What should I do with my extra room?

November 8, 2015 12:08 AM

I'm a single woman living with my dog. I own a 750 sq.ft. condo with two bedrooms. What should I do with my smaller bedroom?

I am in the process of remodeling my new home, and am very happy with the results so far. What do I do with that second bedroom, though? It currently has a futon parked in it, but I'm not entirely certain that I want a dedicated guest bedroom that will be used once or twice a year.

I work full time, and I'm in grad school. I also like to run with my dog and hike and climb, so I don't really have too much time to spare for staying indoors. Arts and crafts are pretty much out of the question due to lack of time, I think. I considered turning the second bedroom into an office (with a desk set up executive style, facing the door – furnish for the job you want, right?), but it turns out that I prefer to do most of my reading homework on the couch in the living room. I do not want roommates. I'm happy with my media setup in the living room. I'm a carpenter, so I have lots of tools, but I have storage for them in my attached storage unit. My outdoor gear is lovingly stored in my basement storage unit. I have a bike on a trainer, but I like to use it while I watch TV and drink beer, so it's currently set up in the living room. I demoed the old master bedroom closet and replaced it with an awesome wall of built-in wardrobes in my bedroom, so I don't need more room for clothes and shoes.

Anyway, it's a small space (10x12-ish, crappy floor plan, room at bottom right). It has one 6' wide window looking out to my backyard lawn. I will petition to my HOA to be allowed to demolish the closet and install a double door where a single door is right now (French doors would let a lot more light into my living room), but they might not approve my plans since it's a structural wall and installing a new header, while trivial for a construction professional, might scare the board. Even with a new double door, the living space is not easily integrated into my living space, so it can't be a dining room, etc.

What have I not thought of? What do you use your extra space for?

posted by halogen to Home & Garden (36 answers total)

My own extra room is a library. (And the closet in there is useful for out of season stuff like coats during summer.)
posted by easily confused at 12:33 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

My spare room is a combo of a lot of those things - office, with my computer desk for when I have freelance work, and also the bookshelves so it's the library, and a pull out couch so it's also the guest room. It gets decent light, so it's also where I have a bunch of plants, so it's a bit of a greenhouse as well, and I sometimes also use the desk for painting and crafts. It also makes a nice sitting room because the desk chair is comfy and can be turned to face the couch, so often at parties a small group of people will end up in there to have quiet conversation. Instead of it being dedicated to one thing, it has lots of uses, and so it is used all the time.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:12 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I severely downsized my book collection when I moved to this place, and I mostly try to buy kindle books (except for cookbooks). Nevertheless, I find that idea very appealing. I don't know how much use it would get, to be honest. I tend to read on my living room couch (my dog fits on it) or out on my deck in the summer, so I'm afraid I've got that covered too? Perhaps some bookshelves, my leather lounge (which is currently obstructing traffic in the living room but I don't want to give up) and my music stand (my first major in college was violin performance, I'm more of an aspirational violinist these days) would make for a nice room?
posted by halogen at 1:14 AM on November 8, 2015 [4 favorites]

I do not want roommates.

But maybe visitors? Do you have dear friends or family far away (or even just in the next town) who would like to visit you and your city? You could make up an extra bedroom and then have people over for a few days here and there to spice up your life (and theirs) and keep your personal relations in good shape.

And when you have no visitors, it reverts to a different place to flop and read and listen to music and mess about on the internet.
posted by pracowity at 1:25 AM on November 8, 2015

Perhaps some bookshelves, my leather lounge (which is currently obstructing traffic in the living room but I don't want to give up) and my music stand (my first major in college was violin performance, I'm more of an aspirational violinist these days) would make for a nice room?

I think that sounds great. You could actually think of it as your "music room" -- a dedicated practice space that is also filled with books, and then anything else you might have or acquire that supports your violin playing. I'd buy at least one piece of art that lends itself to the idea of a music room.

I have friends who made their extra room a music room, with instruments left out on stands and a beautiful coffee table book about music on display, and it's also an incredibly peaceful place to read or hang out on the comfortable chairs in there. It could be a guest room when you need it to be.
posted by flourpot at 1:48 AM on November 8, 2015 [7 favorites]

My spare room is the cats' room. They have their tent and tunnel and I have an arm chair because it's a nice room to read in in the mornings.

It's also the spare room when I have visitors though that means I end up with the tent and toys in my room and the kitties are outraged at being shut out of their room.

I think having it as another lounge/music room would be nice. I like being able to read in a room that doesn't have a TV in it.
posted by kitten magic at 2:25 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

One spare bedroom in my house is for my wife to contain her sewing/fiber art stuff. Otherwise the cats would have it all over the house.

The other spare room is is a combo guest room/office type thing. I don't do real work from home, so there isn't an issue with important papers sitting around.
posted by theichibun at 2:41 AM on November 8, 2015

you say you're a carpenter, and that you have a bike, but that these are handled by storage units.

but where do you actually make things? where do you service your bike? in our apartment the "spare room" is my "office" (i work from home; my partner has an office where she works). it's where i work, but also where i have made furniture, disassembled my bike, painted things, etc etc. it gets a lot messier (and dirtier) than the living room, where the nice soft furnishings are.
posted by andrewcooke at 3:12 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

A few years ago when I was in the position of having a spare bedroom (also a single woman with a dog), I thought about turning it into a room for Airbnb guests. I actually posted a question on AskMe and got some good advice (on my phone, so hard to link, sorry). I wound up not doing it because I was a renter and was worried about my landlord finding out, but it's an option.
posted by lunasol at 3:31 AM on November 8, 2015

If you demolish the closet, does the room legally lose its status as a bedroom? Could affect resale.
posted by tilde at 3:49 AM on November 8, 2015 [9 favorites]

When my 2 eldest moved out, I also was the proud owner of a new room. Things I tried:

* music/tv room (I couldn't be bothered to move my lazy ass and also my living room is really comfy so that didn't work)
* office space (see above)
* gaming room for gaming teen (he's part-troll and prefers the basement)
* exercise/yoga room.

Only the exercise/yoga room stuck. I bought a treadmill, some serious BowFlex weights, verbena candles and a lot of exercise DVDs to keep it fresh. What I like most about it is every time I go in to workout, I feel really good about my home gym and disproportionately proud of myself for making such a grown-up decision.
posted by kinetic at 3:52 AM on November 8, 2015 [5 favorites]

Nthing the library. I also prefer not sitting at a desk and majorly downsized my books. I did keep a box or two of books that mean something to me though.

I turned my extra room into a reading room - got a giant leather chair and ottoman (YMMV) and where books would be in a bookcase, I mixed art pieces, journals and other paraphernalia from my travels in with those kept books. Added a lamp and some music speakers and plants and rug and BAM! A minimalist reading room. Bonus: put a second dog bed in there and my dogs looooooved it.
posted by floweredfish at 4:02 AM on November 8, 2015

Nthing music room. Even if you're not a professional musician, it sounds really nice to have a place where you can shut the door and play whatever you feel like playing.
posted by teponaztli at 4:06 AM on November 8, 2015

I don't like having a TV in my living room, so have it in an alcove upstairs. If you don't have people over to watch TV, you could have it and your exercise equipment in the spare room, which may allow you to set up the living room in a more interesting way.
posted by metasarah at 4:33 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have an extra room about that size in my apartment and spec'd out a few plans when I first moved here. You can fill it with 2-2.5' of playhouse balls for approximately $750.
posted by phunniemee at 4:47 AM on November 8, 2015 [16 favorites]

You say that your tools and outdoor stuff are in storage units. Why not turn this extra room INTO a storage unit so you don't have to?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:47 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

I would, for now, ignore it. You have more space than you need or want. Filling it will cost time and energy, so don't. turn down the heat/AC, store bulky items, close the door.

Alternatively, esp. if you could use some extra cash, advertise in a college publication or craigslist for someone who needs a place in town a night or 2 a week. Safer and less hassle than airbnb, and not terribly intrusive.
posted by theora55 at 5:03 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

Seconding the comment about resale. Depending on where it is, it could be very difficult to sell a 1 br condo.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:06 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Start a collection. Plants are an easy and fun collection to start with. Your indoor air quality will be much better with a few green friends hanging out in your spare bedroom. And they will enjoy the view of your backyard.
posted by myselfasme at 5:46 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Yeah, watch TV in the spare room, use the living room as a proper living room/parlor/sitting room, as civilized people do.
posted by notyou at 7:15 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

I like the music room idea. I also like the idea of double doors both into the living room and the other bedroom. That would create a more open floor plan which would allow you to use the room differently at different times.

And your dog could run circles around the house...
posted by Vaike at 7:44 AM on November 8, 2015

I would also go for exercise room. Buy another TV if needed, or move the existing.
posted by crazycanuck at 8:01 AM on November 8, 2015

Keep it open and airy, and use as a space for meditation and yoga. (With some nice floor pillows that can be easily hidden away to avoid clutter the rest of the time, this room could then also double as a room to relax and entertain guests). You could still do exercise in there, but keep your equipment hidden from view when not in use.
posted by nightrecordings at 8:19 AM on November 8, 2015

I'm in your demographic, though dogless and with more frequent guests, and have been working on my 3-bedroom condo since April.

Do you have any use for an alternate sleep setting for yourself, for whatever reason? I sleep in my own guest room when I want to lay around in bed, because it has a better view and I put an extra TV in there. But the master has no TV and heavy blackout curtains for good sleep hygiene.

Closets: In my office (3rd bedroom), there is--since I ripped out the sliding doors and wire shelf/rod--a closet with no doors or hardware, and I have hung a large painting inside so that it's framed by the opening. Plan is to light the painting from inside the closet and have that be a source of ambient light in the room. The guest room will have a rod in the closet, also good lighting, and instead of doors, curtains that match the window curtains. I'm toying with the idea of using daylight-temperature lighting in the closet to fake a second window.

I also don't really use the desk in my office...sigh. But the plan is to hang a large dry-erase board in there--could you use something like that? You can get them with a ghost grid for drawing straight lines. Could you use a projector and flat white wall (or screen) for your work? Those things also leave floor space open for whatever.
posted by ecsh at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2015

I would turn the smaller bedroom into the bedroom, vacating a more sizable space to accomplish many of the things other posters have mentioned.
posted by mahorn at 9:08 AM on November 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

This would be my reading nook cozy room. Comfy chair/sofa, lots of plants, shelves of books, cozy lighting, etc.
posted by Sassyfras at 9:22 AM on November 8, 2015

Response by poster: For people worried about resale value: it's a home, not an investment.

Also, I'm a carpenter (not a woodworker), I do this for a living. It would take me a day to rebuild it. In my building of 23 condos, only 2 families are using the second room as a dedicated bedroom.
posted by halogen at 9:23 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

More/different workout stuff could be fun. A lot of that stuff takes serious space. Like, if I had a whole extra room and the skills you have, I might dedicate it to an area with space for stretching on the floor, a big screen on the wall for videos (both workout videos and just, like, Rihanna doing her thing to motivate me,) a mirror on the wall to check form... a little trampoline/rebounder, that's fun and takes up a lot of space...
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:04 AM on November 8, 2015

I have a small room with French doors that technically counts as a bedroom; I use it as my computer room (I'm sitting in it right now!) and craft/costume storage space. I also keep my bicycle in here.

In my previous apartment I had my laptop at my kitchen table or in bed with me, so it's been much better for my mental bandwidth and sleep hygiene to have a specific room where I use the computer.

The room can also fit a twin-sized bed for guests if I take my bicycle out; I've been thinking about getting an air mattress or one of these twin folding guest beds, which I've borrowed but don't own.

My landlady said that previous tenants had used it as a yoga room, art room, or music room.

It's also where I hang up all of the art that doesn't really fit anywhere else in the apartment, and because I'm in here with my computer, I get to enjoy it.
posted by littlemisslaika at 10:14 AM on November 8, 2015

Add a "fireplace" and have a little retreat room with your brown chaise.
Bookshelves, a small table next to your chaise (to put your coffee or hot cocoa on), and a candle chandelier.
posted by ReluctantViking at 10:18 AM on November 8, 2015

You can still have a guestroom and usable space if you put in a Murphy Bed.
posted by monotreme at 10:54 AM on November 8, 2015

Build yourself a little climbing wall or at least a campus board!
posted by karbonokapi at 11:48 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

theora55 is right.

If you don't need the space, you don't need the space. Shut the door, maybe even in a more permanent sort of way that insulates it from the rest of the house so you're not paying to heat it. Forget about the room, and come back to it if you find yourself wanting more indoor space.
posted by aniola at 12:05 PM on November 8, 2015

I have a two bedroom condo. I am moving my bedrooqm into the smaller room, since I just sleep there. I literally jump out of bed, make the bed, get dressed and don't go back in there til sleep. The larger, brighter room, with good winter light will be my studio, workspace, maybe where I hang out the most. The closet is huge, room to store low use items, like art pieces, framing and matting tools. I decided having the biggest room useless most of the time, was not efficient use of the space for me.
posted by Oyéah at 12:12 PM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Agree with Oyéah above that there's some benefit to sleeping in the smaller room. When I lived in a two-bedroom house, that's what I did. I didn't keep much in the little bedroom and only went there to sleep, which was probably good for my perpetually dicey sleep habits.

The bigger bedroom, which was brighter and more open, became a special-projects/studio room (music, yoga, other things people have mentioned) with a pullout sofa for guests.

Having an out-of-the-way place for any special projects helped me keep the living room uncluttered. This was important because like you, I preferred to spend most of my working and reading time in the living room.
posted by tangerine at 2:15 PM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you like hiking and climbing, you must enjoy nature and the outdoors. You also have a pretty big window in that room. Why not install an awesome living wall?
posted by Ostara at 4:41 PM on November 8, 2015