Uses for a spare room

If you’ve recently moved to a new home with more space, your children have recently moved out or you have an empty attic or garage, you may be wondering what you can do with the excess space. With a bit of creativity and careful planning, you can turn it into a functional room you want to spend time in.

Guest room

By using subtle styling techniques and being smart with guest beds, the spare bedroom can be transformed from a cluttered space to an inviting room where guests want to come and stay.

Guest rooms are usually clutter-free compared to the main bedrooms in the house and that’s one thing that makes them stand out. Add some storage solutions to the space in the form of ottomans which add character and comfort but they are also ideal for storing unwanted clutter or guest favourites such as magazines and blankets.

Nesting tables provide plenty of space for drinks, bedside books and accent lighting, and can be tucked within one another to save space when not in use. If you want your guest room to be versatile, invest in a bed that has storage underneath so you have a place for spare bedding, seasonal duvets and clothes and throws which can be tucked away until needed – and your next guests will never know!

Home office

After the pandemic more people are working from home so turning your spare room into an office will mean you have an area to focus in with no distractions.

This could also function as a space for children and teenagers to study or do their homework and school projects. All you need to get started is a desk and chair and you could also put some prints on the walls to brighten up the room.

Gym

You don’t need a lot of space or a lot of equipment to build a home gym that works for you. Either put a mat down on the floor or invest in foam tiles to protect your joints while you exercise.

If you’re working with a small room, consider versatile equipment like dumbbells, a skipping rope and resistance bands which are easy to store and can be used for a variety of workouts.

If you have more space you can add a treadmill, rowing machine, stairmaster and cross-trainer. It’s also worth having a cleaning spray or wipes on hand to wipe down your equipment after use.

Yoga studio

If you are a yoga fan consider using your spare room as a yoga studio. The key here is to remove all clutter from the room so it is a calming space. Make sure there is enough room to practice and store your mat, yoga blocks and meditation cushion.

Don’t forget about the finishing touches like painting the walls a calm colour, adding incense or a diffuser for a relaxing aroma, a mirror to check your form, a speaker for calming music and mood lighting in the form of a salt lamp or dimmable light bulb.

Dressing room

If you’ve always dreamed of having your own walk-in wardrobe you could consider turning your spare room into a dressing room. This means your bedroom can become more of a tranquil space as you won’t need to store your clothes there.

All you need to get started is a dressing table and some stylish storage such as a clothes rail, a wardrobe and a shoe rack.

Art studio

If you are creative another option is to create an art or crafts studio where you can be inspired away from all of life’s distractions. Add a desk for painting, scrapbooking, knitting or other creative hobbies.

Don’t forget to add storage shelves or a trolley for your easels, paint and paintbrushes.

Games room

Larger spare rooms can be turned into a games room with a pool table, dartboard and table tennis.

Make sure you measure the space so you have room to play easily. You could also add a TV, a games console and a gaming chair.

Playroom

A playroom can be a fun space for children to develop their imagination and there are endless possibilities on what to add to the room.

You could also attach a hanging rail to the wall for dress-up clothes, a dedicated space where children can paint or draw and display their artwork, as well as a daybed or a trundle bed so the room can be used for sleepovers if needed.

Accessible storage at a child’s eye-level will be key to keeping the room organised but try to choose furniture that will grow with your child so the room can be turned into a chill-out space when they are teenagers.

Cinema space

If you want a dedicated space to curl up and watch a good film, you could convert the room into a cinema space with a large TV or a projector, speakers and comfortable couches. If you want to elevate the room even further, you could paint the walls a dark colour and put blackout blinds up.

Reading nook

If you love getting into a good book a reading room is the perfect option to make use of your spare room. All you need is a comfy chair, a lamp, a bookshelf and a selection of books you can’t wait to read.

Multipurpose room

If you can’t decide what to do with your spare room why not make it a multipurpose space and incorporate a few of the ideas above? If you still need somewhere for guests to sleep, consider getting a sofa bed because then you can still use the space for a reading nook. You could also add a study corner so the room can still be useful even when you have no visitors.

There are so many ways to repurpose your space and turn it into somewhere attractive and more importantly, useful. The options are endless!