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A blank room has limitless potential, assuming it is a decent size, and transforming it into something you can use is really dependent on your lifestyle. Should you use it for work? Or maybe for relaxing? Won’t your sister need somewhere to sleep when she visits for the holidays? There are several factors, and you don’t want to have to remodel it again anytime soon. Need some inspiration? Here are a few options for turning your extra room into something useful.

Leave it for Guests

If you have guests staying with you frequently, whether either family or friends, you might want to leave the extra bedroom for them. Do a little remodeling, add a bed if there isn’t one already, and give them a dresser to store their clothes. This will work great for any of your grown kids coming to visit, grandchildren, siblings, parents, or friends from out of town. Now you’ll have a way for guests to stay over comfortably when they visit for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Turn it Into an Office

Alternatively, you can utilize the extra room for your workspace. Set up a desk, computer, and some cozy lighting, along with your favorite decor to set the room and allow for a nice ambiance. This will give you a spot to read, work from home, write, and do research in privacy. Without distractions from doing these things in the living room or regular bedroom, you’ll notice yourself getting more done and staying focused.

Make a Lounging Den

Looking for extra space for you and your family to relax and watch a movie? If the couch in the living room just isn’t enough space for everyone to comfortably lounge, turn that spare room into a den! Assuming it’s large enough, have a separate area from your living room where guests and family can gather to play games, watch movies, or catch up on the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows. If you want to go all out, you can even set up a home theater for the full experience! Fill the room with a large sofa, maybe even a sectional, and a lounge chair or two, that way there’s enough room for everyone. Want to have some friends over for the big game? This is the perfect place to do so–just be sure to keep lots of snacks nearby!

Create a Home Gym

Tired of paying for the gym just to use a treadmill? Consider turning your spare room into a home gym! This doesn’t need to turn you into a bodybuilder or anything, but having a space inside your home where you can lift a few dumbbells or jog on a treadmill should do the trick. You’ll burn calories and be able to exercise in the privacy of your own home. When using the treadmill for extended periods of time, make sure you wear comfortable sneakers, otherwise, you could develop bunions and need to visit a medical professional like Northwest Surgery Center to take care of it. You can get a basic treadmill for just a few hundred dollars, along with light weights, a jump rope, and a medicine ball, which is really all you need if you’re just trying to get in better shape. Of course, you might need to cut out some sweets, too.

Final Thoughts

There are several different options when it comes to changing up a spare room, and these are only a few ways to do so. Whatever you decide to do with the extra room in your home, you can be sure it will be put to good use.

Having guests over for the weekend? Creating the perfect retreat for them at home is easy and you don’t need to invest a whole lot of time and money. What you want to focus on is creating a clean, relaxing environment that they won’t be able to wait to come back to! Follow our easy guide to decorate your guest bedroom hassle free:

Deborah Rivera

Don’t Complicate Things! Keep Colour Palettes Simple  

Don’t overwhelm your space with too much colour or too many busy patterns, particularly if you only have a small space. By keeping colours light and consistent you’ll create the illusion of more space and light. You may be tempted to create a feature wall but these are totally out for 2015 – focus more on your furniture and accessories to add in a punch of color and interest!

  Shirley Meisels

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again – add in a hit of color with cushions or throw blankets which are super easy to switch up according to the season or holiday. Matching your flowers to your accessories is also a simple way to tie in your décor and change it up each time you have guests.

Shirley Meisels

Make Your Bed Look Comfy and Luxurious

The bed is clearly a key part of your guest room, but let’s be honest – it’s not going to be used nearly as much as your own, so don’t break the bank. While it’s important to offer your guests a good night’s sleep, one or two nights on a slightly cheaper bed really isn’t going to make much difference. To create the illusion of a more expensive bed, stack on another mattress for a higher bed or add bed risers under the feet. A higher bed looks and feels much more opulent then a lower one.

Mc Cormack and Etten

Consider a Stowaway Bed

Too many guests not enough room? If your bedroom is too small and can only fit one single bed, consider a pull out bed! Go for a bed with a pullout trundle bed for when you need it and stash it away when your guests leave. This way you have the option to put up an extra guest for the night when you want to – but hidden away to save space. What an ingenious idea!

Diane Burgio

Use Soft, Not Harsh Lighting

Lighting is incredibly important in the bedroom and can make or break the way your guests feel during their stay! Natural sunlight is amazing during the day, but dimmed mood lighting is essential for a good night’s sleep. If you have westward-facing windows in your guest bedroom black out blinds are an absolute must to ensure your guests aren’t woken at dawn.

Caitlin Wilson

Make sure each bedside table has a small lamp to add subtle mood lighting at night, which is also great for reading or while watching TV. Choose light bulbs that produce a soft, warm glow or install tinted light bulbs. If your budget will stretch to getting in a professional, and your ceiling lights are suitable, then installing a dimmer switch is a fantastic way to give yourself options. Your guests can have the warm, soft lighting you need at bedtime – but also full lighting when they wake up in the morning.

Summer Thornton