Many homes have a spare room, but sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with one. Instead of having a wasted room, creating a welcoming and functional space is essential. The good news is that the options are endless regarding what you can use your spare room for.
A guest room with a bed is an excellent idea as you always have a bedroom ready for family or friends to stay. A kid’s playroom works so well for young kids as you can quickly close the door to hide any mess instead of worrying about it in the main living room. If that doesn’t work for you, a room with an office space is a great idea, especially as working from home has recently become more prevalent.
Here are 25 ideas to get the most out of your spare room.
1. Wall panelling
If you want to add character and texture to the walls in your spare room, then wall panelling is a great idea. This design concept effortlessly infuses character and texture into the space, transforming it from mundane to captivating. Wall panelling is a versatile canvas, allowing you to play with various materials, patterns, and finishes.
2. Inviting sofa bed
Introducing a sofa bed to your spare bedroom can revolutionise how you utilise the space. This multifunctional piece of furniture effortlessly combines comfort with practicality, serving as a cosy seating area by day and transforming into a comfortable bed for guests by night. With a welcoming sofa bed, you create a versatile haven that adapts to various needs, making the most of limited room whilst ensuring a warm and hospitable environment.
3. Blues and neutrals
If you’re making your spare room into a guest room, neutral colours are a great idea, as they will suit anyone. Use neutral colours in your room with light bedding, an oversized knitted blanket, and side drawers. The pop of blue on the wall, bed head, and decor pieces will compliment the neutral colours and create a sense of calm in this space.
4. Simplicity at its finest
Embracing the “simplicity at its finest” theme for your spare bedroom can lead to a serene and welcoming retreat. Start with a neutral colour palette, opting for soft whites, muted greys, or gentle pastels. Minimalist furnishings and decor elements, such as a sleek platform bed and uncluttered shelving, maintain an unassuming elegance.
5. Playroom
If you’ve got active children, the best option for your spare room is to create a playroom for them. Consider colourful, durable furniture and ample toy storage, ensuring a safe and organised environment. Soft, foam floor mats can cushion tumbles and jumps, providing comfort and safety.
6. Blushing beautiful
Create a corner in your spare room that exudes elegant charm with a delightful array of soft, blush tones. A tasteful arrangement of pink blooms adds a touch of sophistication, making the space feel inviting and warm. It’s a simple yet impactful way to create an inviting atmosphere for guests, ensuring their stay is as pleasant as comfortable.
7. Subtle colour
If you want to be able to change up the look of your spare room seasonally, then having a predominantly white or neutral space is a great idea. Subtle pops of colour can be brought in through feature cushions and bright graphic prints on shelves. The good news is that these can easily be changed if you get sick of them or want to create a different feel in the room.
8. Blue and green
Another lovely colour scheme for a spare room is blue and green. A light blue wall in this space makes the room feel calm, and green gives it a natural look. What a lovely and tranquil idea for a spare room.
9. Relaxation zone
Speaking of tranquillity, you could transform your spare room into a secondary lounge room. This could be somewhere you go when you want to get away from the kids or need somewhere to have your afternoon nap.
10. Green and orange
If you’re a little quirky and love to be adventurous with your colour schemes, then a green and orange palette is for you. It is an unexpected combination, but it can work well in a spare bedroom.
11. Twin beds
If your grandkids stay with you regularly, you’ll love this spare room idea. It’s so lovely to have a room for them with separate beds to stay in every time they come and visit. They will feel so welcome.
12. Grey on grey
A grey-on-grey bedroom for guests would be lovely for a spare room. This soothing and versatile colour scheme can create a serene and inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for accommodating friends and family.
13. Cosy boho room
Turning your spare room into a boho-style bedroom is oh-so-cosy. Start with colourful and soft things, like cosy blankets and cushions. Mix patterns and colours for a fun look, then add some plants in cute pots to make it feel natural.
14. Around the world
If you have guests from around the world, then why not add a map of the world to the wall so that they can be reminded of where they’ve come from and where they usually call home? You could even have a map of the world that is a pin board and have your guests mark off on the map where they’re from.
15. Warm tones
If you want to warmly welcome your guests to your spare room, having a warm colour palette is necessary. Think about soft yellows, cosy oranges, or earthy browns. These colours make your room feel inviting and snug.
16. Dressing room
Here’s another great use for a spare room: a dressing room! Imagine having a dedicated space to organise your clothes, shoes, and accessories. Start with storage solutions like shelves, hanging racks, and drawers to keep everything tidy.
17. Filament light bulbs
How cool would filament light bulbs be in a guest spare room? Filament light bulbs can add a unique and stylish touch to a spare room. Picture this: a filament bulb suspended as a statement pendant light above the bed. It’s not just lighting; it’s a piece of art. These bulbs’ warm, soft glow creates a cosy ambience, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
18. Art room
Transforming a spare room into an art room is a brilliant idea. It provides a dedicated space to unleash creativity without worrying about the mess. With all your supplies in one place, you can easily pick up where you left off. It’s also a sanctuary for self-expression. Whether you’re painting, drawing, or crafting, this room fosters inspiration and mindfulness.
19. Guest room and study
Making your spare room a multipurpose space is a great idea. The spare room works well as a guest room and a study. You can arrange a bed for when you have friends over, arrange a couch to use as a daybed after a big day of working from home or use it for some afternoon naps if you do not have guests over.
20. Cinema room
If you have the budget, you could create your own cinema in your house! You can design this room so that the flooring goes up a level for every row so that additional chairs can be added and the view of the movie won’t be obstructed for the people at the back. Soft surfaces for the flooring and walls are a great idea to keep the audio sounding its best.
21. Musical space
If you are a family of musical geniuses, perhaps creating a music space is perfect for your spare room. It’s like having your mini music studio at home. You can put all your musical instruments there, like guitars, keyboards, or drums. This room becomes a special place where everyone can play and practice music.
22. Handmade display
Check out this idea if you want to add that personal touch to your spare room. Displaying something you’ve handmade will help make your spare room feel more special and personalised.
23. Vanity desk
When you don’t have guests in your spare room, perhaps you should create a space there that can be used all year round, regardless of whether guests stay. A vanity area that doubles as a desk is a great idea. You could use this space to get ready in the mornings or sit with a laptop. This would be a great little space for guests to use when they stay.
24. Greenhouse
If you’re into gardening but don’t have a big garden or lots of money, you can still grow plants inside your home. You can turn a spare room into a mini indoor greenhouse. All you need are some shelves to put your plants on and unique lights called grow lights to help them grow. This way, even in the winter when it’s cold outside, you can grow small plants and vegetables inside.
25. Library
If you are a bit of a bookworm and have an impressive collection of books, perhaps you could make your spare room into a library. Start by adding bookshelves to store your literary treasures. You can arrange them by genre, author, or any way that makes you happy. Comfy chairs or a snug reading nook with soft cushions and warm lighting are necessary for losing yourself in your favourite stories.
So that concludes our 25 spare room ideas. How will you transform your spare room? Let’s chat in the comments below.
