky layout, unsure about your en-suite positioning, or just want professional input before you commit to a full design package, a consultation gives you direct access to expert advice without a long-term commitment. Bring your floor plans and leave with clarity.