In a house, most of the main rooms have a specific purpose to serve. But if you have a spare room in your house, you may not know what to do with it. Whether you were part of the 11% of the U.S. population that moved in 2017 and still haven’t made a decision or if you’ve been in your home for years and just want to try something new, there are so many ways you can utilize an extra room. So if you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few ideas for how to clean up and use a spare room in your house.
A Home Gym
If you like to workout, you might go to the gym or a fitness center regularly. But everyone has those days where they don’t want to have to leave the house to go workout — especially with the average cost of a gym membership being $58 per month. Fortunately, if you’ve got the space for it, you can create your own mini gym at home. Invest in some basic gym equipment, like a treadmill, some free weights, and maybe a yoga mat. This way you can get your workout in without leaving the house.
Just be sure to have a fan nearby. After all, our bodies are like well-oiled machines, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a little love and care. Just like an air compressor converts up to 90% of its energy into heat, your body will get nice and toasty in a poorly ventilated space. Turn up the AC before you turn up the heat (in your workout, that is). When you install a home gym, you’ll save time, money, and you’ll be able to exercise on your own schedule.
A Home Office
When you’re able to work from home, you need a quiet and organized space to be productive in. This is why it can be a great idea to create a home office. If you have a spare room, fill it up with a desk, a comfortable chair, a computer, and maybe some filing cabinets or storage for office supplies. In doing this, you can have a good space to work in. Or if you’re not in a productive mood and were part of the 79% of consumers who shopped online in 2017, you can use your office recreationally for things like online shopping.
A Reading Room
Reading is a great activity that everyone can enjoy. And if you’re a bit of a bookworm, why not have a whole room in the house dedicated to reading? A small and cozy room in your house can make a great reading room — invest in some bookshelves and comfy furniture so you can get lost in a good book. Make sure you have some great lighting so you don’t strain your eyes while reading. Natural light from windows is a great option but you should also have some soft overhead lighting or even a book light to use. This way, you can read all through the night when you can’t put a book down.
A Kid’s Playroom
It’s no secret that kids can have a lot of toys — and these toys can often end up all over the house. If this is something you’re looking to avoid, consider having a room in your house dedicated to your kids’ toys. You can have some storage options, like shelves and bins, to keep all of the toys organized and put away. But you can also allow your kids to use the room creatively, playing to their heart’s content. This way, they can have a space to be free and play as they choose without their toys taking over the house.
A Guest Bedroom
Of course, you can always simply use your extra room as a nice guest room. Guest rooms are practical, especially if you often have friends or family visiting and staying with you. But with interior designers recommending updating home decor at least every 10 years, make sure you choose a color and design for the room that won’t go out of style quickly. Consider something simple and neutral — and as for furniture, invest in a bed, some nice nightstands, and dressers your guests can use when they stay at your house.
There are a ton of different ways you can use an extra room in your house. Don’t forget about resale value, either! If you’re going to pay a 6% commission fee to a realtor, make sure you’ve put good investments into your space.So keep these ideas in mind and choose something that works for your lifestyle.