Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Five Things To Do With Your Spare Room

11th September 2018

As time passes, so does the way in which you use your home. Families grow and shrink and it is necessary for you to adapt accordingly. You may have a spare room that sits largely unused, waiting for the occasional visitor. Or, you may have a room coming free in the near future.

If one (or more) of your children is flitting off to university or into their first home, don’t despair! Focus your emotions on turning their former bedroom into an indulgent space for you.

Here are some ideas that are so enticing that you will start painting before the kids have even packed their bags!

The Reading Room

Are you an avid bookworm with piles of books stashed on shelves around the house? Why not consolidate your love of reading and bring all of your books into one room? Wall to wall bookshelves, a comfy sofa bed and ambient lighting will provide you the perfect room to relax and indulge in myriad literary worlds. If you have guests, simply convert the sofa into a bed and (reluctantly) hand your sanctuary over for a night or two.

The Music Room

Music aficionados love nothing more than to enjoy their favourite tunes, free from the distractions of the outside world. If you play musical instruments, get creative and mount your instruments on the wall. This is a great way to display memorabilia and to celebrate your love of music, without it cluttering up the rest of the house! Add a sofa bed for versatility.

The Office

Whether you work from home or you simply manage your home, a home office can be a great stress-buster. No more sheaves of paper littering your sides and draws; no more disorganised filing; no more distractions. When you need to keep on top of bills and paperwork, you can simply nip to your office and get the job done.

The Gym

Are you always complaining that you can’t find the time, money or inclination to go to the gym? Try turning your spare room into a simple gym, where you can invest a little time into staying physically and mentally fit and healthy. After all, a session on the exercise bike or treadmill goes a lot faster when you are watching your favourite television series or listening to motivational music!

The Hobby Room

Do you or a family member have a hobby that just seems to take over the house? Whether it’s sewing, painting or making models, creating a hobby room can help to contain hobby crafting to one room and dramatically reduce clutter.

The Sleep Room

If your kids have finally flown off to uni, why not turn your spare room into an indulgent day room, where you can relax and just sleep? Goodness knows you deserve it!

If you want to transform your home with room changes, extensions or conversions, check out our choice of carpenters, builders and interior designers near you.

For more inspiration, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Related tags

Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
Should I renovate my home or move house?

There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

Have a question about TrustATrader?

If you have a question in relation to TrustATrader specifically, please check out the TrustATrader FAQs, with separate lists tailored to consumers and tradespeople. Alternatively, get in touch with our team. We're happy to help!

Read FAQs Contact TrustATrader