We all have one. The room that seems to be more of a dumping ground than anything else. To some, it will be the basement or attic, a hidden room that is very much kept out of site, or even a tiny closet that is constantly kept locked. But, for most of us, it’s always going to be the spare room. You know the room – the one that you were super excited about and had huge plans for when you first moved in. But as life went on, and time flew by, it turned into more of an afterthought than anything to get excited about. Reality check. You are being taxed on unused real estate and losing tons of money!
However, when you choose to leave the room this way, it’s definitely not living up to its potential. Okay, so you may think you need the storage, but after a deep clean out, you’ll realize that you can certainly restore this room to the standard it should be at. But, one of the biggest questions you’re likely to have for yourself, is just what you should do with the room? Because now that you’ve committed to redecorating, you’re definitely going to want to get it right. To make sure that you make the most out if it, we always suggest you contact your local professional interior designer. You can use these five ideas to inspire you to start your thought process.
Guest Bedroom
First of all, you’re going to want to work out whether or not you want it to be used as a guest bedroom. It was probably meant to be a bedroom anyway, and if you’re excited to have people to stay, this is going to be the best option for you.
Keep Things Simple
First of all, you’re going to want to make sure that you stick to one key rule as you work on your guest room – and that’s to keep it simple. When its primary purpose is to be used by guests, you’re going to want to make sure its clutter-free, so that they can actually use it. This will make the space much easier for you to clean too.
Push The Style
But, at the same time, when it comes to the design you’re well within your rights to want to push it a little. After all, it’s always fun to play around with décor. From a Japanese futon to vintage furniture, definitely work on some of your own style to the space. Because the room isn’t for function, you can always work in some different and quirky ideas.
Be Smart With Storage
If you’re still desperate to get some use out of the space for yourself, you’re going to want to work in some clever storage solutions. This will allow you to keep some of your stuff stored away, but not cluttered so that guests can still enjoy the space when they stay.
Office
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-desk-with-rolling-chair-and-shelves-near-window-667838/
If you are self-employed, or you have a budding hobby that requires you to work at a desk, why not think about utilizing this space as an office instead?
Think About Function
Pulling together your own home office is always a lot of fun. But in order to get the most out of it, you have to start from a practical perspective. So your first job is always going to be to work out what you need from the room. Do you need work storage? Or maybe you just want it to be a motivating space? Regardless what it is, you need to figure it out first, before you start to decorate.
Have Fun With Color
Next, you definitely going to want to be bold with the decor. Okay, so minimal and monochrome offices can look cool, but creativity is so much more fun. And to get creative, you need to work with color. And have fun with it too. Colorful office spaces always look incredible. So really think about how you want this to look. Don’t just add in a desk and leave it at that.
Go For Dual Focus
From here, you might also want to think about whether you’ll benefit from having a dual focus in the office space. Because you can definitely work in some storage, bookshelves or even closet space if you don’t have a lot of room for that elsewhere. And if you don’t have a lot of work stuff, this is a really great way to really get the most out of the room and put it to work.
Walk-In Closet
All About Interiors
Now, this is the one that you’ve probably dreamt about for awhile. But you’ve kind of missed a trick by letting that old room stay unused. So now it’s time to consider turning it into the walk-in of your dreams.
Work Out What You Need
Again, you’re going to want to start off with your thinking cap on. This is because if you’re going to get your closet right, it has to be practical as well as pretty. Think about your storage requirements and the clothing that you have. Will you need lots of rails or will more drawers be required? You’ll need to work out what the split will be, so that you know what to put in.
Custom Or DIY
Then you’re going to want to ask yourself whether you want to go custom or create it yourself. Custom closets tend to cost more, but they will often look incredible because they are built to your requirements and the specification of the room. But you can still achieve something special with rails and shelves and drawers that you and your designer pick out.
Dreamy Details
Finally, you’re going to want to work on those all important finishing touches. Because the dreamy details are what will make this room magical. When you’re planning your walk-in, think about whether you want any seating and chairs, mirrors, or accessories and beauty storage too. You might just be able to turn it into every woman’s dream room if you do.
Relaxation Room
https://www.pexels.com/photo/apartment-comfort-contemporary-couch-260046/
Or maybe you just want to create a special room, just for you? This can be a really fun way to make use or an old space and improve your ability to relax at the same time.
Lounge Space
When you’ve got the one living space in your home, it doesn’t always feel like enough. Most of the time, you and your other half or the entire family will agree on what you want to watch or do in the space. But sometimes, you just wish you had an additional room to chill out in. This is where your spare room can come in. Building a second lounge space complete with sofa and TV can be a really great idea.
Library
If you’re a huge bookworm, then it’s probably always been your dream to own a library. While you may not be putting the New York Library out of business, you could definitely create your own reading room in this spare space. With wall-to-wall bookcases and a little reading nook, it will be your own idea of heaven.
Meditation Room
Life is stressful, so wouldn’t it be nice to have your own quite space that you can relax in? It’s for this reason that we’re also going to suggest a meditation room. Even if you’ve never really meditated before, a room that is just there for you to relax in can be amazing for your stress levels. With lots of natural light, some soft music and a comfortable place to sit, it can be great for slower mornings and lazy weekends alike.
Gym
https://www.pexels.com/photo/balance-body-exercise-female-374101/
And maybe you want to work on a brand new workout room? If you have enough room, there’s no reason why this couldn’t be the perfect place for you to get your bikini body on in.
Cardio Equipment
Your first thought is going to be about the cardio equipment that you might want to add in. Of course, not everyone will want this or have room for it, but if you do, you need to choose. A treadmill can be quite bulky, but it can be great if you love to run but get put off by bad weather. However, you may also want to consider a spin bike or elliptical trainer too.
Resistance
Then it’s onto the resistance equipment. There’s a whole host of home fitness equipment that you could consider getting for this, but you’re going to want to pick out what you will use most in your workouts. From free weights and exercise balls to bands and steps, be sure you invest in the right stuff for your own personal needs. It’s the best way to be able to get the most out of your newly built gym.
Stretching
And definitely don’t forget about the floor space. It’s easy to want to cram in as much as possible, but for many workouts, you do actually need a lot of room. For this reason, you’re going to want to work in some mat space. This can be great for stretching on while you warm up and cool down, but also for many of your workouts. Because to use your resistance equipment, you will need this space.
This post is a collaborative effort and may contain relative and relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes.