What to Do With the Extra Room in Your House

Many Lancaster homeowners today find themselves with an unused space. Maybe it's a formal dining room that sits empty until Thanksgiving Day, or a spare room used only once or twice a year. They may be considering a basement remodel (or finishing a basement) to take advantage of the square footage they already have.

If you’re entering a new season of life (kids moving out, a new work situation), you may have a room that's suddenly empty and no longer serves a purpose. You want your spaces to work for you, supporting you through every stage of life.

Thoughtful remodeling and design can transform an unused or underused space, making it add more value and enjoyment to your everyday life. Whether your space needs a complete remodel or minor adjustments, think about your unused room as a blank slate, ready to be put to work. We can help you figure out how.

Start With How You Live Today

The best way to figure out how to use an empty room in your house is to think about your life now. Ask yourself

• What activities do I love that I wish I had more space for?
• What is frustrating me about my home right now?
• How has my lifestyle changed in the past few years? Working remotely, adding a new hobby, prioritizing health, and hosting family and friends more often—all these changes impact how you use your home.

The best use of the empty space in your home should never be decided based on trends, but by how you want your home to support your everyday life. That said, there are some popular ways that homeowners are repurposing their spare rooms, and one (or more!) of these ideas might be perfect for you.

Should I Turn My Empty Room into a Hobby Room?

Converting unused space into a hobby room is a great idea. Consider a sewing room, an art studio, a music room, a gaming space, or a DIY workshop. With a hobby room, you can dedicate space to whatever you love to do. A hobby room encourages creativity and relaxation, and can help you enjoy your life at home.

No matter what hobby you love, having space to keep supplies and tools together and an area to spread out and work is a dream. Consider working with a designer to plan a custom space for your favorite hobby that might include

• Built-in storage
• Durable and large work surfaces
• Proper lighting
• Sound management for a music, gaming, or movie room
• Custom shelving

Can I Create a Wellness Space in My Home?

Turning an unused room in your house into an area dedicated to wellness, health, and relaxation is a creative and worthwhile use of the space. It prioritizes your health—mental, emotional, and physical—which is vital. Transforming part of your home into a wellness space allows you to reduce daily stress, exercise, lower cortisol levels, and increase well-being.

After the pandemic, life changed forever. We want to focus on our health, and we want to be able to do it at home. Daily habits of self-care have never been more important. Why not consider using your extra room to create a sanctuary of calm and health that you love to spend time in?

• Design a quiet relaxation or meditation space
• Set up a home gym that meets your needs exactly
• Consider a stretching and recovery room
• Create a spa-inspired self-care area with a sauna, red light therapy, and more

Remember that to truly have a relaxing wellness space, you need to create a welcoming, warm ambiance. If you’re unsure how to go about that process, a designer can help you. Consider the following features that make a difference:

• Natural light—as much as possible!
• A calming color palette
• The right kind of flooring for the types of activities you want to do (cork and bamboo are both good options!)
• Smart lighting controls that let you dim the lights when needed
• Thoughtful and customized storage
• Little touches that make a big difference, like a mini fridge, a diffuser, and space for floor cushions and yoga mats.
  

How Can I Design a Home Office that Works Better?

If you work from home, you know: having a dedicated workspace matters. You need the work-life boundaries it provides, and the increased productivity (and reduced distractions) it offers. But not all home offices are created equal. Use your spare bedroom, empty formal dining room, or unused basement area to create a flexible workspace you will love.

Turning your empty space into a customized home office is an easy win. When you have a stylish and functional office, you will enjoy your workday more and even get more done. What features should you consider?

• A customized or even built-in desk with storage
• A video-call-friendly backdrop (curated bookshelves or a piece of artwork, for example)
• Multiple sources of lighting for various tasks
• Enough outlets and a charging station
• Sound-reducing materials to keep your office quiet and distraction-free
• A fresh and inspiring style—energizing colors, fun wallpaper, or an eye-catching light fixture

If a traditional office in your home isn’t for you, think through what type of workspace would fit your needs. You might want a hybrid office/library room. Or a creative studio/office combination. If you and your spouse both work from home, can you create a shared workspace for you both? Or include a homework area for your kids? Home office remodel ideas shouldn’t be limited by convention. You can design a home office that perfectly supports your family’s needs.

How Can I Use My Guest Room for More?

You don’t want your guest room to sit empty most of the year—and it doesn’t have to. Smart design and thoughtful remodeling make it possible for this one room to serve multiple purposes, and to welcome guests comfortably when they do come to stay.

Consider modifying your spare bedroom into a guest suite that doubles as an office, hobby room, playroom, teen hangout space, movie room, or anything else that suits your needs.

• A Murphy bed allows you to reclaim floor space
• Built-in, customized storage allows you to save space and keep things organized
• Convertible furniture (a pull-out couch, a desk that can be used as a bedside table, a storage ottoman, a daybed, etc) provides flexibility

The best way to make a guest room flexible is to use multipurpose furniture and multifunctional layouts. This way, you can fully use the space year-round and still have it ready when someone comes to stay.

Make Your Home Work for the Life You’re Living Now

If you have an extra room, you have an opportunity. Whether you dream of a hobby room, wellness space, home office, multi-purpose guest room, or another area unique to you, thoughtful design can change this blank space into something perfect. Your Lancaster home remodel can maximize your unused square footage and make it work for you and yours.

Working with a designer can help you through this journey, helping you identify both needs and solutions you may not have recognized, incorporating storage solutions, balancing aesthetics with functionality, and creating spaces that can evolve over time. Whether you need a full-scale remodel or a smaller refresh, a good designer can help you make the most of your space.

The best homes are ones that are used to the fullest, and can adapt to the changing needs of the families they hold. If you need help turning your house into this type of home, contact us today. We’d love to help you make your home a dream come true.