30 Bonus Room Ideas to Optimize Your Extra Space

Got an underused bonus room that needs some attention? You’re in the right place! An extra room is a fantastic opportunity to create a dedicated space for hobbies, passions, or entertaining.

Discover inspiring ideas to transform your spare room – from home offices and workout areas to guest suites, libraries, home bars, dressing rooms, craft spaces, or even a secret hideaway.

What exactly is a bonus room?

It’s an extra space in your home without a predefined purpose like a bedroom or living room. These areas might be smaller, unfinished, or oddly shaped, sometimes lacking elements like windows or closets.

Even a spare bedroom not living up to its potential can be reimagined as a valuable bonus space, perfect for a home office, pet room, or fitness area. 

Home Office

PinKaryn Millet

Turn your bonus room into a dedicated workspace with a chic desk, colorful supplies, and just enough shelving for books and papers.

Craft Room

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Laurey Glen

Maintain a well-organized craft room to stow supplies and retreat to whenever creativity strikes.

Kids’ Study Area

PinKatarzynaBialasiewicz//Getty Images

With a study area this chic, your kids won’t have any issues tackling their homework assignments.

This striking design scheme, featuring black-and-white carpeting and a chalkboard accent wall, is guaranteed to help maintain their focus and let their imagination run wild.

Playroom

PinEric Roth

Tired of your kid’s toys taking over your living room? A playroom is a great solution.

Go for ample storage, add a mini desk, and use bright colors to help build your little one’s imagination.

Music Room

PinStacy Zarin Goldberg

Whether you play the piano or just need a space to sing along to your favorite hits, a music room is a good idea if you have the luxury of space.

Lounge Area

PinTessa Neustadt

Ideal for a small space, a rattan swing chair and petite end table make for the perfect lounge area.

Children’s Guest Room

PinLisa Romerein

Give your kids the ultimate sleepover spot that’s outfitted with statement wallpaper, well-designed bunk beds, and enough floor space to play games before the lights go out.

Library

PinRyann Ford

Some days call for reading in bed and other days, you might want to curl up with a good book in a library setting.

Create your own sophisticated home library with a luxe chair and built-in shelves for your collection.

Home Theater

Pin CAROLYNLEONA

Movie buffs might consider turning an empty room into a home theater.

Designer Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA did just that for a client, including tiered, formal movie theater seating that makes for an ultra-luxe experience.

Workout Room

Pin CAROLYNLEONA

Why haul yourself all the way to the gym when you can work out in a personalized home workout room?

Goldberg also designed this personal training center and filled the space with full-length mirrors, motivational posters, and a wide assortment of equipment to recreate the feel of a standard gym, just on a smaller scale.

Family Learning Center

Pin Sroka Design

Designer Skip Sroka of Sroka Design converted an underutilized formal living room into an office/learning area for the whole family. The room features three separate desk/computer stations, a printer tucked away in a cabinet and a table that allows for collaborative work.”

Although the room has lovely windows, we were sure to incorporate recessed lights, a pendant light, and specific task lighting to make sure this room was bright and functional, no matter the time of day,” adds Sroka. “Frosted glass steel doors provide privacy when needed.”

Secret Getaway

Pin Sroka Design

As part of another project, Sroka created a soothing “secret getaway” room.”This room is the perfect place to relax and recharge in a full, busy house,” he says.

“Escape by pushing on the secret door and curl up with a book in this beautifully upholstered window seat or take a nap in the built-in bed.”

Home Office Library

Pin Sroka Design

Sroka found a way to convert a library into a work-from-home station.”It’s not necessary to dedicate an entire room to working from home,” he explains.

“This library doubles as a workstation when the custom doors are opened, revealing a desk area.”The ease of being able to close the doors makes using the room to entertain nice and simple—no one has to bear witness to a messy desk.

Foyer Dining Room

Pin Kristina Phillips Interior Design

Designer Kristina Phillips of Kristina Phillips Interior Design transformed a sizable foyer into a dining space for a couple who loves to entertain.

“The high ceiling makes it feel bigger than it actually is, yet keeps it intimate,” she explains.

Artist’s Studio

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 Sara Hillery Interior Design

Designer Sara Hillery of Sara Hillery Interior Design created an artist’s studio for a client who began painting as a hobby—and since having a dedicated space in which to pursue her craft, has since won many awards.

In designing this type of space, Hillery makes a point to incorporate ample lighting and storage while drawing in personal touches.”For a creative space, I especially showcase clients’ sources of inspiration,” she says.

“It is important to surround yourself with the things that hearten you and ignite your creative process.”

Respite Room

Pin MA Design

Why not design a room specifically for taking a break from it all? Interior designer and sustainability specialist Hayley Perrault of MA Design aims to include “respite rooms” in every one of her projects.

These spaces feature essential oils, a sound machine, coloring books, eye masks, earplugs, and other calming items.”

When designing a room like this, I recommend implementing biophilic design elements like dappled lighting, plants, natural materials, and soft curves or forms to help create an environment in which you can relax,” adds Perrault.

Craft and Playroom

Pin Design by Curated Nest / Photo by Kyle J Caldwell

This dedicated play and craft space by designer Erin Coren of Curated Nest gives kids the space to get creative, whether reading, making an art project, or simply playing with toys.

In a space like this, proper organization methods are key.”Baskets and bins for dedicated items near where they will be used can make this a streamlined process,” says Coren.

Golf and Exercise Room

Pin Lauren Grumbles Interior Design

Designer Lauren Grumbles of Lauren Grumbles Interior Design turned an extra room in her clients’ pool house into a recreation space that houses a golf simulator and some exercise equipment, along with a small lounge area.

“This room was created for a family that really enjoys sharing time together, so even if one member is practicing his swing, the others still have plenty of room to gather and cheer each other on,” she says.

Music Room

Pin Design by Studio Munroe / Photo by Thomas Kuoh

Designer Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe chose to create a bonus section in her client’s living room.

One served as a common lounge space, while another became a spot to enjoy music—it features four lounge chairs, a storage ottoman, and a record player.”

In a pinch, the music area served as additional seating, but day to day it had a specific purpose that the whole family enjoyed,” Munroe reflects.

Kids’ Rec Room

Pin Grey Joyner Interiors

Designer Grey Joyner of Grey Joyner Interiors chose to convert her garage into a rec room for her kids, as they needed their own place to watch movies and hang out with friends.

“It is now one of the most used spaces in our home, and you can find my husband and me there playing games and watching TV on occasion as well,” says Joyner.

Walk-In Closet

Pin Erin Williamson Design

Turn a small space into a walk-in closet with built-in storage to keep your entire wardrobe neat and organized. 

Erin Williamson Design added mirrored storage opposite the window in this bright and airy walk-in closet that bounces around light and visually doubles its size.

Home Bar

Pin Kate Marker Interiors

Turn a spare room into a home bar and lounge that will rival your favorite watering hole and make your home everyone’s place to stop by for a drink. 

Kate Marker Interiors outfitted this home bar with comfy leather stools, a glass bubble chandelier that draws the eye up to the dramatic wood ceiling, and a cozy lounge space with plenty of seating and an animal print rug.

Dream Up the Perfect Playroom

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Have little ones in your life? Turn your bonus room into a playroom straight out of your childhood dreams.

Build a massive dollhouse, create a great tea party nook, and stock up on fort-worthy pillows and blankets.

Then, finish things off with a few whimsical touches. (If you coat your walls in chalk paint, you can invite everyone who steps foot inside your playroom to leave a masterpiece on your walls.)

Treat Yourself to a Sprawling Closet

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Low on closet space? Turn your bonus room into the walk-in closet you’ve always dreamt of. If your bonus room is small, you can fill the space with shelves and clothing racks.

And if it’s big, let your imagination run wild. Could your closet benefit from wall-to-wall mirrors, some cozy lounge seating, or a glitzy chandelier?

Recreate Your Favorite Bar

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If you love having people over for drinks, turn your bonus room into a home bar.

Line your walls with well-stocked liquor shelves, invest in an eat-in bar, and make lots of space for cozy seating.

Then, have some fun with it. Pay homage to your favorite bar with a bold backsplash or a neon sign, and embrace your inner mixologist every time you step behind the bar to make a drink.

Craft a Cozy Extra Bedroom

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If all the bedrooms in your home are spoken for, consider turning your bonus room into a guest bedroom.

The addition will make hosting overnight houseguests a whole lot easier.