How to Repurpose a Room
It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves with a room in their home that’s not being used to its full potential. Maybe you have a dining room that was designed for hosting dinner parties but is rarely used, or a bonus area that’s no longer needed since the kids moved out. Regardless of the reason, choosing to repurpose a room can be a smart and practical solution that maximizes the space in your home.
Common Rooms to Repurpose
With a little planning and creativity, almost any room can be reimagined. Below are some common areas that offer flexibility in space and the type of room they can often be converted to.
- Formal dining rooms can become music rooms and play areas. Small dining areas near an entry make great sitting rooms and can make a smaller entryway appear larger.
- Formal living rooms in more traditional homes can serve many purposes due to their location and ability to be closed off from the rest of the house. A formal living room often makes a great home office or library (man… I love a good home library).
- A home office is typically a space that homeowners are looking to repurpose a room into and not vice versa. However, if you fancy another use for this room, I think home offices make great playrooms or crafting areas due to the often smaller size of the space.
- A bonus or family room is a personal favorite of mine for creating a larger dining area in the home. Typically, the room’s adjacency to the kitchen makes this room easily convertible.
Tips for Success
If you’re planning to repurpose a room, there are some important things to keep in mind to make sure it turns out just the way you want it to. You’ll want to think about how the new space will fit in with the rest of your home and whether or not the changes make it functionable. When planning out your room, it’s important to think about how it will connect with other spaces. Below are a few questions and ideas that I have my clients think through before making any changes.
Designer Tips and Tricks:
- Make a list of how you need the room to function. For example, do you need a quiet or private space? Ensure the changes you are considering will fulfill those needs.
- Consider the traffic patterns for your home and whether or not the repurposed space will affect the natural flow.
- Change up the lighting! Light fixtures can be replaced, removed, or added to help create the desired ambiance and define a room type. For example, I recently helped a family with furnishing their new home. One of the challenges that they were facing was creating a sitting area in a space that was originally intended to be a dining room. After discussing their needs for this room, I could tell that the lighting was the main issue, not the furniture. The chandelier and wall sconces created an imbalance in the furniture and art. With new lighting, a few furniture layout tweaks, and a brand-new bar cabinet, these clients are ready to entertain.
Get in Touch
I hope I could give you some fresh ideas on how to see your home in a new way! It’s always exciting to discover new possibilities and ways to make the most of our living spaces. If there’s an area in your home that you feel could be better utilized or if you have questions about repurposing a room, don’t hesitate to contact KHID. I’m here to help and would love to offer any guidance I can!
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