fitness

With back-to-school season in swing, you may find your nest emptier than normal. This time of change is often difficult and impacts us all differently. Some of us have been waiting for this day and have grand ideas of room renovations, some of us plan to keep the room intact until they officially move out, and then for some of us the official move out date has occurred and we still are unsure what to do with the space room. Not to worry, that’s what we’re here for!

In this article we’ve compiled 10 spare bedroom ideas with tips from several experts. Whether you’ve always wanted a craft room in your rental home in Bellevue, WA but are unsure how to organize it or don’t even know where to start with your home in Indianapolis, IN, we have you covered!

If you don’t already have one, consider turning the spare bedroom into a guest room. It’s a great idea to have a place for friends or family to stay when they’re in town. The current room likely has a bed already, so you can definitely keep the frame and get new bedding, or completely change out the furniture. 

A guest space can also be extremely multi-functional and ultra-practical. Considering your guests will likely only stay for short periods of time, you can utilize the closet and under-the-bed-area for storage. You can also keep a lot of your child’s things in these storage areas and opt to keep a few out so they still feel at home. If you do end up using all of the closet space, consider getting a luggage rack for guests to put their suitcases on during their stay. 

Beyond storage, this room can also double as a library (but if you do want a full reading room, see idea number four). “Instead of furniture to store clothes (guests can typically use the closet or luggage rack), line the walls with vintage bookshelves and put a sleeper sofa in the room.  The sleeper sofa can double as a cozy place to read and as a guest bed,” suggests Brooke Harris of Happy Simple Mom. To make the space extra relaxing, Brooke also recommends adding in a few house plants for the perfect finishing touch.

photo courtesy of Happy Simple Mom

Although your children may be grown-up and moved out, that doesn’t mean the house will never have kids in it again! Maybe you’re about to enter your grandparent era, are expecting, or are interested in fostering a little, which means a nursery could be perfect for you.

If you’re about to become a grandparent, using your spare room as a home away from home for your grandbabies is a great idea! In order to create the perfect cozy nursery, opt for “simple, versatile furniture like a convertible crib, rocking chair, and a few favorite books,” says Skye and Friends’ owner Vivian Hui. You can also include a changing table and selection of toys as well. As for decor, she recommends pairing their Sea Animals Nursery prints with a matching blanket, perfect for both “storytime snuggles and tummy-time play.” 

photo courtesy of Skye and Friends

It’s a bittersweet reality that kids grow up (that is the crux of this article after all), but a nursery won’t be useful forever. We recommend either combining the nursery with a children’s playroom to accommodate kids of all ages, or consider transitioning the nursery into a playroom in the coming years. 

Instead of or in addition to a crib and changing room, “You can include a kid-sized table and chair for crafts and sensory activities, open-ended toys for imaginative play, or a mini trampoline or Pikler triangle to encourage physical activity,” recommends Vivian. Storage is especially important here as toys can easily become disorganized. As for decor, we suggest keeping the walls fun, either with chalkboard paint to literally let them color on the walls and literally let their creativity run wild or with Skye and Friends’ colorful alphabet prints to inspire both curiosity and learning. 

Perfect for all ages, turning your spare space into a reading room can be the sanctuary solution you’ve been looking for. For the design of your home library, the world is really your oyster. If you want to go full dark academia and make it look like The Library of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, Lori Shaw of Lori Shaw Interiors recommends “painting the bookshelves, lining the backs with wallpaper, and painting the walls and ceiling a moody color.” Despite your design style be it modern and clean, maximist, or coquette, be sure to “fill the shelves with your favorite books and treasures [to create the perfect] luxe and cozy spot for everyone to love,” says Lori.

Not only can your home library fit any aesthetic, but “even an attic or enclosed porch can be transformed into a reading nook” says children’s book author Alicia Ortego. You can even combine this idea and other ones we’ve listed. For example, you can create a reading room with the children in mind as “This space can foster a love of reading…[by] providing a quiet, comfortable environment where children can concentrate on their reading, free from the distractions of other household activities,” recommends Alicia.

Or, you could combine the home library with the guest room as Lori suggests: “In order to make your spare bedroom really work, both for you and your visitors, consider creating a home office/library that doubles as a cozy guest space. It just involves fitting in as many tall bookshelves (IKEA is a fan favorite) as you can, and including a comfy queen pullout sofa.” Whether you decide to make the space completely filled with books or combine the home library with another option, “Transforming these spare rooms into reading nooks can maximize the use of your home’s space and create a delightful corner for relaxation and reading [for all ages],” notes Alicia.

photo courtesy of Lori Shaw Interiors

In a post-2020 world, most of us work from home (at least some of the days), so why not turn your spare room into your dream home office? Virginia wedding photographer, Alina Thomas, suggests “opt[ing] for a calming color palette and incorporate plenty of natural light to boost productivity.” Bringing up what home library again (we really can’t stress the multifunctionality enough), consider “adding a stylish bookshelf to display your favorite reads and a cozy reading nook can make the space multifunctional, serving as both a work area and a retreat for relaxation.” If not enough space is more of a concern, like your partner also works from home for example, check out these tips for making your workspace work (get it?) for two.

We love a DIY project, so we absolutely adore the spare bedroom idea of a hobby/craft room! Even if you’re not a “crafter” persay, many parents find themselves turning to creative hobbies once their nest is empty. Thus, having a dedicated spot for all of your supplies and a place to use them is not only a great use of your spare time, but can help your creativity shine. 

There really are an endless number of crafts to pick up, but how about starting up (or getting back into) sewing? “Sewing is a wonderful hobby that’s been gaining popularity in recent years amongst all age groups. You’ll only need a little bit of room for a small table or a desk to set up a sewing machine,” says Pattymac of PattyMac Makes. For any hobby space, organization is key! 

Pattymac tells us that “Investing in furniture that looks neat and houses supplies will keep a small space from becoming overwhelmed.” Another one of her small sewing room ideas is that vertical space is often overlooked, but is such a “great way to get craft supplies off the floor and organized.”

Regardless of the craft (or crafts) you choose, for the main area of your craft room, “A great plan is to add a large, rectangular worktable into the center of the room that promotes both productivity and creativity,” suggests Modern on Monticello’s blogger Donna Powell. “A worktable not only provides ample space for various projects, but with the table taking center stage, you’ll have plenty of free wall space for convenient supply shelves with the bonus of easy access to walk all around the table as you work. The spacious surface can double as a desk to spread out your materials, calendar, and planners, with enough room for group gatherings. Make your studio or craft room the ultimate workspace with this simple yet essential addition,” she notes.

Speaking of storage, Marlene Alexander of Dollar Store Style has some great organization ideas. “You can repurpose a folding screen by attaching some metal cooling racks to create craft room storage. With the cooling racks in place, you’ll have sturdy places to hold S-hooks and other hangers for scissors, wreath forms and more. You can also attach small plastic bins for things like twine, metal pencil cups to hold glue sticks and even a metal file holder to accommodate things like stencils or cardstock. In fact, this storage unit is completely customizable to suit whatever your crafting needs are. Both sides of the cooling racks can be utilized and the unit takes up very little floor space in a craft room,” suggests Marlene.

Although organization and storage are priorities for a craft room, your space can still be fun and showcase your creativity. For example, Life In Mini’s Laura Rosen Bashar loves blending new items with thrifted treasures for a look that’s both functional and fun. “For organization, I use a vintage printer’s chest to store craft supplies in its many drawers. My printer sits in an industrial rolling cart, which also holds rattan baskets that hide my cutting machine and other tools. To add a touch of whimsy, I’ve decorated the space with colorful paintings, artwork, a cherished vintage movie poster, metal signs, and framed comic books,” says Laura. Since crafting can be an expensive hobby, thrifted items are a great way to not only save money, but also add personal style. Pattymac recommends that “more budget minded crafters” utilizize Facebook Marketplace to find pieces “that will transform that under utilized space into a place to escape the stress of life.”

Whether you call it a man cave, she shed, or theysment, an entertainment space/game room is a great choice for your spare room. Perfect for gamers, movie enthusiasts, or just those who’ve always dreamed of a pool table in their home, now’s your time to create the ultimate entertainment space!

James Taylor, head of SEO and content over at Man Cave Geek, recommends basing “your ‘cave’ around consoles or games that you already have around the home.” However, the stereotypical “man cave” isn’t just for men or for gamers! Consider using the room as a more general entertainment space. “If you have a projector handy, then you can use this for both movie watching and for gaming, meaning that you’re utilizing the space that you do have as effectively as possible,” says James.  Alongside the screen, consider adding comfortable seating, game (foosball, pool, air hockey, etc.) table, a great sound system, and maybe even a mini-fridge for all kinds of beverages and snacks.

Whether or not your apartment in Miami, FL has a gym, consider turning your spare room into your dream fitness center. Regardless of your exercise of choice (weight lifting, dance, yoga, etc.), utilizing the space in this way can be extremely beneficial in helping nourish both your body and mind.

Personal trainer Jason Kozma tells us that “How much functionality you can expect to create depends on how much space you have in this room and how much you want to spend on equipment.” He recommends starting with “the smaller and less expensive items with the most functionality,” and then working your way up. 

For example, start with a cardio machine and adjustable or an assortment of fixed dumbbells, then add in an adjustable work bench (Jason prefers one with a leg extension/curl attachment) and suspension trainer with door anchor, and then finally add in an exercise bands set with handles. “[T]his is about as far as most people are willing to invest and get a serviceable home workout, [but] if you intend to have your entire workout schedule based at home and not go to a gym at all, then you’re going to want to step up to the next level with some sort of barbell cage, barbell, and weight plates,” says Jason. Of course, your fitness center will cater to what activities you like to do most, but we hope this space really has you feeling your best.

If you love fashion and taking your time getting ready, consider converting your space into a walk-in-closet/getting-ready room. This is especially a great spare bedroom idea if you find your bathroom or vanity busting with products or have been struggling to get your dresser drawers to close. 

For this room, both organization and aesthetics are key. When “convert[ing] the room into a stylish walk-in closet,” Beauty Room By CB owner Sophia Bennett recommends “open shelving and shoe racks to showcase your favorite footwear collection.” Open shelving is a great way to display certain pieces and can be used in a hybrid space. For example, Ashley Burk of Ashley Burk Home + Lifestyle combines her closet/vanity space with her guest bedroom. “My room has matching bookcase and wardrobe pieces that display handbags and other special pieces in a decorative way, and is also home to a vanity for my beauty and skincare products. It’s configured thoughtfully so there’s still plenty of room for a bed when we have out-of-town guests. This keeps our primary bathroom and closet less cluttered, and the vanity can also be used by guests when they stay with us,” says Ashley.

There’s a plethora of ways to organize and style all of your things in this getting-ready space. If you have special pieces like a Selkie dress or items you reach for often like a coat, consider adding in a clothing rack. Or if you love doing your hair and makeup, consider adding in a vanity unit with lots of drawer storage and great lighting. You could even add in a long table with multiple seats and mirrors (like Love Island) if you like getting ready with your friends before a night out. The options for styling this room are truly endless, but we recommend mixing both functionality with personal style for a space you’ll really love.

Our last idea for a spare bedroom is to turn your extra room into an indoor garden. Whether your outdoor space is limited or you want a garden more suitable for year round weather, an indoor space for all your plants is both a green and unique option.

“Turning a spare bedroom into a greenhouse to grow your own fresh, organic produce year round is one of the best steps you can do for improving your physical & mental health while reducing your grocery bill in the process,” says The Homesteading RD’s Katie Krejci. She recommends using “a rack system with grow lights suspended from the bottom of each shelf [with] a mat underneath the growing rack so that any drips or dribbles don’t stain your flooring.” For shelving, The Little Green Shoot’s Carly MacQuarrie recommends metal wire ones, but any will work. This design is both space-conscious, fairly inexpensive, and best for “things like herbs, lettuce, kale, radishes, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, sorrel, and onions,” notes Katie. “Plant whatever makes your heart sing, but herbs you use for daily cooking like rosemary, thyme, parsley, cilantro, and even bay leaf, come in very handy to save money and time at the grocery store,” says Carly.

Whatever option you choose, repurposing your child’s room is a great way to embrace the empty nest. We recognize that this time of change can be emotional, so we recommend taking your time changing the room over as lots of feelings may arise during the renovation process. We hope that you slow down and make this transition as easy as possible as well as make whatever space you choose the perfect one for you and yours in the next stage of life.

Source: rent.com