An increasing number of people are turning their homes upside down, so the living areas are upstairs and the sleeping areas are downstairs. The primary aim is to maximise natural light and space. Not convinced? Take a look at these reverse living properties and see how turning your home upside down might just be the best decision you’ll ever make.

Butu Mountain Villa is a luxury home like no other. Where you would most commonly find a bedroom and balcony, architects have flipped the house plan over, placing the living space and swimming pool on the top floor instead.  

Placing the swimming pool on a top floor terrace has created a spectacular view of the sea and mountainous landscape. Imagine hosting parties in this space. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows enhance the indoor-outdoor living area, while allowing ventilation to circulate, which is a bonus feature when living in a tropical climate. 

When it comes to reverse living, this unique property in New Jersey boasts the concept’s finest features. Split over three levels, the house features ground-floor bedrooms, a middle-floor “guest level” and a top-floor communal space.

Homeowners will never miss a perfect sunset from the upper level living room, while also maximising the coastal breezes. 

This countryside home in England has been redesigned with a contemporary twist. Sitting on an elevated plot of land, designers knew to make the most of the property’s centrepiece – its impressive two-storey feature window. 

Traditional wooden beams are juxtaposed with a top floor open-plan living room and kitchen, while its bedrooms are located at ground level. 

Though the light and spacious communal area is impressive, imagine waking up in the morning, stepping out of your ground-floor bedroom and into a beautiful field. For $1.3 million (£995,000), this dream could be your reality.

Set among two acres of pastoral land, this three-bedroom property in the much-coveted Hamptons offers peaceful farmland views from all vantage points.

Strategically-placed French windows connect the open plan living area with a wraparound terrace, making this reverse-living home desirable for those who enjoy entertaining guests.

This $3.7 million (£2.8 million) Dutch barn conversion proves that even the most obscure space can be transformed into a reverse-living property with an effective layout. If you’re not impressed by the glass door entrance, wait until you take a look inside. 

Why waste potential light and panoramic views on bedrooms? The architects of this home clearly saw the advantage of an upstairs living area and terrace when designing the property. 

The master bedroom has been strategically placed at the back of the ground floor, in a darker and cooler space, which makes plenty of sense when it comes to having a good night’s sleep. 

Impressive to say the least, this 34-room New Jersey property is unlike any other grand home, because it’s been designed with one particular feature in mind...

To make the most of its captivating ocean views, the living room has been elevated to the third floor, maximising the scenic vistas via a panoramic effect.

You’ll notice that the kitchen-dining space is also upstairs, making the most of the natural light and high ceilings, two features which are traditionally dedicated to upstairs bedrooms. 

This house proves that even historical homes can benefit from reverse living. Originally built in 1898, the property once served as a meeting place for the local mining workforce.

Moving upstairs, you can see how the high ceiling and original arched windows illuminate the open plan living room and kitchen area, creating a modern and spacious environment, while retaining the majority of its original charm.

Set in the sought-after Amagansett Dune, this incredible oceanfront property features a living room, kitchen and master bedroom on the upper level, while two further bedrooms remain at ground level.

With a cool ocean breeze and panoramic views of white sandy beaches, its upper level is wrapped by an oceanfront terrace. If you have teenagers living at home, why not dedicate the ground-floor bedrooms to them?

Last, but not least, San Francisco has fully embraced the reverse-living trend with this complex multi-level property. From an elevated point, this luxury home boasts treetop views of San Francisco Bay.

Its feature window illuminates the living area, while surrounding those using the space with a green and leafy vista. A feeling of indoor-outdoor living is created with multi-level terraces, which are scattered across the ground, middle and upper levels.