Designing A Bonus Room
Every bonus room is different, and depending on the size, design and features of the space, it might serve one function better than another. The best way to utilize the extra space depends on the homeowner’s personal needs. Here are some ideas for how some homeowners have utilized the bonus rooms in their home.
Home Office
Homeowners that work from home can benefit from this extra space in the form of a home office. Some bonus rooms have a door, meaning that they can be closed for privacy and dedicated work time. But it can also be a home office space just to take care of your personal finances and family life if you only have a small area.
Kids Playroom
Parents with younger children might appreciate a designated playroom in their home. While it can be impossible to keep toys out of every room in the home, it is great to have a space with a door that can be closed to contain most of the clutter. These spaces can easily be transitioned into game rooms or movie rooms as kids get older and their hobbies change.
Extra Guest Bedroom
While a bonus room might not technically be designated as a legal bedroom, they can often function as one if space is needed. You could consider adding a transitional bed such as a pullout couch, murphy bed or daybed if you want the room to work as a guest room only sometimes.
Exercise Room
There are many benefits of having a home gym. Bonus rooms acting as exercise rooms usually require a little more space but can be a good addition to a home if possible. Think about the type of equipment that you have and the location of the room – you might not want to lug a super heavy treadmill into a converted attic, for example. But, having a dedicated workout space could be a great motivator to encourage you to keep up your fitness routine.
Hobby Room
Have a hobby? Whether you like crafting, model trains, reading, wine or painting, a bonus room could be set up perfectly to suit your interests and needs. Plus, if you change hobbies, you can easily change up the space to suit your newest needs.
Storage Space
Bonus rooms, in addition to being used for activities, can serve as large storage spaces that can help reduce clutter around the rest of the home. If you have a lot of seasonal items to store, you could consider adding floor to ceiling shelves to store bins or boxes. Vertical storage options will help to make the best of a small storage space.
