Turn Your Spare Room Into Something Useful in 6 Steps

It happens. You had plans for that spare room, but life took over in Christmas decor boxes, unpacked luggage, and that broken vacuum cleaner you know you could fix if you just had the time.

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Give that spare room a makeover, and you’ll find that it has the potential to do so much more.

When you’re repurposing an underused room, consider what you need it to do the most. It should complement and add value to your current lifestyle, whether it’s by helping you be more productive or allowing you to relax.

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A few practical and indulgent ideas for the spare room:

• Guest bedroom/nap room
• Yoga or fitness room
• Art studio
• Library
• Play room
• Home office or study room
• Entertainment room
• Family room
• Bar
• Nursery

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Deciding what the room will be used for will help you zero in on the details you’ll need for the next few steps.

If your paint is looking dull or your wallpaper is outdated, it’s time to go for a new look.

Painting is the easiest and most instantly noticeable way to uplift a room. Keep in mind what the room will be for when deciding on the colour. If it’s a guest room, keep the colour palette neutral or warm for an inviting effect. A child’s playroom would look fun and quirky with bright colours, striped walls, or murals.

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Carpeting the floor is another great trick to change the look of the entire room, though it may not be appropriate if the room was designed for messier endeavours like an art room or playroom.

In those cases, laying hardwood floors can be a good investment as it is timeless, isn’t difficult to clean, and conceals dirt well (for those ho-hum days). For other easy to clean flooring, check out this article.

Once you’ve decided what your floors and walls are going to look like, it’s time to coordinate your furniture, fabric, throws, and even the window treatment that you’re going to use. A cohesive colour scheme makes everything look put together and thoughtful.

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No matter what the room, you’ll have to think about how to keep clutter at bay. Drawers are the perfect solution for most rooms, thanks to their multipurpose nature. Heavy wood armoires are great for nap rooms-slash-guestrooms, art studios, or meditation rooms, while shelves are more practical for libraries, home offices, and music rooms.

This will never not be handy. If constructing an entire bathroom takes too long to coordinate (on top of costing way more), getting a contractor to build in an extra sink or a half-bathroom may be more reasonable than you would expect. It’s a small investment for a whole lot of convenience.

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Doesn’t matter if you need to get your kids to wash their hands right after playtime or want to wash your watercolour brushes without risking a trip to the bathroom across the hall with jugs of dirty paint water. It would also be nice for your guest to be able to lightly freshen up without having to step outside the room.

Once the main hardware is in place, it’s time to add a little fancy software to give the room pizzazz. Decorate the walls with art projects, inspirational quotes, and even family photographs if you want to add a personal touch to the room.

Gorgeous lighting will lift up any room, while plants lend a burst of freshness.

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