What would you do with an extra room?

[DoingItUp]

I bought my property three years ago shortly after I divorced XH. The plan was to use the money from the divorce to fund a full attic conversion with dormas to become the master bedroom. This would free up the two biggest bedrooms for my DC. However, for various reasons, I’m still waiting for the money and I may receive £0 because of XH’s actions. This means that youngest is stuck with the box room while eldest has a really good size room. I have the medium size room with en-suite.

Last year I discovered the roof needs redoing. I delayed in the hopes of getting my share from the divorce but it’s become urgent (and as I mentioned, I may now receive nothing). There is a loft room already which was done a long time ago so doesn’t meet current building regs. It’s also a bit awkward because the stair case takes up a large footprint and opens up under a lowish purlin (I was going to move the staircase in my original plan).

I’ve booked a roofer and he’s asked me to consider if I’d like any additional roof windows adding and so I’m now thinking what I could use this room for. We have a games room (DC are teens) in the cellar. It could be an occasional bedroom but I never have guests over, let alone anyone who might stay (I’ll probably put a bed or sofa bed in either way). I considered a chill out room or cinema room that youngest could use for sleepovers but they don’t seem that bothered. I’ve asked them what they’d like to use the room for and I get the typical teenager ‘whatever’.

So, I’m turning to MN for some inspiration - what would you use this room for? Also, would you add any roof windows and where would you put them please? TIA

I'm amazed the teens aren't bothered! I'd say a dressing room, but not sure if suitable due to sloping roof? Do you have any hobbies? Sewing/craft room? Reading room up away from everything? My partner would say a vinyl room (to play his records!).

If you really can't find a use and you have no other space... a place to leave the ironing board up permanently is a definite plus 😂

An office with sofa bed ?
A gym?
A super organised and easily accessible storage room?

@CellophaneFlower, my eldest is into crochet and I’d like to learn to sew. I bought us all a sewing machine so it could go in there actually - great idea! I don’t have many clothes (jeans and T-shirt kind of person) but out of season clothes storage is a good shout. I don’t iron anything

@PollyPeePants, thanks for those suggestions. The property has a large cellar with a few rooms so one of those will eventually become a gym as it’s easier to get the heavy equipment downstairs. I also have an office already. It would be good to have some storage in there.

I feel like I should use the opportunity to add at least one more roof window (especially as it will only cost the price of the window) but really not sure where to put it?

I think with two teens, I would make it a chill out room generally - cushions, comfy chair, nice lighting. I would use it to read/to get out of the way when the teens had friends over etc

Regarding the window, I'd decide exactly what the room is going to be first, then plan where things will go, table, sofa, cupboard or whatever, then work out where you need the light. Go up there at different times of the day to take note of the dark areas etc. If clothes storage and it's not going to be covered, obviously you won't want sun streaming through and bleaching them. Although you can soon run up replacements on your machine 😂

Really surprised they don't want a cinema room where they can hang out with friends. It looks nice enough to be a teenager's bedroom and spacious enough for their stuff and study area. Why not move them out of the box room and turn the boy room into a sewing room.

It needs to meet building regs consent/be fire safe etc to be a bedroom

but otherwise could be glorified storage or a lovely hobby room perhaps?

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, they’ve been really helpful.

I think part of the reason the kids aren’t bothered is because they can’t visualise it. I’m struggling to as well as it’s such an awkward space.

I’m now thinking multi use room that is primarily a chill out room but also a craft corner, reading nook, occasional bedroom. I’m leaning towards putting the window in the middle on the opposite side to the existing one as the sun sets on that side. Will it look out of proportion compared to the other side though?

I’ve taken some rough measurements and come up with a floor plan. The dashed lines show where the purlins are, around 5.5’ so headroom is very limited either side of those. The stage is a seat height wooden structure to accommodate an extra tall window in the room below so can’t be removed unfortunately. It’s very ugly so I’m going to have to be really creative to hide it or make a feature from it. I normally know exactly what I want to do with a room but this one has me completely stumped.

Has anyone got any clever ideas on how to use the space please?

My father converted our top floor which had 3 windows, into an area for storage and which we used as children (including a secret passage room too which was fun for us children). It was lovely. After we left home he used it to store all kinds of things in from excess clothes of my mother to work boxes of files, lots of stuff he got in bulk from the cash and carry like toilet paper as that is cheaper in bulk etc.

I saw that sticking out shelf type thing and imagined a big screen tv on there - would that work with the layout? Looks like you've got space to angle it to either side of the room if you got one of those big tv brackets that let's you pull the tv out and point it in different directions.
I thought chill out space and hobby room too. Get a load of rugs down and a sewing table with comfy office chair plus with a window that gets the sunset - bliss!
Enjoy it - what fab creative project.

I would give the child with the box room the choice of making that their bedroom.

Assuming they don’t want to then your plan sounds good!

I would add a couple of skylights on the side that has none. Skylights add head height as well as light and will make it much nicer to be in. Do get ones with built in blackout blinds for sleeping or keeping heat out in hot summer weeks.

I’d be tempted to square the stage off somehow and turn it into a built in seating nook. Bookshelf next to it.