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Having a spare room is quite a thrilling notion. You have an entire room there like a blank canvas, just waiting for you to decorate and transform. However, converting a spare room into a functional space can be tricky, especially if you don’t know where to start. Yet, the last thing you want your extra space to become is a dumping ground for your family’s homeless belongings. With some planning and creative thinking, that empty spare room could become one of the busiest parts of your house! So, if you’ve found yourself wondering what to do with an extra room, here are just some of our favourite spare room ideas to spruce up your home.
1. Guest Bedroom
One of the most obvious things to do with a spare room is turn it into a guest bedroom, particularly if your home is the host of many gatherings and parties. Having a space specifically for guests sleeping over relieves the last minute stresses of making up sofa beds and swapping rooms to accommodate family and friends and ensures that their stay in your home will be a comfortable one.
To create the perfect guest bedroom, you’ll want to prioritise comfort with a dose of style. You don’t want to craft a room that feels too much like a hotel, but you don’t want your guests staying in squalor either! So include plush accents, stylish accessories and plenty of home comforts for a guest bedroom your friends will be begging to come back to.
Colour Palettes:
- Soft greens, yellows, blues and purples
- Greys and blues
- Browns and pastels
2. Dressing Room
A dressing room is just as elegant as it sounds and is one of our favourite small spare room ideas because it needs so little space. Here, you can add some stylish storage options to keep all of your dressing essentials, including cosmetics and accessories. This will help you keep your bedroom clean and tidy and means that you can shut the door for a few minutes in the morning and get ready for the day in as much peace as your home will allow!
A dressing room is a personalised space, so you can do with it exactly as you wish! Include plenty of storage space to add all your essentials, hang a full-length mirror, and add some of your favourite décor pieces to really individualise the room. Plus, if you have a dressing table, make sure you place it in front of a natural light source for the best lighting.
Colour Palettes:
- Black and white
- Earth tones
- Dark blue and white
3. At-Home Gym
Exercise is good for the mind, body and soul, and it’s even better if you can do it from the comfort of your own home! An at-home gym is a perfect spare room transformation for any gym bunny and doesn’t have to break the bank or the style of your home. Plus, you’re more likely to stick to your workout plan with a home gym, as there are no excuses.
A home gym doesn’t need to be lacking in style. Naturally, you should invest in your favourite sports equipment – whether this is a treadmill or a yoga mat – to keep in your gym, but don’t be afraid to accessorise. Add a place for you to store towels or your workout clothes, pin some inspirational pictures, and hang a clock, so you know when to clock out.
Colour Palettes:
- Fiery reds and oranges
- Lavender and off-white
- Greys and blues
4. Home Office
As many of us continue to embrace working from home, a home office is one of the best spare room transformations. Even if you don’t work from home, an office in the house can be beneficial in many other ways. For example, it can give you space to work on your hobbies or for children to focus on their homework.
A minimalist design is perfect for creating a space to fuel focus. Bring in a spacious, sturdy desk and a comfortable chair and add anything you or your family may need for working. Keep the space free of clutter and distractions for a successful day’s work.
Check out more of our home office design ideas.
Colour Palettes:
- Greens and yellows
- Navy and white
- Grey and blue
5. Reading Room
Of all the small spare room ideas, a reading room is one of the cosiest. If you love having the peace and quiet to read, turning your extra room into a dedicated reading space will allow you to lose yourself in your favourite books without disturbance.
Naturally, a reading room has two priorities – books and comfort. So make sure you add plenty of bookcases that you can fill and invest in a comfy wingback chair to read for hours on end without any aches and pains. Finally, include the perfect lighting for you to read by – a tall floor lamp beside your chair should do the trick.
Colour Palettes:
- Light and dark shades of green
- Pale orange and tan
- Blue and brown
6. Play Room
If you have children, they’re bound to have a few spare room ideas of their own! A playroom will be perfect for your children because it gives them a separate place to store their toys and keeps their bedrooms clean. Plus, a playroom can be the ideal place to teach your kids about organisation and tidiness[i].
The best furniture ideas for a playroom are those with combined storage. For example, a cushioned storage bench will allow you to comfortably watch over your children and then quickly sweep away their toys with little fuss.
Colour Palettes:
- Sunny yellow and navy
- Orange and light grey
- Green and tan
7. Home Cinema
The movie buffs among you would no doubt love a room where you can watch your favourites uninterrupted. So, why not transform your spare room into a home cinema? With a cosy atmosphere and an arsenal of your favourite movies, that spare room could become the perfect place to lounge back and enjoy cinema releases both old and new.
For the perfect home cinema experience, you could install a projector into your spare room – but a large-screened TV will do the job just as well! Pair this with a soft, comfortable sofa loaded with cushions and a table to hold all your snacks. Then, add some perfect cinema comforts, such as a mini-fridge or even a popcorn machine, and hang some of your favourite movie posters to complete the look.
Colour Palettes:
- Black and brown
- Burgundy and gold
- Navy and earthy tones
8. Walk-In Wardrobe
If your bedroom has a significant lack of storage space, a walk-in wardrobe is the perfect spare room idea for you. Big or small, you can create a walk-in wardrobe anywhere. In fact, if you have quite a bit of space, you could combine two of our spare room ideas and create a dressing room with a walk-in wardrobe.
To create your own walk-in wardrobe, the top priority is storage. Ensure that you have enough stylish storage options in which to keep all your clothes, shoes and accessories – don’t forget to utilise wall space too! Consider your lighting scheme too. Ideally, you should have as much natural light as possible, but soft spotlights will work just as well. Include a full length mirror and plenty of luxurious accessories to complete the room.
Colour Palettes:
- Yellow and white
- Brown and grey
- Dark brown and navy blue
9. Ensuite Bathroom
An ensuite bathroom is a luxurious dream, but a spare room can make that dream come true. Of course, an ensuite bathroom is functional and opulent, but it can also add value to your home, so it’s a winning investment in the long term too.
Of course, building an ensuite bathroom from scratch isn’t on overnight job, but it is a rewarding one. You will have to ensure that your plumbing is checked and redirected if necessary and purchase all the required amenities to make your ensuite usable. But the fun begins with the décor! Add some beautiful, patterned tiles for a unique look and wall lights around a large mirror so you can enjoy your ensuite to the max.
Colour Palettes:
- Teal and white
- Grey and brown
- Black and gold
10. Home Studio
Whether you’re an artist or a seamstress, a fashion designer or a musician, a home studio has many uses. And a spare room can give you easy access to these activities. However you’d like to use your home studio, you can keep all the necessary equipment safe in a room dedicated to that pursuit with a spare room.
Of course, you can alter your home studio to fit your needs, but there are certain décor ideas for you to consider generally. For example, you’ll want to include plenty of storage to keep your studio clear of clutter and a roomy desk to complete your work on. Also, try and let in as much natural light as possible to boost your creativity and add some of your favourite décor pieces to make the space a joyful one.
Colour Palettes:
- Greens and yellows
- Blues and greys
- Pinks and whites
Bringing Your Spare Room Ideas To Life
Transforming a spare room is an exciting prospect, and with our spare room ideas we’re sure your creativity won’t run dry! Converting your spare room into a usable space may not be an easy feat, but once you’re new area is complete, the excitement will make all that work worth it – so what are you waiting for?!
Have you converted your spare room? Let us know what you did!
Sources
[i] https://www.imagineitdoneny.com/post/engage-your-child-in-playroom-organization
Office and marketing manager for Sloane & Sons Stylish Chairs, who sell a range of high-quality tub chairs, accent chairs and more.
