Bonus rooms are a major selling point in modern homes, but choosing a purpose for them can be tricky if you don't already have an idea in mind. With so many possibilities for using the extra space, it helps to start with the basic needs of your household. How will you best use this space? To help inspire you, here are some simple and creative ideas for decorating a bonus room:
Guest bedroom
A popular choice for bonus rooms is to convert them into guest bedrooms. It's helpful to have a place for friends or family to have to themselves when visiting overnight. However, it can also be helpful to have a guest bedroom, even if you don't intend to host anybody. Many homeowners like having a guest room ready as an auxiliary nap room, for instance.
Regardless of the intended purpose, adding a bed, night stand and comfortable lighting will transform any empty room into a guest bedroom in a pinch. Try using a convertible sofa for a multifunctional and space-saving approach.
Home office
As it's become more common to work from home, it's become more important to have a designated workspace. Setting up your bonus room as a home office is an excellent way to add function and purpose to the space, while also helping yourself or other household members who need a quiet place to work. Invest in a quality desk and chair, add task lighting and the necessary technology, and you'll have a home office ready for action.
Game room
Sometimes your recreational activities might conflict with those of your family or housemates. One great way to curb this issue is to turn your bonus room into a designated space for play time apart from other gathering areas. Creating a game room for anything from virtual reality to board games to poker nights will help you have fun without disrupting other parts of the house. Include plenty of comfortable seating, media storage and fun decor to complete the transformation.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
