Brought up the topic of separate bedrooms this morning to be greeted with, 'Should we each have our own house too?' Geesh, sensitive.
Architectural trends reflect our culture, but how far do these trends reflect our instincts?
My first thought was that the shared bedroom is a socioeconomic thing—lots of money = lots of house. Not so much money = not so much home. You know what I'm talking about, so let's not go into tiny house living choices or the cost of a 435 s.f. apartment in Vancouver because I'm simply talking about the concept of the shared bedroom.
My second thought - brought into fruition by a comment regarding prudery - is an image of a lovely Homo erectus couple snuggled up under a muskox blanket in front of their amber-hued, crackling cave fire. The shared bedroom now becomes a mammalian instinct. Stay warm, stay safe, and have sex (in whichever preferred order).
My next thought - is Lucy and Ricky's bedroom - sure, it was fictional (somewhat), and they were shown in separate beds due to TV regulations of the 1950s. Still, I'd argue that it was actually the result of the continuous evolution of Western socioeconomic and mammalian instinctual concepts.
Okay, let's leave it at that - I want my own bedroom, and ignorance is bliss.
image: Boyd House, Ron Thom
© Stacy Reynaud