Around 20 years ago, American homeowners witnessed the birth of a new feature in the family home: the bonus room. Back then, builders answered a need for open concept living space by including a loft or “bonus” space (usually on an upper floor) into their plans. It was a little something extra that added to the appeal of owning a new home back then.
While that’s all well and good, no one ever tells you what to do with your little something extra and, left unchecked, it can quickly turn into a catch-all for laundry, un-used furniture, and anything else that doesn’t have a specific purpose. Read on if you’re ready to take back your bonus room and turn it into a fun space the entire family can enjoy. Here are some ways to make all that extra space useful:
Split it up into sections
A large bonus room can easily be divided into more than one purpose-driven area with a little design know-how. In an open plan setting, our brains tend to divide up physical spaces using cues such as furnishings and color. So, let’s say you want to use part of the room as an office and another part of it as a play area for your kids. You could use discounted area rugs to easily divide up these differing spaces. Place kids area rugs along with a toy chest and perhaps a small table in one section of the room. Paint this section of the room a fun color that kids will want to gravitate towards. You can even add a fun decal to make it more personalized. On the other side of the room, use decorative area rugs underneath a computer desk and chair to mark the space as your own. You can further the feeling of separation in these areas by painting with contrasting colors from what you used in the kids’ area.
Make it into another bedroom
This is especially helpful if you need extra privacy. If your home includes less than three bedrooms, converting all or part of your bonus room into a bedroom will also add to the home’s value when you’re ready to sell. If the room includes a window or windows, you’ll probably want to base the position of the new room around one or more to allow for an emergency exit in the event of a fire. Also, you’ll need to check local ordinances to see if the new room needs to include a closet to legally be considered a bedroom. Consult a local contractor for help and to see if your vision for the space can easily become a reality.
Devote it to a hobby
If you’re blessed with square footage in your home, why not devote this extra space to a pastime that one or more of your family members can enjoy? A friend who enjoys making paper crafts decked out her bonus room to include a drafting table, a large printer, storage shelves, and cutting equipment. If your family enjoys board games, you could include a card table with comfy chairs, bankers’ lamps, and plenty of side tables for drinks and snacks. Other great ideas include a small yoga room or even just a quiet reading nook. The possibilities, as they say, are endless!
Make it the place where everyone wants to be
If you’ve always wanted to have a formal living room but you’ve never had the space for it,turning your bonus room into a TV room might be the answer. Invest in a pair of cozy couches or even a sectional that will hug the room’s walls. Add a few end tables and a comfy recliner or two in a separate area for a sweet conversation space. Not only will your family want to congregate in this inviting retreat night after night, but you’ll also have freed up your former living room-slash-recreation-slash-playroom to be the elegant parlor of your dreams. It will take some effort (and maybe some convincing where your family is concerned) but on that first Sunday morning when you’re sipping coffee and flipping through the newspaper in your new (read: quiet) living room, you’ll thank me!