What Can You Do With Your Spare Room?
What Can You Do With Your Spare Room?
So you find yourself with an empty room in your house. Instead of letting that space go to waste, how about turning it into something that could fit your family's needs? There's a variety of uses for an extra room.
The first thing you need to consider is where the room is in your house. A room on one end of the house might not be the best sauna but could be a great mudroom. Room ideas can be overwhelming and an extra bedroom might seem like the easiest solution at first glance but if you dig a little deeper, there may be options that might work better for you.
It's easy to just create a guest bedroom but unless you have people over often, then that extra bedroom would go to waste most of the time. Putting the time into creating a room that's fit for a purpose and not just a place to hang clothes like an extra closet can add a lot of value to your home. So take the old chairs of the glorified storage and get ready to turn this space into the hidden gem of your home.
Turning the spare room into a home office.
The early 2020s made a solid case for working from home. A home office is one of the first things many people think of. Sure, it's not a fun option but being able to have a dedicated space for work and focus can help separate office and home life.
Far more important in this day and age than a guest room, an office that allows you to focus without invading the rest of the house with your work can be an addition that benefits everyone. Not to mention that if you're going to sell soon that a home office is something that a lot of homeowners wish they could list as a perk for their houses.
What would you need for a home office?
On top of the usual desk, and enough space to sit you may want to think about how thick the walls are. If they tend to be thin, additional padding in the form of foam padding or adding a rug to the floor can help dampen noise.
Depending on the nature of your work, having a dedicated storage area will also help with the accumulation of clutter in the room. Of course, it's important to remember that decorating is not something that should be foregone. It might be a home office but it's still in your home.
How about an Arts and Crafts room?
Unless you're lucky and your job involves arts and crafts, then that spare room can be a fun addition to your house. Now, if you're the creative type you probably thought of this before thinking up a second living room but it doesn't have to be a kids room. If you have an online business selling custom stickers, buttons, or other plushies it could be the space that pushes your small business forward. Remember, it can be more than 'just' a sewing room or a craft room.
On the other hand, if your children are of an age where they're not quite ready to leave crayons and markers laying around the house, having a dedicated space for them to work in is a viable solution. Another benefit of this option is that you'll have the opportunity to teach your kids how to clean up after themselves.
What would you need for an Arts and Crafts room?
Aside from the items critical for its purpose, this room could use things that help optimize its use. Think of an open cabinet full of supplies, or making use of wall space that makes it easy to organize bits and bobs. Traditional drawers can get in the way. And so on and so forth. Having all that extra space makes more room for things like a sewing machine or a soldering station.
A game room for the whole family
Often, people think of a musky den or altars to sports icons, but a dedicated game room can be so much more. Best placed in a basement, so that the noise doesn't interact with the bedrooms on higher floors, a playroom with a big screen tv can be an amazing place to create memories with friends and family.
Depending on your family's interests, you could have a pool table, video game consoles, or a surround sound system for movie nights - or all three. These things are not just for those with kids either. You could even go ahead and add a little bar area to entertain your friends.
What would you need for a game room?
Besides the essentials, like a comfortable couch or chairs and a big-screen TV, you might want to consider some of the less obvious things. Things like a mini-fridge for keeping drinks cold or a dedicated area for gaming consoles and controllers. Having an interesting layout could also make the room more inviting.
What about a room for your plants?
A spare room is a perfect place to put your plants. Not only does it give them some extra light, but it can also help regulate the humidity in your house. Indoor plants have been shown to improve air quality and can even help reduce stress levels. If you don’t have a spare room, you can always convert a closet or even a corner of your living room into a plant paradise.
Just be sure to choose plants that are right for your climate and the amount of light available in the space. Plants that need lots of sunlight may not do well in a dark corner, and plants that prefer cooler temperatures may not thrive in a hot, sunny spot.
If you’re not sure which plants are right for your space, ask your local nursery for advice. They can help you find plants that are both beautiful and healthy for your home.
You could also switch it up and turn that room into a small herb garden if you're a foodie. Nothing beats fresh-cut herbs, they will be as fresh as possible.
Indoor plants help reduce stress levels. If you have a spare room, use it to put your plants in to get the most out of them!
What do you need to do to make a room for plants?
Just like with any other type of room, there are a few things you need to consider when making space for your plants. The most important thing is to make sure the plants have access to plenty of fresh air and sunlight. If you can’t provide direct sunlight, try using a grow light instead.
You also need to think about the type of plants you want to grow. Some plants need lots of water, while others prefer to dry out between waterings. Make sure to read the care instructions for each plant before you buy it.
Another thing to consider is the type of potting soil you use. Good potting soil will help your plants grow healthy and strong. It’s also a good idea to fertilize your plants a few times a year.
All of that translates to making sure that this room is somewhere where you can clean up soil and water spillage easily. Bonus points if it's close to your garden so you can keep all your tools in one place.
Your family library
What if you could turn that empty room into a little library and reading area?
Not only would it be a great place to store your books, but you can also turn it into a quiet place to escape the noise of the world and read. A family library is a perfect place for kids to read without being disturbed, and it can also be a good spot for parents to relax with a good book. If you have enough space, you could even add a small desk and chair so that you can work on projects in peace.
What do you need for your little family library?
There are a few things you need to consider if you want to turn a room into a library. The first is the type of shelving you’ll need. You’ll want something that can hold a lot of books, and it’s a good idea to choose shelves that are adjustable so that you can change the layout of the room.
It's important to choose the right lighting as well so that reading is comfortable, soft cozy lights are the best. Adjustable and flexible lamps off will also make it much easier to get in a comfortable reading position.
Because readers are a strange bunch, a good rug will be a worthwhile investment as it can fill the space with style and provide another place to lay down and lose yourself in a book. Just, don't add a bed. Either a book will bore you to sleep or will make you want to crawl under the sheets to keep reading.
After brains, brawn - with a home gym.
Not only will you have a space to work out, but you'll also be able to avoid the crowds at the gym and save money on membership fees. You can choose whatever type of equipment you like, or go for a minimalist approach and just use some basic weights and mats. The next step is to figure out the best spot for it within your home, and then you can get started with training!
What do you need for your gym?
One thing to keep in mind when setting up your home gym is that you want to have enough space for your equipment, but also be able to access the area easily. Think about how many different machines you have and where you'd put them within your house. If you'll be dealing with a lot of weights, protecting your floor is critically important. You want the right surfaces that can support the machines and floors that can allow you to do body-weight exercises. Good flooring is also important so that there's no risk of hurting your feet and joints on surfaces that are not forgiving.
There are a few things that should go into every home gym. A good pair of dumbbells will allow you to work out almost any area of your body, and a set of resistance bands can give you a full-body workout. You'll also need a weight bench and an adjustable rack to hold your weights. If you're serious about getting fit, then you might also want to invest in some cardio machines like a treadmill or elliptical trainer.
To make the space fit your needs, don’t forget to add some lighting. The proper light makes it possible for you to train in comfort at any time of the day. Ventilation is also critical, you need to be able to breathe and so does the room. It might be best to reserve this room for the basement of the home, although you may want to add a shower if possible so that you don't invite the torture of walking upstairs on leg day.
A home studio
What if you had the means and the space for a home studio? You could record your songs or podcast with the equipment of your choice, and even let anyone in the house make music with you. It's also a great place to experiment with new ideas and work on projects that require some quiet.
What do you need for your home studio?
One of the first things you'll need is a good space. You want to be able to set up your equipment and not feel cramped, so a spare room is ideal. You'll also need some acoustic treatment to help reduce the amount of sound bouncing in the room. This will help you keep your recordings sounding good, and it's also great for preventing any noise complaints from neighbours!
You'll need some good-quality microphones, a mixer, and an audio interface. A laptop is also essential so that you can edit your recordings on the go. If you're into producing music, you'll need a good set of studio monitors as well. And finally, don't forget about storage! You'll want somewhere to keep all your cables and cords tidy.
An interstitial space
Think of a room that serves as a buffer between two areas, like a mudroom or a room dedicated to improving your swimming pool experience. A small room that acts as a changing area with a simple shower won't replace your bathroom but it will make it easier to transition from an outside space like the swimming pool to something like the living room. No more cleaning up wet footprints that decorate the stairs.
If you live in an area where mud is a bigger concern then a dedicated mudroom can be a great place to keep all of your clothing related to inclement weather. Instead of a little tray where shoes go to pile up, dedicated built-ins can add significant value to houses in areas where heavy rainfall is the norm.
If your house is big enough and there is some space between the dining area and the kitchen, then you could invest in a small staging area where you can either have some snacks ready or spend some time staging food before it goes out to the dining room.
What would you need for these spaces?
It entirely depends on the kind of interstitial space you're thinking of. A room between the swimming pool and house will need some form of closet space, a mudroom will need walls that are easy to clean and would need to be close to the garage. A small staging area between your dining room and kitchen will require a cabinet for storing glasses and plates as well as, if possible, a small sink to give some items a quick rinse.
To conclude...
These are only some options but at least they're not the easy go-to of making a spare bedroom. So whether you're going to build a tiny garden with fresh herbs, a library, or a craft room, just make sure you're aware of the little details that can make the rooms shine.
View All Homes For Sale in Greater Vancouver >>>
About Search Home Listings
SearchHomeListings.ca has simplified the home buying and selling process by giving you superior tools with up-to-the-minute information including active homes for sale, sold homes, market reports, and a home valuation tool! We have a team of success managers on standby to support you with setting up your saved home search and agents ready to take you out on a tour. Tap into our industry experts from inspectors, to contractors to interior designers to provide you with the best prices and service possible. Everyone attached to our website has been rigorously vetted and is made up of caring, knowledgeable professionals that work tirelessly to help you to make your home buying experience as stress-free as possible. Contact us today to see how we can help!
Sites We Follow
Categories
Recent Posts
};