How to Repurpose Unused Rooms

If there are rooms inside your home you never use, it's time to think outside the box, past the purpose they were designed to serve. Formal rooms gathering dust in favor of more casual gathering spots are prime candidates for repurposing into usable spaces. Unused bedrooms in your empty nest or starter home can be repurposed to become functional areas. Bring new life to neglected rooms by turning them into spaces for hobbies, storage and family fun. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Formal Living Room

1

Create a library. Install book shelves. Furnish the room with comfy, overstuffed chairs coupled with floor lamps for reading or doing handwork, and side tables for resting a drink or keeping a pile of books at hand.

2

Use it as a guest room. Buy a sofa bed that coordinates with the rest of the room's furniture. Put the side tables to work holding water bottles, tissue boxes, flowers and other items to make your visitors feel at home.

3

Surround yourself with music. Move in a piano or other musical instruments. Add comfortable seating and treat guests to a family recital. Install a stereo system complete with surround sound. Provide a spot for children to practice their music lessons.

Dining Room

4

Replace formal dining room furniture with casual pieces, creating a laid back atmosphere. Opt for a weathered dining table surrounded by mismatched chairs. Hang a vintage chandelier to add a romantic touch. Use the room for casual family dinners or spur-of-the-moment pot lucks.

5

Design a study area. Store school supplies in an existing sideboard or the bottom of a china cabinet. Protect the table with a vinyl table cloth like one you'd use on a picnic table, or give each child his own plastic place mat. Bring in desk lamps to augment existing lighting.

6

Set up a breakfast room for a quiet spot away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. Remove formal dining room furniture in favor of a loveseat or two wing chairs and a large coffee table. Rearrange the existing furniture to make space for a small bistro set. Section it off with a folding screen.

Bedroom

7

Combine a guest room and home office. Organize your office devices in an armoire designed for that purpose. Close the doors when guests arrive. Furnish the room with a futon or day bed. Put small book shelves to work as storage and bedside tables.

8

Relax in a meditation room. Paint the walls soothing colors. Use a small fountain and plants to simulate the feeling of a Zen garden. Furnish the space with lounge chairs, floor pillows and soft area rugs. Install a dimmer to control the lighting.

9

Convert the room into a walk-in closet. Bring in rolling clothes racks. Use plastic bins to pack away seasonal items. Store folded items in a dresser. Opt for a closet installation. Buy one and do it yourself, or turn your space over to professional closet designers.