Best Ideas for a Spare Room

When you read the words “spare room” what image pops into your mind? Is it an overwhelming storage space for accumulated stuff, or does your imagination take flight with the limitless potential of a blank space? There is nothing to fear – creative thinking grounded in thoughtful planning and organization can invent a purposeful space for you and the members of your household to appreciate.

The first step in planning how to utilize a new space is brainstorming. Remember who is living in your home and what their needs are. Then, consider how the room will fulfill those needs. Next, decide what will take place in the room – give it a purpose. And now the fun part: find images, furniture, and materials that inspire you. Take your “Pinterest dream board” and turn it into a reality!

At WHA, our designers recognize the rising demand for more “blank canvas”, multipurpose rooms, which is why lofts have become a popular feature in our multifamily and single-family homes. This provides the perfect space to plan the ideal, personalized room to fit each familys’ needs. Here are some “spare room” trends we have seen people implementing in their homes:

Entertainment Room
A good entertainment room has everything needed for watching a movie or TV show, playing video games, or even singing Karaoke. Necessary elements include a flat screen TV or projector mounted on a wall across from a comfy sofa, reclining chairs and cozy bean bags. Some creative ideas for an entertainment room include popcorn machines, snack and drink stations, and built-in cabinets to organize movies, games and hide cables.

Kids Playroom/ Homeschool Area
Kids need a place to play, create and learn. A playroom requires storage to keep toys organized, clean and tidy. Cubbies, shelving, baskets or other storage solutions are a great way to give kids the responsibility of picking up after themselves. For the ultimate playroom, fun ideas include built-in forts, and indoor swings! To include a homeschooling area, all you need is a kid-friendly table with chairs to establish a learning environment. Make it craft friendly with chalkboard paint on the walls and corkboards to feature kid art.

Library / Study
For people who need a quiet retreat, a library or personal study is a great use of space. Besides books, the best libraries have a comfortable reading chair, adequate lighting, and a window to gaze out. Built-in bookshelves offer a custom design feature for book storage and display. Adding a desk can create a productive workspace.

Home Gym
Home gyms are becoming a necessity for staying physically fit. Once you have the right equipment, it is easy to set up a great home workout studio. Cardio equipment, weights and plates will take up most of the space. Hanging a punching bag or installing a mirror wall with a ballet bar are other inventive options. Invest in a quality speaker system to listen to songs that pump you up while you work out.</span

Game Room
A game room is a place where people of all ages can enjoy playing games together. Large table games such as pool, foosball or ping pong are fun components for a game room, space permitting. Classic arcade games like a pinball machine are an exciting, retro addition for kids and adults to enjoy. A card table is a game room staple, it should provide enough space for multiple players also and offer the option for playing board games.

We hope these ideas spark your imagination to transform that spare room in your home into the space you’ve dreamed.