Most rooms have a dedicated use – kitchen for cooking, bathroom for washing, bedroom for sleeping – but there’s one room where you can use your imagination to create something really special: the spare room. Rather than letting it become a dumping ground, why not give it a purpose that adds value not only to your home, but also your life?
The utility room
Now this may not seem like the most exciting of uses for a spare room, but just think how much easier it would be to do the chores. A dedicated space for laundry and other messy jobs means you don’t have to worry about hiding the appliances away, and you’ll have plenty of space for everything from cleaning products to the washing hamper, which would otherwise create clutter in other areas of the house. The main requirement of this space is that it’s practical and efficient, so you’ll want hard wearing surfaces (no carpets in here) and plenty of well-sectioned storage. That doesn’t mean you can’t add pretty touches, though – even something as simple as decanting washing powder into a mason jar or keeping your pegs in a vintage biscuit tin can help to inject a little personality into your design.
The craft space
If you’re the creative type, you’ve probably dreamt of having a dedicated space where you can sew, knit, draw or paint – and why shouldn’t you? A craft room lends itself to being as colourful and as decorative as you want, but don’t forget a few essential practicalities. Good lighting is vital, especially if you’re doing close work, so make sure you have directional task lighting (such as a flexible desk lamp) as well as overhead ambient lighting. A decent chair that supports the back will help you to stay comfortable as you work, and think carefully about the kind of storage that best suits your hobby – a cluttered craft space can soon turn into a dumping ground where nothing actually gets done.
The dressing area
Sometimes a wardrobe just isn’t enough. If you’re struggling to know what to wear in the morning, it may be because your clothes are jammed into too small a space, so you can’t see what you’ve got. The beauty of a dressing area or walk-in wardrobe is that you can section out different elements of your fashion collection – dresses on one rail, tops on another, a few shelves for shoes – to create easy access. And that’s not all: thanks to the increasingly sophisticated array of products available on the market these days, you can get anything from compartmentalised drawers for smaller items such as undergarments, to special hanging racks for ties or scarves. Finally, if you have space, why not add a dressing table complete with film-star lighting round the mirror? This is definitely a more decadent way to use a spare room, so make the most of it.
The walk-in larder
Kitchen storage is something designers have invested a lot of thought and expertise into over recent years, but nothing beats the elegant simplicity of an old-fashioned walk-in larder lined with shelves where you can see all your food stores at a glance. The main thing to think about when creating a larder is heat and humidity; too much of either will create a problem. Get a wall mounted thermometer so you can keep an eye on temperature and help keep things cool by using natural stone flooring and even slate, granite or marble shelving. Make sure there’s good ventilation, too. Something as simple as an air brick can be enough – ideally use two at different heights to create a through draft, and cover them in fine mesh to deter pests and insects.
The mini gym
If you struggle to get yourself to the gym after a long day in the office, why not bring the gym to you? Exercise equipment doesn’t have to be expensive – especially when compared to a monthly gym membership you rarely use – and installing a workout room at home could help you beat the bulge once and for all or finally train for that marathon you’ve always said you’d try. Full-length mirrors will help give an authentic feel, as will a great sound system where you can blast out encouraging tunes to keep you going when you start to flag. A small fridge stocked with bottled water and isotonic drinks is a nice touch, and don’t forget a storage area where you can keep everything from hand weights to fresh towels.
The home library
Creating a space in which to while away the hours with a good book is incredibly easy to do. All you need is good shelving – open or closed, depending on your preference – and a comfortable armchair, sofa or day bed to snuggle up on. Good lighting is also essential, so either position your seating near the window, or ensure there’s plenty of directional task lighting that can be aimed at the page, to prevent you from straining your eyes. A library should be a restful space, so choose soft, calming colours rather than bold and bright ones, and include plenty of welcoming textures, such as thick carpeting and sumptuous cushions.
The meditation space
For most people, modern life is incredibly busy. Few of us have time to really stop and just “be”. Even if we’re relaxing, chances are we’re doing something – cooking, gardening, watching TV. Wouldn’t it be the ultimate luxury to have a place where we can really get away from it all? The beauty of a meditation room is that it doesn’t take much to create. The whole idea is that it isn’t filled with clutter – just a comfortable place to sit or lie down (which could be as simple as a rug), and perhaps one or two accessories to help create an atmosphere of peace and beauty, such as a painting, sculpture, plant or wind chime. As with the library, remember to avoid stimulating colours such as bright yellow or red, and instead go for calming choices like pale cream, sage green or lavender, which have been proved to help relaxation.
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