Whether it’s because the kids have just moved out or more space has opened up as a result of moving to a bigger property, having a spare room in your house should always be utilised.
However, despite having the luxury of this extra space, many people often neglect or under utilise spare rooms in their homes. For example, it is not uncommon for these rooms to become a dumping ground for clutter, clothes and a whole host of household items.
A spare room is a blank slate that offers a wide range of exciting possibilities, and it is just waiting to be transformed.
With this in mind, this article will examine what to do with a spare room and provide you with a list of innovative ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Read on to find out more…
So What To Do With A Spare Room
As mentioned above, when it comes to spare rooms the choices really are endless.
From adding extra bedrooms to making your own entertainment hub, no matter what you want to use the room for you can easily make it happen.
And while your options will be a little limited depending on the size and shape of your room, you can be sure that most of the ideas we list below can be tailored to the dimensions of your specific space.
Some of the great things you can do with a spare room include the following…
A Home Office
These days, more and more of us are working from home.
While it is a trend that began in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has proven to have a lasting impact and in the UK the amount of companies that work from home has risen to just 4.7% in 2019 to 46.6% in 2024.
However, having to cram around the table is not the most effective way to work so using a spare room to create a spare office is a great way to maximise the space if you fall into the almost half of the population that do work from home.
A home office offers a place to store important documents, keep your electrical equipment (like desktops or laptops) and maintain a separate working environment from other parts of the home.
A Guest Bedroom
Arguably the most obvious thing to do with a spare room is to turn it into a spare bedroom.
This will give you a dedicated room where guests can stay, meaning you won’t have to worry about where family or friends are going to sleep if they come to visit. Plus, this also saves the awkward conversation about who is going to sleep on the sofa or whether you will sacrifice your own bed for your visitors.
If you do go down this route, then opting for an ottoman bed is a great choice as they often include hidden storage options so you can tidy away any clutter that the room may also contain, helping your guests to feel more at home.
A Reading Room
If you’re an avid bookworm then you may want to use the spare room as a dedicated reading space.
Many readers like to curl up with a good book in a private place where there are no distractions and where they can truly immerse themselves. With this in mind, incorporating a comfy chair, such as a recliner, along with built-in bookshelves or bookcases, is a great way to utilise the room.
If you want to go the extra mile, then you can even make the room your personal library by packing it full of your favourite novels.
A Home Gym
Some people love to work out but aren’t so keen on going to the gym.
Whether it is because membership fees are expensive or because working out in front of strangers can be intimidating, gyms aren’t always accessible so having a home gym is often a great solution.
Turning our spare room into a home gym is a great way to keep fit, and if it doesn’t have one already then we would recommend having a wooden floor installed.
Then, you can lay down some mats and fill the space with equipment such as weights, treadmills, rowing machines and more. If you have the space, you can also add full-length mirrors, fans and a stereo system.
A Child’s Playroom
Whether you have one little one or a few, using a spare room to create a children’s playroom is always a great choice.
As anyone who has children will know only too well, kids can make an unimaginable amount of mess when they’re playing and your living room can soon resemble a warzone. So, having a dedicated room where they can play and let their imaginations run wild will help to contain the chaos in one place and (hopefully) prevent it from spreading into other areas of the home.
You can then fill the room with children’s tables and chairs, comfy furniture and, of course, lots of toys!
A Cinema Room
Having access to your own personal cinema sounds like a dream, but if you have a spare room then it can soon become a reality.
A great way to make the most of the space and enjoy some personal time with your family, you can tailor the room based on the size of your TV screen. To give the room an even more cinema-like style, you can add blackout curtains or incorporate a projector to enhance your viewing experience.
A Walk-in Wardrobe
If you find that your bedroom has started to become overly cluttered or your wardrobe is bursting at the seams, then transforming your spare room into a walk-in wardrobe or closet might be the way to go.
Walk-in wardrobes are a great way to organise your clothes, shoes and other accessories, and they also have a luxury feel to them too given that you will be left with a room that is solely dedicated to your clothing.
Take some time to consider exactly what you require from our closet, as they can be tailored to your needs and can feature the necessary shelving units and hooks to store your items.
