8 ideas for that empty spare room

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
Ifield Road, Kensington, Grand Design London Ltd Grand Design London Ltd 書房/辦公室
Loading admin actions …

First of all, if you have a spare room at home which you don’t know what to do with, consider yourself very lucky! Space is definitely on the endangered species list nowadays, with homeowners forking out big bucks in order to gain more legroom for their homes – from adding extensions onto their houses to purchasing free-standing garden rooms.

Now, what to do with your extra room – turning it into a guest bedroom might sound like a good idea, but if you already have a guest room and/or you don’t really receive overnight guests on a regular basis, do you really need one? Won’t it be so much better using it for something else that you can get more regular use out of?

We’ve done the research for you; thus, here are the 8 most popular ideas for a spare room!


1. Spare room ideas: A reading room

homify 書房/辦公室

There’s something about a full-length bookcase, packed full of good reading material, that screams “classic” and “clever”. And if you’re one of those who love nothing more than to get lost in a good novel or magazine, then number one on our list might just be for you.

A personal library is any bookworm’s dream come true. And it’s also so easy to make it possible. All that’s required is an extra room (check!), a few bookshelves aligning one or more walls, a sofa or some comfortable chairs, adequate lighting, plus a few choice accessories to make the room more “you”. 

And seeing as bookcases come in all styles, shapes and sizes (not to mention prices), you are bound to find the perfect ones for your particular spare room. 


2. Spare room ideas: A home office

Whether you work from home on a full-time basis or put in a lot of overtime, a home office can definitely enhance your productivity. And even if you don’t use it for your regular occupation, a home office or study can still be ideal for other activities like paying bills, or as a homework zone for the children.

What makes this option more practical than, say, a simple little desk underneath a staircase is the fact that a spare room (usually) comes with a door – meaning it has potential to lock yourself away from the rest of the house’s noise if peace and quiet is what you seek. 

Similar to a personal library or reading room, a home office will also require certain elements to make it more practical (such as a desk, cabinets for filing, electricity, proper lighting, seating), so be sure that it provides sufficient space for all these!


3. Spare room ideas: A home gym

Turquoise Flowers Pixers 健身房 wall mural,wallpaper,wall decal

We can’t imagine anything better than having your own exercise space right inside your house – no more blaming bad traffic for not getting a proper workout!

Whether you use it to lift some weights or engage in calming yoga stretches (or both), a home gym should still be a space where you can do what you need to do in undisturbed peace and quiet. And likewise, if blaring loud music helps you get a proper aerobic workout, ensure that your exercises don’t bother the rest of the household. 

What’s crucial to turn that spare room into an exercise space? A flat surface (especially if you plan on doing yoga), plus the proper equipment (which will depend on the type of exercises you wish to engage in). 

homify hint: To make your yoga space the ultimate Zen zone, opt for minimal designs, serene music, potted plants, plus scented candles. If the room has a wonderful view of the garden, even better! 


4. Spare room ideas: A music room

Doesn’t matter if you’re a professional musician or only play the occasional instrument now and again, a dedicated music room housing the proper tools, speakers, instrument stands and sheet music is any virtuoso’s dream. 

homify hint: To make sure the rest of the household doesn’t cringe whenever you practice your musical craft, make your music room more soundproof with rugs, curtains, and proper wall materials. 


5. Spare room ideas: A kiddies’ corner

Even if your own kids are all grown up, there might still be other children who regularly visit your house, like friends’ smaller children or your own grandkids. And if that is true, then you’ve probably wondered what you can do to minimise the amount of toys strewn across your house.

The answer? Turning that spare room into a kiddies’ play zone! 

Opt for some bright and colourful paint for the walls, a soft flooring material, lots of legroom for kids to crawl and hop (and whatever else it is they do), toys, bookshelves and cabinets to help keep the space neat and tidy, and comfortable seating spots (like poufs and oversized pillows). 

The kids will love having their own play area, and you’ll be equally grateful that there are no more tripping hazards strewn around the hallway and living room! 

6. Spare room ideas: An indoor garden

Does your spare room have lots of natural light or is it possible to add more floor-to-ceiling windows so that the entire space bathes in sunshine? Then a conservatory / greenroom is definitely a possibility (if you have green fingers, of course).

This is an especially wonderful idea of you don’t have adequate space in your yard for your dream garden. Even if your spare room is small this idea might still be possible, as you don’t need hectares of legroom for indoor gardens – a few potted plants and/or a walled garden is also an option! 

Feel free to experiment with different coloured plants and flowers, various-sized pots, and a creative layout to ensure your indoor garden enjoys its own unique look. 

7. Spare room ideas: An arts and crafts room

Want your own little space to sit and doodle, experiment with watercolours, or engage in some relaxing pottery, knitting, sewing, writing, etc? Then how about turning that spare room into your own arts and crafts room? This is a great idea to enhance an existing artistic skill (like painting), and possibly even discover a few new ones – how do you know you’re not talented enough to pen the next bestseller if you’ve never tried?

Design this room according to the activity you’ll be focusing on. For instance, if you plan on using your art studio for painting, it’s more practical to opt for a wooden floor (which is sealed after it is installed), sheet vinyl or tile.


8. Spare room ideas: A dressing room / walk-in closet

If your love of shopping regularly leads to tiffs between you and your partner over lack of wardrobe space, a spare-room-turned-dressing-room might just save your relationship! Plus, having your own dressing area can help minimise the excess clutter in your bedroom and bathroom.

We recommend long mirrors, custom-made shelving, open hanging racks, a comfy seating area (for putting on shoes, obviously), plus decent lighting. And if you have extra legroom, opt for a makeup or powder table to finish off the design nicely. 

Should you decide that your spare room must become an extra bedroom, let us show you how to Be the best host ever with these guest bedroom ideas. 


需要請人幫你裝潢設計或蓋房子嗎?
馬上找專業人士!

我們雜誌的焦點