Most spaces in your home already have a designated use. The kitchen is where you gather with family; your master bedroom is your nighttime respite. So when you have a room that doesn’t have a clear purpose, you might be left scratching your head.
Bonus rooms are often found tucked away over garages or attics, sometimes creating challenging layouts. But a little clever planning can help you define the space and turn your bonus room into one of the best places in your home. Not sure what to do with the awkwardly placed space? Here are some ideas to get your design juices flowing.
1. Home Office
You might not need a homework room, but bonus rooms can work great as studies or home offices. Because they’re often separated from noisy rooms like the kitchen, they’re the perfect place to get a little work done.
With a solid desk, ample lighting, and a computer, a bonus room might become a catalyst for productivity — or at least a quiet place for conference calls.
2. Homework Room
If you find that your kids tend to leave papers, binders, and textbooks all over the house, your bonus room could be the perfect homework space. Quiet and free of distractions like TV and video games, a few comfortable chairs and a workspace turn a big, empty room into a peaceful place for kids to buckle down.
Just make sure you stock shelves with school supplies and use organizational solutions (think folders) to keep kids’ work separate from their siblings.
3. Yoga Studio
Love getting your zen on? Your bonus room could become a complete oasis for centering yourself and working on your Eagle pose. Think about it: Bonus rooms don’t always have the best lighting, making them ideal for activities that benefit from low-key light.
Grab a couple of reed diffusers with your favorite calming scents, hook up a speaker to a relaxing playlist and you have a dedicated space for your yoga practice.
4. Library
Strange angles might not make sense for a bedroom, but an awkward room is ideal for books. Create your library with DIY shelving and add plenty of comfy seating and lamps for individual reading spaces. With a room designed free of distractions, you’ll love bringing a cup of tea into your bonus room to catch up on that thriller you’ve been reading.
5. Teen Hangout
Strange angles might not make sense for a bedroom, but an awkward room is ideal for books. Create your library with DIY shelving and add plenty of comfy seating and lamps for individual reading spaces.
With a room designed free of distractions, you’ll love bringing a cup of tea into your bonus room to catch up on that thriller you’ve been reading.
6. Gaming Room
If you have video game-aholics in your family — whether they’re kids or adults — you know how annoying it can be to have your TV constantly tied up by the latest Xbox release. A gaming room might be your answer. Setting your gaming systems and a few bean bag chairs in the space means finally getting your living room back.
7. Music Room
Have a burgeoning Beethoven in your home? Instruments can take up a lot of space, so relocate them to your bonus room. You’ll have plenty of space and, since bonus rooms are usually tucked away from your main living areas, you might even regain a little peace and quiet in the process. You can even add recording equipment and plenty of seating for impromptu concerts.
8. Home Gym
Busy working on your fitness? Stop tripping over dumbbells and workout mats by using your bonus room as a family fitness center. You’ll have plenty of space for various workout machines and tools and can add a few fans and a drink cooler to stay cool and hydrated while you get your Arnold on.
9. Home Theater
Home theaters were all the rage five years ago, but they’re slowly going out of fashion in favor of more casual spaces. Skip the expensive basement theater and turn your bonus room into a movie room.
You don’t even need expensive seating; try some bean bag chairs or a few overstuffed couches and stock the room with cozy blankets. You can even invest in an inexpensive projector screen for a real at-home theater experience without the cost.
10. Craft Room
If you’re crafty, you know that your supplies can get messy. Organize them and put all of your materials in place by using your bonus room as a crafting space. Shelves and organizers help keep all of your supplies at the ready, while large, inexpensive tables make for great crafting surfaces. Add your sewing machine and fabric stash and you have a dedicated space to get creative.