Posted by: Nick Fundytus

Question of the week:

What is a “1+1 Bedroom?”

When a listing on MLS says 1+1 Bedrooms, does that mean there is a Den? How would you search for a 1 bed + 1 den apartment?

Nick's Answer:

Realtor here! A few definitions that may be useful that are often confusing for new buyers that we use in our MLS (Ottawa):

  • 2+1 bedrooms: The first number is the number of above-grade (above-ground) bedrooms, and the second is below-grade (floor is below ground level). 2+1 means two bedrooms upstairs and one in the basement or partially sunken level.

  • 2.5 baths: Means two bathrooms are full (have a toilet, sink and a shower or tub) and one is a powder room (toilet plus sink only).

  • 3-piece bath: Full bath that has only a toilet, sink and shower, but not a bathtub.

  • Jack and Jill bath: A bathroom connected to two bedrooms directly like a shared ensuite for both, but no direct hallway access.

  • Cheat suite: An ensuite bath (attached to a bedroom, usually the primary) that also has hallway access. Named because it “cheats” as double duty between a regular guest and ensuite. The cheekier theory behind the name is that it gives a means for a lover to be snuck out of the bedroom when the spouse gets home.

Searching for a one bed, one den apartment is tricky, as most MLS tools (including Realtor.ca) typically don’t let you filter with “den” as a criteria. Your best bet is to include all one and two-bedroom apartments in your target area and look at the descriptions, since den will typically be mentioned in the first line or two of the text, and many 1+dens are incorrectly listed as two bedrooms.

Good luck on the search!

Source: I’m a Realtor in Ottawa, Ontario.

You might also like …

Buying • Weekly Features — 2025/01/30

Cracked Foundations in Kanata: Signs, Fixes, and Prevention

#CoffeeWithKarim

Buying • Selling • Weekly Features — 2025/01/29

Why “Timing the Market” in Real Estate is Risky Business

Thinking about waiting for the perfect time to buy or sell your home? The idea of “timing the market” is…

Buying • Weekly Features — 2025/01/29

Understanding the Implications of Unpermitted Renovations in Ontario Homes

#NickAnswersReddit: A prospective homebuyer in Ontario is concerned about unpermitted structural modific…

Get one-on-one advice