More Rooms
More Rooms: Spare Room? Lucky You. Here are 12 Fresh Ways to Use It
Imagine all the things you could do in your extra space: painting, planting, playing or nothing at all
Let’s say you have an extra room in your house and you’re not sure what to do with it. Talk about a champagne problem! It does happen, though. Whether you have a rarely used dining room, the children are now grown and gone, or you just ended up with a spare room, this is a chance to think about your space in a completely new way.
There’s no need to be practical or stay inside the lines. Why not indulge a hobby or create a retreat of your own? Here are some ideas to consider. Then tell us: How have you found a new use for a room?
There’s no need to be practical or stay inside the lines. Why not indulge a hobby or create a retreat of your own? Here are some ideas to consider. Then tell us: How have you found a new use for a room?
Spa
How great would this be? No need to drive to the spa; have a professional come to your very own spa room for a massage or facial.
See how to bring spa style into your own home
How great would this be? No need to drive to the spa; have a professional come to your very own spa room for a massage or facial.
See how to bring spa style into your own home
Morning room
This is a room for your favourite morning routine, whether that’s a cup of tea, stretching or meditating. The furnishings can be as simple as floor cushions and rugs. Include light-controlled windows for bright sunshine or shade, depending on your mood.
This is a room for your favourite morning routine, whether that’s a cup of tea, stretching or meditating. The furnishings can be as simple as floor cushions and rugs. Include light-controlled windows for bright sunshine or shade, depending on your mood.
Studio
An art studio doesn’t need to be large, just full of great natural light. Arrange a comfortable chair with easels close to a window. Consider neutral colours for walls and floor coverings. Include a space to store supplies and a sink for cleaning up if possible.
See these home studios on Houzz for more ideas.
An art studio doesn’t need to be large, just full of great natural light. Arrange a comfortable chair with easels close to a window. Consider neutral colours for walls and floor coverings. Include a space to store supplies and a sink for cleaning up if possible.
See these home studios on Houzz for more ideas.
Reading room
Are you a serious bookworm? Is your idea of a guilty pleasure to sneak away and read the latest bestseller? Arrange your reading room by genre and include the biggest and most comfortable seating possible. Plan for surface and wall lighting, as well as overhead lighting, so you can read any time of day or night.
Be inspired by 10 stylish ways to display your books
Are you a serious bookworm? Is your idea of a guilty pleasure to sneak away and read the latest bestseller? Arrange your reading room by genre and include the biggest and most comfortable seating possible. Plan for surface and wall lighting, as well as overhead lighting, so you can read any time of day or night.
Be inspired by 10 stylish ways to display your books
Private bar
How about a cupboard or room where you can serve drinks like the pros? Ideally a bar would have a small sink and refrigerator. Close off the space with doors that make it disappear when not in use.
Discover thousands of home bar designs.
How about a cupboard or room where you can serve drinks like the pros? Ideally a bar would have a small sink and refrigerator. Close off the space with doors that make it disappear when not in use.
Discover thousands of home bar designs.
Music room
If you are a musician or have budding musicians in the house, you know about the speakers, amplifiers, instrument stands and sheet music that accumulate. What a treat to have a dedicated room for this. Include a rug, window treatments and any type of upholstered furniture to help with sound buffering.
If you are a musician or have budding musicians in the house, you know about the speakers, amplifiers, instrument stands and sheet music that accumulate. What a treat to have a dedicated room for this. Include a rug, window treatments and any type of upholstered furniture to help with sound buffering.
Planting room
I really like the idea of having an indoors room to store plant supplies, pruning shears and pots. It’s very practical to have a large sink for washing garden fruit and vegetables or making bouquets with flowers from the garden.
I really like the idea of having an indoors room to store plant supplies, pruning shears and pots. It’s very practical to have a large sink for washing garden fruit and vegetables or making bouquets with flowers from the garden.
Fun zone
Sometimes it’s just easier to surrender to the toys. I know many families that have made peace with the idea of giving up one room to keep toys contained versus having them all over the house. A fun zone/toy room can easily be reclaimed for another use when the children are grown.
Sometimes it’s just easier to surrender to the toys. I know many families that have made peace with the idea of giving up one room to keep toys contained versus having them all over the house. A fun zone/toy room can easily be reclaimed for another use when the children are grown.
Coffee room
If you have serious coffee drinkers in the house, you might want to consider a coffee room. An oversize cupboard or old pantry would work great as a coffee space. You just need enough space for a coffee maker, storage and ideally a water source. An added bonus would be a small refrigerator for milk.
TELL US…
Do you have a spare room? How do you use it? Share your photos with us in the Comments.
If you have serious coffee drinkers in the house, you might want to consider a coffee room. An oversize cupboard or old pantry would work great as a coffee space. You just need enough space for a coffee maker, storage and ideally a water source. An added bonus would be a small refrigerator for milk.
TELL US…
Do you have a spare room? How do you use it? Share your photos with us in the Comments.
This is a private place for clearing your head or thinking things through. It’s best to keep it free of clutter and technology. I suggest comfortable seating that takes advantage of any available view.