10 Spare Room Ideas: Transform Your Empty Space into a Family Favorite

Last Updated on September 5, 2022 by hortonteam

Finding a home with lots of extra space is usually one of the top priorities of prospective buyers, but many of us end up wasting space in our homes. Do you need spare room ideas to transform that empty space in your home? There are countless possibilities to choose from, and we’ve compiled some of our favorites below. Keep in mind that some of these can become expensive, and many of them will depend on your personal preferences, but any of these ideas can help revitalize your empty space and help you enjoy every last square foot in your home!

1.     Extra Bedroom for Children or Guests

The first of our spare room ideas include creating an additional living space. This is a great option for those with children sharing a bedroom, especially if your spare bedroom is on the second level by the master bedroom. Adding a bedroom is relatively inexpensive unless you also need to add a window space—if you go with that option, the price can add up quickly, especially in a home with a brick exterior. If the room already has a window or you aren’t inclined to add one, this transformation can be easily done by adding a few furniture pieces such as a bed and dresser.

Building a new closet is also a potentially expensive headache you’ll probably want to avoid, but you can counter the lack of storage space by adding an open, clothing-rack style closet, throwing up DIY shelves, or utilizing under-the-bed storage bins. The space can also be used as a spare bedroom for family or guests. Even if you don’t have children and you don’t have much use for a spare bedroom, adding one can definitely boost your home’s attractiveness and chances of selling when the time comes.

2.     Office Space

Who doesn’t want an at-home office available for their own private use? Not only does this addition make your home look more modern, but it’s also an incredibly practical space. You know those times when you plan to get some important work done on the couch, but instead, you end up watching the entire first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Anyone? By creating a separate area of your home that is solely for studying or completing work, you’ll be able to focus more on what you need to do and limit the distractions that are found elsewhere around your home. You don’t need much to complete this room: a computer, workspace, some literature resources, office supplies, and maybe even a printer. Even if you don’t have a job that requires you to need office space, you’ll be surprised at how often you find yourself in this part of the home—even if it’s just for a few hours a day. Seller’s tip: buyers LOVE having an available office space. If you’re going to be showing your home to a potential buyer, be sure to clean and really make this space shine.

3.     Laundry Room ($$)

One of the most functional spare room ideas we thought of is turning the space into a laundry room. That being said, it can also get pretty pricey. Depending on the setup of your home and the way it was constructed, it may become incredibly expensive (or downright impossible) to add the necessary plumbing for washer and dryer hookups, and the dryer vent could also pose an issue. However, we’ve seen other homes where this addition was achievable with very little accommodation, so you’ll have to check with your builder or local expert to see if it’s possible in your home. If the latter is the case for you, adding a laundry room can add a lot of ease to your typical laundry routine. The space can act as a storage area for your washer and dryer, spare towels, dirty clothes, and all kinds of cleaning materials that you’d like to keep out of sight. For an added bonus (if your plumbing situation allows it), you can add a washtub or sink to make double use of the space as both a laundry room and utility room. Even if you just go for the bare minimum and use the area as a place to hold your washer, dryer, and laundry basket, buyers will still appreciate having an extra dedicated space in the home.

4.     Additional Bathroom ($$$)

This option may be the most expensive one of all, but it can also add a lot of value to your home. Just like with the laundry room, the addition of a bathroom may not be plausible in every home, and if it is, it will definitely become an expensive endeavor. If you have the money to spare, adding a bathroom can add a convenience factor to your home as well as a positive selling point for buyers. You may need to enlist the help of a contractor to get this project started, but some people are able to create the room themselves. Even if you choose to go the half-bath route and exclude the shower, adding a spacious bathroom is something that buyers will love when searching for homes. The extra space will also allow for additional storage and roominess, which will make your buyers feel like they’re getting an extra master bathroom. This is probably the most challenging spare room idea on this list, but making it a reality will definitely increase your home’s attractiveness and overall accessibility.

5.     Study or Personal Library

One of our favorite spare room ideas is the addition of a study or personal library. There’s something about a study that adds a layer of sophistication to a home, and buyers agree. Whether you want to call it a study or a library, these types of rooms are generally the same—they look like a personal office with the addition of your favorite collection of literature and cozy furniture. You don’t have to recreate a room out of a popular 1700s melodrama on TV, but the room should present itself as an elevated space when compared to the rest of your home. This space can be used as a “get-away” that adds a level of classiness you don’t exactly receive from a “man cave” or garage. If you’re thinking about selling your home, this room can definitely act as a showpiece that buyers will love to inherit.  This space can be used for just about anything you want, whether it’s another place to focus on your work and research, a hidden area to squeeze in a short nap, or even a stereotypical room to curl your mustache with a glass of scotch in hand. Whatever you decide to use this study for, you can rest assured knowing it will help make your home look more sophisticated and stand out from the crowd.

6.     Classy Storage Room

We’ve all seen those horrendous “storage rooms” that so many people have—the kind that looks like the inside of a hoarder’s storage unit. It’s easy to fall into that trap because as soon as you start adding a few items to the room, it quickly becomes a catch-all for everything that doesn’t have a permanent home elsewhere in your home. As long as you set boundaries and don’t allow that to happen, creating a storage room can be a great addition. It allows you to set some of your items out of view from friends and family when they come to visit, and it’s a great way to make sure you don’t lose important items that you aren’t sure where to store. To avoid the cluttered stage, try investing in some organizational devices such as bins, cabinets, or bookcases. These can be arranged in organized ways or color-coded so that you can quickly find what you’re looking for. Get creative! There are many different ways you can keep this room in order while still having a hidden location to store the misfit items of your home.

7.     Walk-In Closet

Disappointed with your available closet space? More spare room ideas—a large walk-in closet. This idea isn’t as desirable if your spare room is on the other end of the home as your bedroom, but it’s still a relatively cheap and easy transformation. The walk-in closet in the photo above is nice, but you can save money by using standard closet rods across the room and skipping on the glass cases. We also recommend building or buying an island centerpiece to really make the room pop. The island can be used to store accessories like shoes, watches, ties, jewelry, and more. Don’t forget to add chairs (to put on your shoes) and full-body mirrors, too—you’ll definitely want to use this space to get ready, so you need a way to see yourself. This type of room is definitely a plus for potential buyers, especially if it’s located next to one of the bedrooms. See what kind of walk-in closet designs would look best in your home!

8.     Media Room

Another one of our favorite spare room ideas is the addition of a media room. This space is similar to a bonus or game room, but the main focus is on the television or home theater. If you’re going to go with this option, don’t make your centerpiece a dinky 22″ set. Many people choose to invest in a large, wall-mounted television rather than the classic home entertainment system or TV stand. Pair this with a comfy couch or recliner and you have your new go-to movie room experience! If you have extra money to spare, look at getting a surround sound system to complement the television. This can really boost your movie-watching experience, and most sets are easy to calibrate and set up by yourself. Another popular option is to add a dimmer switch or recessed lighting to create a low-light atmosphere as you experience in a real movie theater. Who knows, you may even want to purchase your own popcorn machine!

9.     Game Room

No matter what age the inhabitants of your house are, everyone loves being able to decompress with some recreational fun. If this sounds like something you’d like, try turning your extra space into a game room! As technology develops, video game systems are becoming more and more affordable. There’s also been a big push towards family-friendly games that the whole family can enjoy together. Your children will love this space, and it’s also a nice showpiece if prospective buyers are looking at your home. Depending on the size of your extra room, you can also go old school with some non-digital games. If the space allows, try adding something like a pool or ping pong table, foosball, or even a basketball arcade machine. Compliment these options with some comfortable seating and a plate of pizza rolls and you’re all set!

10.     Activity Room and Other Spare Room Ideas

As you can probably tell by now, there are countless ways you can bring life back to your empty space! We decided to use this last section to list several other spare room ideas that came to mind. Some of our other favorites include:

• Activity room (for children or adults)
• Artistic space (don’t mix with carpet!)
• Music room (either for playing or listening)
• Yoga room (use carpet here or soft pads)
• Nursery (or additional storage space for diapers, toys, and other baby goods)
• Man Cave (or Ma’am Cave!)
• Bar (yes, please!)
• At-home gym (we’ll get back to you on that one)
• Animal room (for safekeeping, sleeping, or storage)

Which of our spare room ideas are your favorites? What have you transformed your spare room into? Let us know in the comment section below!