Bedroom Size Checker
A 10x10 bedroom is 100 square feet. That’s about the size of a small parking space. If you’re looking at a 2BHK apartment and one of the bedrooms is this size, you’re probably wondering: is a 10x10 bedroom too small? The answer isn’t yes or no-it depends on how you live, what you own, and what you’re willing to compromise on.
What does a 10x10 bedroom actually feel like?
Imagine standing in the middle of the room. You can touch both walls with your outstretched arms. A double bed takes up nearly half the floor space. If you put a standard queen bed (60x80 inches) in there, you’ll have about 20 inches of space on either side. That’s barely enough to walk past without brushing against the mattress. A nightstand on one side? Possible. Two? Not without squeezing.
In a 2BHK apartment, the master bedroom is often the largest room. If it’s only 10x10, the second bedroom might be even smaller-maybe 8x8 or 9x9. That’s not a bedroom; it’s a closet with a bed. You won’t fit a dresser, a desk, or even a full-size chair without blocking the door.
Who can make a 10x10 bedroom work?
Some people live fine in 10x10 spaces. Single people who sleep alone and don’t keep much stuff. People who work from home and use the living room as their office. People who travel often and don’t need drawers full of clothes. Students. Remote workers. Minimalists.
But if you’re sharing the room with a partner, or if you have kids, or if you collect books, shoes, or even just a few decorative items-you’ll feel cramped fast. A 10x10 room doesn’t leave room for error. One extra piece of furniture, and the space becomes unusable.
How does this compare to real-world standards?
In Australia, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) doesn’t set a minimum size for bedrooms in apartments, but most developers follow a rough guideline: 8 square meters (86 sq ft) for a single occupant, 10 square meters (107 sq ft) for two. A 10x10 room is 9.3 square meters. That’s below the recommended standard for two people.
Compare that to a typical 2BHK in Sydney or Melbourne: master bedrooms there are usually 12x12 or larger. Even in budget apartments in Brisbane or Perth, 10x11 or 11x11 is common. A 10x10 bedroom is on the edge of what’s acceptable-and in many cases, it’s considered a dealbreaker.
What’s missing when the room is this small?
Storage. That’s the first thing you lose. A standard wardrobe is 24 inches deep. If you put it against the wall, it eats up 2 feet of your already tight floor space. You’ll need to go for slimline wardrobes, under-bed storage, or wall-mounted shelves. But even then, you’re not gaining space-you’re just stacking it vertically.
Lighting matters too. Small rooms often come with small windows. If the window is only 3x4 feet, you’re relying on artificial light most of the day. That makes the room feel even smaller and more closed-in.
And ventilation? In a 10x10 room with no window opening to the outside-common in some newer 2BHK designs-you’re stuck with a noisy exhaust fan. No fresh air. No natural breeze. Just recycled air.
Why do developers build these rooms?
It’s simple: profit. The smaller the bedrooms, the more apartments you can fit into a building. A 10x10 bedroom saves 20-30 square feet per unit. Multiply that by 50 units in a building, and you’ve gained over 1,000 square feet of sellable space. Developers can charge more per square meter for a 2BHK, even if the bedrooms are tiny, because buyers are told it’s “modern,” “efficient,” or “urban-friendly.”
But here’s the catch: buyers don’t realize how much they’ll regret it until they’ve moved in. You can’t return a bedroom. Once you’re in, you’re stuck with the layout.
What should you look for instead?
If you’re shopping for a 2BHK, don’t just look at the floor plan. Walk into the room. Bring a measuring tape. Don’t trust the agent’s word. Measure the actual space.
Look for these benchmarks:
- Minimum 11x11 (121 sq ft) for a master bedroom
- At least 9x10 (90 sq ft) for the second bedroom
- Windows that open fully to the outside
- Enough space to open a wardrobe door without hitting the bed
- Clear path to the door from the bed
If the room doesn’t meet these, it’s not just small-it’s poorly designed. And in a 2BHK, the bedrooms are the core of the home. If they don’t work, the whole apartment feels off.
Real-life example: A 10x10 bedroom in Adelaide
Last year, a couple bought a 2BHK in Unley. The listing said “spacious master bedroom.” When they measured it, it was 10x10. They bought a queen bed, a small dresser, and a floor lamp. The room felt like a shoebox. They couldn’t fit a chair for reading. They ended up moving to a 12x11 unit in Norwood six months later. The rent was only $50 more a month, but the difference in comfort was night and day.
They didn’t need more square meters overall-they needed the space to be usable.
Is a 10x10 bedroom a dealbreaker?
It depends. If you’re single, don’t mind sleeping in a tight space, and keep your belongings to a minimum-maybe it’s fine. But if you’re planning to live there long-term, share the room, or want to feel like you have a real bedroom-not just a place to sleep-then yes, it’s too small.
Don’t let the word “compact” fool you. Compact doesn’t mean livable. It just means cheaper to build.
When you’re choosing a 2BHK apartment, remember: you’re not buying square footage. You’re buying comfort, function, and peace of mind. A 10x10 bedroom might fit on paper, but it won’t fit your life.
