As someone who lives in about 1,500 square feet, wishing I had a little more room to move around or some dedicated areas for specific needs (my home office, a playroom for my kid, a hobby room for my and my husband’s special interests), I laugh at the idea of having enough “dead” space to figure out what to do with it. However, I know a lot of homes, especially newer builds with extra square footage, have areas that may leave you scratching your head as to what its purpose was. A loft at the top of the stairs, perhaps? A big, empty basement? Maybe there’s a weird closet in your primary bedroom, or even under your stairs.
There’s also the scenario that you don’t need something like a formal dining room, an extra bedroom for guests, or even a full-sized mudroom or laundry room. I really like the idea of personalizing your home to how you want to use it and how you want to use it, which means taking what you’re told is on a floor plan and rethinking what it could be for you.
So…what can you turn those empty or confusing spaces into? Well, today I have some really fun ideas to explore. Let’s activate those creative neurons.
But first, for a little domestic inspiration. Do you remember this bookcase we had on the upper floor of the Portland Project designed by Emily years ago? It secretly opened into a hidden playroom with a skylight for lighting and ventilation:
It was so cool and such a good use of space that otherwise would have been wasted. Is it big enough for an adult to stand? No, but the kid-friendly spot was a pocket-sized and cozy little playground that excited everyone who visited it.
Room Rethink #1: Room Keeping
So, let’s say you have a breakfast space and then a large dining space right next to it (I’ve seen this in some homes). Or perhaps a den that has been fenced off and is used as a place to collect all your random odds and ends. Well, how about you turn it into a storage room instead?
I just love the idea of a keeping room, which traditionally in early colonial homes was a warm, multi-purpose gathering space located next to the kitchen where the family would gather for warmth from the stove, talk and work while the cook worked. It served as a cozy, informal family room, sometimes called a hearth room, that was a place to relax, get together, and even sleep or shelter small animals to take advantage of the warmth from the fireplace in the winter.
Today, it’s not really a necessity thanks to the wonders of central heating, but having a cozy and comfortable sitting room off the kitchen where you can gather, read, or even eat and sip small bites is an appealing concept.
Let’s take a look at this storage room that has a large dining table and a sofa. It’s not often that you see a leather tufted sofa in a mix of a dining and kitchen area, but I think having a variety of seating like this makes for a really interesting (and useful) arrangement.
You could also bring in some cabinetry and create an open butler’s pantry or coffee bar, which would be clutch for entertaining in an intimate setting.
Although a fireplace is no longer required in all maintenance rooms, it certainly makes things cozier. Opening up to an outdoor veranda, the entire set looks like an entertainer’s dream.
Here’s a more traditional and rustic storage room Lynn Ford’s Previous Los Angeles home. As you can see, it’s just off the kitchen and is a simple (but beautiful) landing spot for staying near the action in the absence of a large, open floor plan.
This unique maintenance room Our Prairie Farmhouse Goods I feel like sitting and knitting or working on needlepoint to keep my hands busy (and warm) while someone else makes some kind of porridge or stew for me. Life feels so good.
Room Rethink #2: Home Library
Here’s something that almost everyone can have in their home in some way or another: a library. Now, you might be imagining a Beauty and the Beast expansion, but as you’ll see, all you really need is some blank walls to achieve this bookish dream.
The above house, by Gil SchaeferObviously an absolutely gorgeous luxury home, but I love these floor-to-ceiling bookcases. I can imagine it in a landing area between rooms, on one side of a wide hallway or transition space, or even, as I’ll explore in a moment, on a wall of a dining space.
This entire carousel of images is full of home library inspiration, but the first image is the one I’ve included because I believe it’s the most realistic for most of us. I like the idea of creating a shelf above the top space of a small reading nook with a ladder for entry. Ideal for that corner of any living space you want to fill with character and purpose.
A dining room-meets-library is one of my life goals. Few things feel so luxurious, vibrant, and full of character as multiple book shelves and a waterfall of hardbacks and paperbacks surrounding your dining table and chairs.
Add some closed storage below to check off those boxes that would otherwise be a sideboard or credenza; They’ll help you stock up on extra dinnerware, serving platters, linens, small appliances (if you have a small kitchen, as I do), board games, crafts, homework supplies, and beyond.
Elle the Home Bird’s Dining Place This proves that you don’t need every wall covered in books to make a library impact. One area is enough to explain the point.
Room Rethink #3: Clofis
“Clothoffice” (or closet-office) has been a topic of much discussion in interiors this year. If you have an entire bedroom to dedicate, part of it as clothes storage/dressing room, part as office. If you need a work area but don’t have a dedicated room, it may mean sacrificing a small closet to convert it into a desk corner. Either way, I love this clever use of space.
What a luxury it would be to have a beautiful sitting room-office-meets-walk-in-closet in my home. I know a lot of families have “man caves” in their homes, but I think it’s time that women started claiming some space for themselves for their free time. A clofess or parlor might tickle you.
such a chic clofis Molly Kidd StudioThe lounge bench really brings it home, imho,
It’s more closet and vanity than closet and office, but the makeup area near the window could easily be a desk, too. It reminds me of my days spent in the beauty and accessories closet at Brides Magazine during my summer internship… but with more light because my area was better suited for the Hobbit than this masterpiece. Nooreen Kapoor Design,
If visual clutter keeps you from locking up and concentrating, perhaps a built-in closet with doors and drawers would be better for you. Honestly, it makes me think that the huge walk-in closet I had in the Boca Raton apartment I lived in before moving to LA could definitely fit a desk and, with some styling, could have a wonderful closet. think outside the box!
Take that stair closet in your guest bedroom and install a clever work area! This way, you can fit in a proper bed as opposed to a pull-out sofa, and you’ll still have plenty of room to move around. Bonus points for being bold with deep red Amber from West on Willow Did above.
Oh, and don’t overlook a small closet in the entryway or hallway, too. Where there’s a will (and need), there’s a way!
Room Rethink #4: Quiet Corner
If we’re smart and resourceful, much of our home can actually be adapted to be more functional. And while I know not everyone is a reader, a quiet corner (or reading corner, whatever you want to call it) can really shake up your day in terms of the diversity of where you hang out at home.
If you don’t need space under your stairs to stash things, take inspiration from this amazing built-in upholstered bench. I can imagine being stuck there with my noise-canceling headphones on and turning off parenting and partnering responsibilities for a few minutes.
God, is it so tempting. With or without a round, deep-inset window, creating a window seat and then adding a small pedestal table and another seating option sounds like something I’d like to fill a corner in bedrooms and spacious living rooms from now on.
Another option under the stairs with a step-up lounge area. Wrap it in a compact bookcase or keep it unfolded, it’s your choice.
If you have extra floor space in a spare bedroom or even a loft area, why not extend the window seat idea into a window bed? The curtains keep it private and cozy, and I’m sure you’ll be happy to have it during the holidays when you’re trying to figure out where to pack everyone.
Different style, same effect.
Room Rethink #5: Craft or Hobby Studio
My husband and I both have some artistic hobbies: I sew on occasion (or pick up random DIY ideas from here and there), and he does photography. Having a dedicated studio for the two of us to entertain definitely makes it difficult to move everything around in the garage for shoots, and I have to take everything off the dining table (which includes my work setup) whenever I want to sew something.
Wow, this looks like a proper studio space, but I’m sure you can take inspiration from it for something much smaller scale. If you’re fond of sewing (to cut out fabrics), scrapbooking (to organize all your pages), and even gift wrapping, an open wood island in the center of the room and some wall storage space is a great use.
Don’t forget though, to get something like the above you need about two to three feet of depth in any given location. And when you can look at a sewing machine, just replace it with your favorite hobby: journaling, sketching, clay modeling, pen palling… whatever.
Another center-island idea. The adjustable chair makes it so you can either stand or sit, which is a really nice option if your hobby or craft keeps you bending over or down.
Art studio much?? What a beautiful use of a converted invasion space or room above the garage. I think when guests come over a few times a year, we get so caught up in thinking about making room for them that we forget to prioritize the needs and wants of the people who take up most of your home’s time.
Room Rethink #6: Speakeasy
And finally, I turn it over to our girl Mallory for helping me think about this. Kudos to you, Mal, for helping us realize that even a tiny broom closet can be transformed into a sexy, secret speakeasy.
case in point. Don’t forget to reveal this place here in their apartment.
Not a big reader? Leave the book corner and go to a hidden bar. And don’t skip the luxury materials, as they really make these compact spirit closets feel extra special.
Or perhaps you have an entire basement to contend with? Take inspiration from your favorite bar or cocktail bar and shrink it to fit the size you’re working with. Attractive tile floors, saturated color splashes, and even some fun signs will take you there.
Another home bar followed by a great man, kate pierce vintageIf I’d been scrolling quickly, I’d have thought it was in a hotel lobby,
It is providing a secret hideout. (Click through to see how well this home bar’s door fits into the wall paneling.) Oh, and remember: Just like Emily created a hidden playroom, you can take this speakeasy concept and apply it to whatever your heart desires. I think when everything has an element of a secret passage it looks extra cool.
Until next time, friends…
Opening Image Credit: By Design Mallory Wackerman by photo sarah ligoria-trump From: Mallory’s Speakeasy Reveal
