Make the most of that bonus spare room
When you upgrade to a bigger home or your teenager flies the nest, you may find yourself with a spare room.
Rather than let it become a dumping ground for unused items (hurriedly stashed away when guests come), take full advantage of the bonus space by transforming it into a reading room and library, or walk-in wardrobe and makeup space, or home theatre, or office or art studio; you get the picture.
Whatever the plan, a few important design considerations will help you make the most of it.
Decorating problems often stem from ambiguity around such a room’s purpose; is it an extra bedroom or a study?
One solution can be to furnish the room with a daybed. The space could then be a study or studio with an elegant side when the daybed is dressed up with a throw and cushions.
Play with reflections to improve the feel of a room by creating the illusion of a larger area. Direct a mirror to the view out the window to enhance this effect with an airy feel, to give the impression of a space extending beyond four walls.
If there is plenty of natural light, paint the room white to increase this breezy, open aesthetic. A minimalist approach to furniture and decor will fit well with the free-flowing style.
If, however, you have a windowless or shaded room, there is little you can do to make it appear light. White paint tends to appear grey and dull so go the other way and adopt a bold or quirky look. Darker colours will create a more intimate mood.
Somewhat surprisingly, small spaces can work well with a maximalist decor. You may want to wallpaper all the walls; even opt for patterned curtains.
The goal in a smaller room is to include everything you want without sacrificing your ability to move around.
To this end, bunk beds are a good way to make better use of space. They don’t have to be childish either: Ikea’s Utaker beds offer Scandinavian style in a stackable design that can be configured as two singles, an L-shaped daybed or a double.
Customised storage is a fantastic way to pack more in. A bank of drawers or a long desk can nicely fill the tight corners formed by a sloping ceiling, while a wall of built-in wardrobes with mirror fronts will really take the room to the next level.
‘‘Digging in’’ to create shelves that sit flush with the wall is an attractive way to bring depth to an otherwise featureless room. However, not all walls are suitable.
If your plan is for a home office, avoid feeling cramped by following the ‘‘two’s company’’ rule: decorate two full walls but leave two free to balance ergonomics and functionality. Put the desk at the small end to create a ‘‘lengthened’’ space.