Having a spare room is luxury and if you have just moved into a new home or your grown-up children have flown the nest, you might be wondering what to do with the extra space. A guest bedroom or a home office are two obvious options that many homeowners go for, but if you have no need for these (or already have them), there are plenty of other ideas to consider.
When considering what to do with your space, thinking about your interests and the hobbies you would like to enjoy at home can be a good place to start. Perhaps you are a keen PC gamer that wants a dedicated space for games of real money poker or perhaps you want to reach your fitness goals without forking out for a gym membership each month.
Here are some unique spare room ideas to consider trying out in your home:
Gaming Room
Gaming rooms are ideal for having a separate entertainment space away from your living room. If you are a PC gamer, you will want a desk setup with monitors and a comfortable gaming chair.
If console gaming is your preference, you might opt for either a desk space or a television with a stand and a comfortable chair or sofa. With either set-up, adding speakers and light-up accessories can add an extra touch.
Having black-out blind or curtains is important for blocking out light that prevents you from having a clear view of your screen.
If you are more of a traditional table games player, you could instead transform the space with a poker table or dining style table big enough for games with multiple players. Adding a drinks cart or bar could make this a luxurious entertainment space for game nights with friends.
A Reading Nook
If your spare room is a really small space, this could be the ideal location for a reading nook. All you really need for this is a comfortable chair, bookshelves, and a lamp for optimum lighting. A small side table is a great addition for holding drinks and snacks.
Decor in this room should be cosy and relaxing. Reading is great for relaxation and mindfulness, so the space should reflect this. Soft furnishing like scatter cushions and rugs can help enhance the warm, cosy feel.
If the room is larger space, you could always give make it multifunctional and opt for a sofa bed or chair bed for occasional guest visits. A small writing desk with chair could also function as a dressing table too.
A Home Cinema
With streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney offering such a huge selection of options, going out to the cinema to watch good films is no longer a necessity. If family film nights are your thing then a home cinema could be a convenient choice.
While you can of course watch films in your sitting room, having a dedicated space for a home cinema means you can create the ideal lighting and room configuration for the best cinema experience.
The first item you will want to set-up is a large HD television screen with a surround sound speaker system. Dimmable lighting is ideal, as are blackout blinds or curtains to give the most immersive experience.
For seating, larger spaces could benefit from a U-shaped or corner sofa. Lounger chairs can be used for smaller spaces and floor cushions, or bean bags can be added as additional seating when required.
Optional extras can include a bar cart, popcorn machine or mini fridge for snacks and drinks.
A Dressing Room
If you have a lot of clothing or a particular interest in fashion, a walk-in wardrobe or dressing room could be a great spare room transformation project. The exact configuration will depend on your specific requirements but open wardrobe systems with drawers are a popular option.
Think about items you might want to display, such as your designer handbags or trainer collection. You can even use spotlights to make them a feature in the room.
A large floor length mirror is a must for a dressing room and a chaise lounge or ottoman seat is recommended too. Light and airy decor and furnishings are ideal if you want your clothing and accessories to be the focus.
A Home Gym
If you want to start working out at home, a gym is a practical spare room idea. The main cost will be exercising equipment, such as a running machine, cross trainer and weights.
You can add in a television on the wall and/or music system to help keep you entertained during workouts.
A Yoga Studio
If yoga or Pilates is more your thing, you will want to keep the room as an open space. You may wish to add floor length wall mirrors and a storage facility for yoga mats and other accessories too.