10 spare room ideas - how to create a useful space you'll love
If you’re lucky enough to have one, a spare room is a fantastic opportunity to make your home work better for you, but it can often feel like a big undertaking to turn it into a practical and useful space.
Whether you’re looking to create a functional, multipurpose workspace, or a calm area for unwinding at the end of the day, the key to creating a spare room that works is simply to be clear on its purpose to avoid it becoming a disorganised catch-all space.
Admittedly, some spare room ideas will require a more practical approach (such as laundry rooms with electric and ventilation needs), but it's a great opportunity to let your imagination run wild with more playful design choices. After all, most spare rooms are the smallest of the entire home, so why not take the chance to experiment?
1. Guest bedroom
Perhaps the most obvious use for a spare room is a guest bedroom, which can serve as a place of respite for visiting guests. Creating a functional guest space means designing a room which is relaxing, first and foremost, but also one with enough storage.
‘If you’re creating a small guest bedroom, multifunctional furniture becomes invaluable for space-saving purposes; consider options like sofas that transform into a bed for guests, or a bed featuring built-in storage for you,' says Camilla Lesser, development manager at London-based property developers Essential Living.
Remember, it should also be as calm and rejuvenating as you’d want your own bedroom to be. ‘A spare bedroom is an opportunity to create a home away from home; a mini sanctuary for your guests,’ says Augustine Atobatele, creative designer at Studio Augustine. ‘The top priority is making guests feel comfortable, so some key furniture pieces would be a small table with a comfortable seat that guests can use for work or a beauty routine, as well as some hanging space for clothes.’
Design-wise, soothing colours are a brilliant idea for your walls. ‘Opting for tones that are reminiscent of nature such as greens or blues will instil a welcoming and nourishing energy,’ suggests Helen Shaw, director of marketing at Benjamin Moore. Alternatively, a neutral decor scheme rarely fails. ‘Opt for schemes such as whites, creams and greys,’ says Camilla. 'And keep neutral soft furnishings minimal; too many and it can make your already small space feel even more cramped.'
2. Home office
There are a few necessities when turning a spare room into a home office; you’ll need a desk spacious enough for your work needs, a comfortable, ergonomic chair, and storage for any files or paperwork.
You’ll also need plenty of light to increase productivity, interior designer Holly Hume, of Hume Interior Studio, explains. ‘If you have a window, position the desk facing into the light – this is proven to help with energy. If you're struggling with bringing natural light in, try using a good natural light lamp. Shutters can also help you control the light on different 'settings' – but for darker rooms, always opt for a window dressing that will help maximise natural light.'
Paul Garland, creative manager at Andrew Henry Interiors, encourages a little creativity in this room: 'Not all home offices need to look like a work office; add colour to a wall to bring some sunshine in and make it a positive space. A feature wallpaper will also always make a statement and add warmth and interest.'
One thing to consider is how to enjoy continued use of your office outside of working hours. To do this, Justine Potts, creative director at Potts Design, suggests selecting furniture that serves dual purposes. For example, a sofa bed can serve as a seating area for a moment of downtime during the working day, while also providing a sleeping space for guests. ‘Use room dividers, area rugs, or different lighting to visually separate the office space from the sleeping area,' says Justine. 'A screen is a great way to hide your working area when guests are trying to relax and sleep.'
3. Snug/cinema room
There’s nothing more luxurious than a spare room turned into a snug or media room; think a large screen flush to the wall (or a projector), and tons of cosy seating; as much as you can fit in.
The goal is then to create a space that’s as comfortable as possible. ‘You want to enter a snug and get that instant feeling of warmth. Using different textures and patterns will make your space look instantly playful and inviting,’ says Antoni Roig, senior interior designer at Oka. ‘Identify what materials give you the warm look that you want; whether it’s linen, silk or velvet – any of these finishes can make a huge difference to how your spare room feels.’
Strategic lighting is also a great way to create warmth in a cinema or snug room. ‘Lighting can be easily layered. It’s all about scattering different touches across the room; the more you have, the better. Think in different scales, different sizes, and different heights, from wall sconces, to floor lamps and even table lamps,' Antoni adds.
4. Dressing room
One of the most popular spare room ideas is to use the space as a dressing room where your shoes, clothes and accessories can live. This sort of space requires thoughtful planning, Cathy Dean, founder and CEO of Studio Dean, explains: 'When turning a spare room into a dressing room, always think about how you will use the space every day, and work towards making your routine as smooth as possible.’
For example, if shoes are the last consideration when planning your outfit, stack these on a shoe rack close to the door, and ensure that the room also has a full length mirror, to guarantee that you’re not dashing between rooms while getting ready.
Bright yet flattering light is also a must. ‘Opt for soft lighting and in-wardrobe lights,’ Cathy suggests. And whether you want built-in wardrobes or freestanding storage, you can never have too much of it! 'Plan for as much storage space and mirrors as possible if you can, but make sure doors and drawers don't squash you when open,' warns Cathy.
If the two rooms are next door, connect your dressing room to your bedroom to make your morning routine as simple as possible. ‘Adding doorways to a spare room in between your bedroom and the bathroom makes your dressing journey simple, and avoids hallways,’ Cathy adds.
5. Playroom
The aim of a spare room-turned-playroom (aside from some quiet time for the adults) is to create a fun but safe environment for little ones to explore in – and that usually means embracing colours, bold patterns and safe items of furniture.
Sophie Youngs, designer at Q Design House, says to ‘be bold with colour and pick tones that your children will feel inspired being around.' For example, the use of large scale murals can create a scenic, magical escape.
Adding textures can also help to create a visually stimulating and exciting – yet safe – place for kids to play. ‘If you’re concerned about stains, hard flooring is more preferable as it’s easy to clean,’ Sophie points out. ‘But to make this a practical play space, accessorise with rugs to create a large, comfortable floor space.
‘We also love adding in a comfy sofa upholstered in a durable fabric for children to relax on. And large beanbags, although not always the most aesthetic, can be great in playrooms as they’re light and kids can move them around as desired.’
We'd also suggest zoning to create a multifunctional kids room. ‘Create a separate zone to the playing area, with a table/desk space, where children can do homework or arts and crafts,’ Sophie says.
Lighting should also be a key consideration, as well as storage. 'Make sure the lighting is flexible enough to allow a chilled mood to be created, which can also be brightened up when there’s more intricate work to be done, such as working their way through their latest Lego creation,’ Ann Marie Cousins, founder of interior design house AMC Design, suggests. ‘You should also think about storage as early as you can. Little ones being able to clear away all of their own toys in easily accessed storage is ideal.'
6. Hobby/craft room
‘If you are lucky enough to have the spare space to create your very own hobby room, it should be aesthetically pleasing, as well as practical and functional,’ says interior designer Justine Knox.
Whether you’re planning to sew, draw, write or make candles, your actual work space is the most important part of the room to get right. ‘Think about the height that you need for your hobby, and consider an adjustable table to suit both seated and standing work positions,’ says Justine. ‘And consider the material of your work surfaces. Do they need to be resilient and easy to clean, warm and comfortable to the touch, or sound-muffled to avoid echoes?’
Just like with a playroom or dressing room, storage is also one of the most important parts of creating a hobby room. ‘A messy hobby room will not inspire you to be your best creative self,’ Justine points out. ‘For hobby room storage, shelves are an obvious choice, but consider also storage with drawers, boxes or baskets to keep things organised and make cleaning everything away easier.’
You may not have considered this before, but natural lighting in a hobby room isn't always a bonus, as it can sometimes obscure your vision for more intricate work. Instead, Justine suggests supplementing natural light with task lighting by using adjustable lamps to illuminate workspaces.
7. Library
Creating a library room out of a spare room is the ultimate goal for book lovers, but it needs to be properly thought through, especially if you plan on filling the space with storage for all of your beloved hardbacks. Tanya Rechberger, design development manager at King Living, explains that the creation of a library room is largely a practical endeavour.
‘To create an inviting library room, you first need to assess the room's dimensions to determine the best layout for bookshelves, seating, and any additional furniture,’ she says. ‘Ensure there's enough space for comfortable movement and book browsing – if the room is small, think about using vertical space with tall bookshelves or wall-mounted shelves.’
As with all spare room ideas, lighting is also something to bear in mind when planning your storage in a library room. ‘For example, avoid placing bookshelves where direct sunlight might damage the books,’ Tanya warns. Aside from natural light however, adequate task lighting is obviously essential. ‘Include overhead lighting, task lighting such as a floor lamp beside the reading chair, and accent lighting to highlight bookshelves,’ she suggests.
There’s also plenty of room for tactile measures in a library too, to make it a place you want to spend hours unwinding in. A comfortable reading chair is a must; it’s also an opportunity to choose a fabric or style that makes a statement, while a rug can also define the reading area, adding warmth, and reducing echo in the room.
8. Games room
After a fun place for visiting friends and family to relax and connect in? Turn your spare room into a games room; this will work particularly well in a downstairs spare room, with easy access to other living spaces and kitchens.
‘Games rooms are designed for fun, so let loose with the colours that make you happy, whatever that may be. Also think about how the people who will use it want to relax,’ Cathy suggests. ‘Families often want to be "together but separate" in a games room, so create a quieter nook, some bar seating, a squishy sofa and a table for board games so that everyone can do their own thing.’
The one thing that is necessary to think practically about in a games room is lighting. ‘Plan lighting where it’s needed – if you will have a billiard or table tennis table, install the correct lighting above that space so that everyone can see what they’re doing,’ Cathy says. Spotlights can work well in this instance, or for a more dramatic set-up. Pendant lights can also make a real statement.
9. A laundry/utility room
A laundry or utility room is an eminently functional space, so creating one within an empty spare room requires lots of practical considerations.
‘Determine your workflow needs first; do you need space for folding clothes? Additional storage for laundry supplies? A sink for handwashing delicate items? Typically, you'll want to allocate space for a washer and dryer, a countertop or table for folding clothes and storage cabinets or shelves. Ensure there's enough space to move around comfortably, too,' advise the design experts at Pappelina.
Laundry-related tasks often require lots of different cleaning items,, so be sure to consider storage options that are safe for everyone. Open shelving can provide easy access to frequently used items, but consider installing overhead cabinets too, keeping detergents, fabric softeners, and other supplies out of reach of children or pets.
You may need to call in the professionals to finish off the technical parts of your laundry room however, especially if the space has never been used in this way before. 'If your spare room doesn't already have plumbing connections, you'll need to plan for the installation of water supply and drainage lines. Install a vent fan to exhaust humid air outside, and also ensure there are adequate electrical outlets for your washer and dryer,' the experts at Pappelina add.
10. A yoga room
For all of the yoga and pilates devotees out there, transforming your spare room into a zen workout space is likely to be a dream project. A room like this could also work well for those dedicated to more intense workouts.
Creating a calming atmosphere in a yoga room, or any workout space, is imperative, so unlike other spare room designs, furniture should be kept to a minimum. Interiors content creator Isa Chadborn (@life_of_isatu), who created her own yoga room, says, ‘Remove most of your furniture to help it feel clear and uncluttered. Choosing a calming colour is also very important; I found the perfect calm green shade, which has been brilliant.’
Natural materials, as in a Japandi decor scheme, can also be a valuable addition. ‘I love to use natural materials like wooden furniture, baskets, a jute rug and paper pendant,’ says Isa. 'I also added plants and simple artwork to my yoga room, which all help to create a peaceful space.’
Filtering light gently into this kind of room is also important; glaring sunlight or no light at all will likely leave you feeling unmotivated. ‘A textured Roman blind helps harness a calming atmosphere in Isa’s yoga room,’ Yvonne Keal, product manager at Hillarys says. Unlike thick curtains, thinner blinds will let some – but not too much light in – to create a sun-filled space that isn’t overwhelming.
Follow House Beautiful on TikTok and Instagram.
You Might Also Like
