Want to Carve Out an Extra Room? Here's How to Do It
Could that space for a spare room be staring you in the face? See whether any of these ideas might fit your home
In a busy household, it can often feel as if no one gets any space to themselves, while in an open-plan room, the lack of defined zones can sometimes make a home feel smaller. One potential solution to either of these problems is to magic up a new room inside one you already have. Easier said than done, perhaps… Or perhaps not, if you have some space on your hands, as these architecturally inventive ideas from around the world show.
Here is the other side of the partition, where you can see how practical the timber half-wall is, as it provides a valuable surface against which furniture can be placed.
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Build a box
In this open-plan Spanish apartment in Barcelona, the sense of a discrete kitchen has been created by this semi-glazed ‘box’.
Again, the decision not to build a room cut off by solid walls all around is partly influenced by the position of the windows. This way, natural light and views can be shared.
The half-glass, half-solid wall is practical for furniture placement, particularly on the kitchen side, where it facilitates base units and a small peninsula, as seen in the next photo.
In this open-plan Spanish apartment in Barcelona, the sense of a discrete kitchen has been created by this semi-glazed ‘box’.
Again, the decision not to build a room cut off by solid walls all around is partly influenced by the position of the windows. This way, natural light and views can be shared.
The half-glass, half-solid wall is practical for furniture placement, particularly on the kitchen side, where it facilitates base units and a small peninsula, as seen in the next photo.
The space beyond the internal windows becomes a perfect spot for living room seating or a dining table, with the glass muffling noise created on either side.
Favour freestanding
If family fun isn’t too distracting and you have a large, open-plan floor in your home, this idea could be an alternative.
Rather than being built-in, this freestanding cube designed by Chris Dyson Architects in this London, UK home is on casters. It provides storage and a bookcase for the living space at floor level, and an enclosed (if not private) work space inside.
If family fun isn’t too distracting and you have a large, open-plan floor in your home, this idea could be an alternative.
Rather than being built-in, this freestanding cube designed by Chris Dyson Architects in this London, UK home is on casters. It provides storage and a bookcase for the living space at floor level, and an enclosed (if not private) work space inside.
Boost your landing
A landing isn’t a room as such, but, in some homes, it’s an existing space that has the potential to give you anything from a home office, as seen in this London home, to a reading nook, dressing room or play space. Indeed, making use of a decent-sized landing can give you a whole extra, self-contained room.
There are various ways to go, but bespoke internal glazing like this can give you a seamless door and windows while maintaining the sight of an attractive external window as you come up the stairs. It should also keep your staircase flooded with daylight.
Browse more beautifully designed home offices
A landing isn’t a room as such, but, in some homes, it’s an existing space that has the potential to give you anything from a home office, as seen in this London home, to a reading nook, dressing room or play space. Indeed, making use of a decent-sized landing can give you a whole extra, self-contained room.
There are various ways to go, but bespoke internal glazing like this can give you a seamless door and windows while maintaining the sight of an attractive external window as you come up the stairs. It should also keep your staircase flooded with daylight.
Browse more beautifully designed home offices
Make it temporary
A room within a room, as already seen, does not need to be fully self-contained – nor does it need to be permanent.
In this extended home in Surrey, UK, the large kitchen/dining/living space includes a play area for the homeowners’ small children. In an ingenious piece of design, toy storage is concealed behind a large, swing-out screen with a blackboard on one side.
A room within a room, as already seen, does not need to be fully self-contained – nor does it need to be permanent.
In this extended home in Surrey, UK, the large kitchen/dining/living space includes a play area for the homeowners’ small children. In an ingenious piece of design, toy storage is concealed behind a large, swing-out screen with a blackboard on one side.
Seen here, closed, it demonstrates how swiftly toys can be tidied away when not in use.
When the screen is pulled out, it contains some of the chaos of toys being strewn about. It also gives the children a sense of independence while still being within earshot of anyone in the kitchen or living area.
When the screen is pulled out, it contains some of the chaos of toys being strewn about. It also gives the children a sense of independence while still being within earshot of anyone in the kitchen or living area.
Look up
With its calming palette and cosy sitting area complete with fireplace and TV, this comfortable bedroom in Kent, UK, designed by Furnished by Anna, would be a real retreat from a busy household.
In order to make space for the seating area, the wardrobes and dressing table have been moved…
With its calming palette and cosy sitting area complete with fireplace and TV, this comfortable bedroom in Kent, UK, designed by Furnished by Anna, would be a real retreat from a busy household.
In order to make space for the seating area, the wardrobes and dressing table have been moved…
…Onto a mezzanine. Go up those stairs in the previous photo and you’ll land here, in the perfect spot for storing clothes and getting ready.
High ceilings can create many opportunities for anything from extra storage to sleeping platforms and more. A good architect can fill you in on what’s feasible and how to design something that complies with building regulations.
Read more:
12 Great Ideas For The Extra RoomRoom-by-Room Guide: Clever Ways to Maximise Underused Corners
Tell us:
Have you created an extra room in your home? Tell us how you did it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
High ceilings can create many opportunities for anything from extra storage to sleeping platforms and more. A good architect can fill you in on what’s feasible and how to design something that complies with building regulations.
Read more:
12 Great Ideas For The Extra RoomRoom-by-Room Guide: Clever Ways to Maximise Underused Corners
Tell us:
Have you created an extra room in your home? Tell us how you did it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
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While many of us may not have a separate room we can dedicate to working from home, we may have ‘surplus’ space downstairs. In period properties with two reception rooms, as well as modern homes with large, open-plan spaces like this one, there will often be scope to carve off a portion of the room to add an extra room or function – with some clever architectural design, of course.
In this home in London, UK, an enclosed home office has been created at one end of a living room. To keep the feeling of airy openness while creating a quiet place to work, architects Mailen Design created a partition in wood and glass that lets light flow between both rooms. A continuous built-in bookcase and storage unit further connects the two spaces.