What Would You Do If You Had an Extra Room?
Be a rock star, a crafting star, a movie mogul. But whatever you'd choose for your spare room, don't let reality stop you
Let’s pretend for a minute. Say you have an extra room in your house and you can do anything with it. Pretend you don’t need the space for that extra kid or that collection of merry-go-round horses. It’s just extra and you can do anything with it.
It could be your salsa dancing room or your indoor basketball court. Maybe it’s a meditation room, a home gym or a family room. The truth is, we could all use an extra room. Once we’re all housed and the kitchen, bathrooms and common rooms are taken care of, there seems to always be a need for just a little extra space. A fantasy room.
I’m trying to chose between a cozy, comfy library and a playroom for the kids. Not that there’s any hurry for my decision.
It could be your salsa dancing room or your indoor basketball court. Maybe it’s a meditation room, a home gym or a family room. The truth is, we could all use an extra room. Once we’re all housed and the kitchen, bathrooms and common rooms are taken care of, there seems to always be a need for just a little extra space. A fantasy room.
I’m trying to chose between a cozy, comfy library and a playroom for the kids. Not that there’s any hurry for my decision.
A game room, perhaps? A billiard table, board games, maybe even a built-in bar. It’s like a playroom for adults.
There is no reason a game room can’t be stylish, no matter what your style is. This shed (OK, deluxe shed) is a bright, open-air take on the dark, leather-and-beer-signs version of the billiard room.
A viewing room? Otherwise known as a media room. This one goes all out with supercomfy chairs and cocktail tables. I’ve been wanting to watch all the Harry Potter movies in a row. This room would be the place to do it.
Here’s how to have an immersive home theatre experience
Here’s how to have an immersive home theatre experience
A viewing room doesn’t have to have special architecture. A big screen and lots of comfortable seating are really all you need (oh, and blackout shades).
A home library? Is your book collection in teetering piles against the wall? Is your idea of a good time a few hours of quiet solitude with a good book? Floor-to-ceiling built-ins, a sliding ladder and a good reading chair would do nicely.
Check out these Booker-Prize worthy reading spots
Check out these Booker-Prize worthy reading spots
A music room? Just picture the epic jam sessions with your buddies to be had here. You might never be the Rolling Stones, but if you have your own private music room you can pretend you are.
Soundproofing doesn't have to be egg cartons stapled to the garage door. Support you mini Mozart with soundproofed, vinyl-covered walls. It can double as a padded room for all the thrashing.
A craft room? Indulge your inner Martha. Imagine what sort of amazing and beautiful things you could make if you had the surface area and the storage space to accompany your imagination.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. A good craft room just has to be organised and offer a little surface space. A painted pegboard and some containers are a good start.
A playroom? It’s fun for the kids and fun for the grown-ups (the kids have a place to go to raise a ruckus). It doesn’t have to have to be an architect-designed tree house. Indoor swings, beanbags and some shelving for toys. There you have it.
Browse through images of fun playrooms for kids
Browse through images of fun playrooms for kids
Of course you can go full-on forest (or whatever) fantasy and turn your playroom into a themed romp through the land of make believe.
A perfect guest room. A designated guest room is always ready, well decorated and comfy. Nobody has to sleep on a blow-up under your desk. How relaxing not to have to go digging for the extra sheets every time Aunt Agnes visits.
A guest room can reflect your personality and design quirks as much as any other room. Use it to create an aesthetic dream room where clutter is not welcome.
These are the essentials for a guest room
These are the essentials for a guest room
A home office. Whether you’re a writer, a bookkeeper or a homemaker, you deserve your own space.
This backyard prefab cottage is the perfect home office – away but close. Tiny but just big enough.
Read more:
What to Do With a Spare Room
Tell us:
Do you have an extra room in your home? How have you used it? Tell us in the Comments below.
Read more:
What to Do With a Spare Room
Tell us:
Do you have an extra room in your home? How have you used it? Tell us in the Comments below.