What would you do with an extra room?

[SunshineonLeaves]

DD is leaving home soon, I’m sad but consoling myself with the excitement of having a whole extra room to play with. However I can’t decide how to make the best use of the space, possibilities are:

Move my desk in and make it into an office/crafting space

Keep the desk in my bedroom and make it into a dressing room/ laundry space

Build bookshelves, buy a comfy chair and have it as a reading room

Or something else… What would you do?

how old is she?

Our spare room is a mix of all your suggestions. It's my reading room/office/dressing room. I have my desk which I use to work but also do my hair and makeup, a comfy chair and the rest of the space is bookshelves. Made comfy with a rug, cushions and art of the walls. I could really do with a laundry room though!!

Crafting room! I’d love to have everything easily accessible.
we have a study already though; if we didn’t that would be priority
maybe stick some weights in there too

I kept it as her bedroom for when she comes home to visit.

Sofa bed and book cases + office space so it can double as a spare room when she visits.

Craft room with sofa bed.

A room just for laundry/getting dressed seems a waste when you don't have other rooms going spare for your work, reading etc, as it would mean it's getting very little use. Also depends if you'll still want DD to be able to sleep there for visits, or will she be local so not need that?
I would probably try to combine the office/crafting space and reading area, if it's big enough, to get maximum use of the space - bookshelves don't need to take much room and could go above the desk/other furniture, so all that really needs is a comfy chair then - or if you don't want to keep the bed but DD may want to visit, a sofa/chair-bed or daybed that can double up for reading and visits?

I would use it to foster pregnant strays and the resulting kittens 😁

In reality I'd keep it as my son's room for a fair while until I was sure he wouldn't need to come home..

If you currently have your desk in your bedroom then I think I'd move it and make an office space - maybe keep a bed in there though.

If I had a spare room I'd put gym equipment in there. And a TV!

I've got two extra rooms and an attic room.

One is a spare room with bed and guest room stuff. Other has a large wardrobe and fold up guest bed. Attic room (properly converted, carpet, windows), is going to be my crafting room.

I’d definitely take the desk out of your bedroom and keep your bedroom as a sanctuary. I’d double the extra room up as an office/reading room. Desk on one side, comfy chair and bookshelves on the other.

Depends what other rooms and needs you have. If you need office space at home and you are currently in communal space / your bedroom, then prioritise that. I’d also prioritise somewhere to dry laundry- it has to go somewhere and it’s much better if it can be contained.

Our spare room is part office part laundry room! The living room and bedrooms are what I’d use as the “reading space” with plenty of comfy chairs/beds and bookshelves.

My parents immediately turned my room into an office and got rid of the bed. I had no issue with them using it as an office. But having to buy an air bed made me feel unwelcome in my own home.

Just to be clear DD is 22 and moving locally, we have a sofa bed if she wants to stay over but the house is tiny so I can’t keep a whole room free in case she comes back. Obviously I would if her circumstances changed though!

It’s just been me and her for the past 10 years so it will be weird but I’m excited to have my space as well.

Then I’d turn it into an office, having your desk in your bedroom is not optimal.

you can also use it for other purposes. Like a sofa bed, crafting etc,

do you never have overnight guests?

I would 100% keep a sofa bed in there then in that case no matter what!

I’ve got a sofa bed in the living room where guests sleep, it’s quite handy not being able to accommodate anyone for too long!