Whether you have an empty room because a child moved out or you figured out how to make better use of the space, it’s a huge opportunity. Whether you choose to convert it into a place for guests, an exercise space, an entertainment room, or something else, plan before you act. With the right tactics, you can get the most use out of the space. Here are four tips for making the most of a newly empty room.
Deep Clean
Before you do anything, be sure to declutter the room. Remove everything and either sell, discard, or give away the contents. Obviously, depending on the room’s eventual use, a few things can stay. A bedframe, desk, nightstand, and lamp are all you need for a comfortable guest room. But for now, take them out and store them in the basement or elsewhere until you really need them. Once the room is empty, deep clean it.
This goes beyond sweeping and dusting. Wipe everything down with a cleaning solution. Treat the floors with a sweep, mop, buff, and wax job. Polish any wood molding and clean the windows inside and out. This will help you set up the perfect canvas for your final masterpiece.
Go the Full Multi
It’s all well and good to create a perfect and comfortable home office, but the best rooms are multi-purpose rooms. Plan out whether you want a single-use room or one that can address two, three, or more functions. You may make a home office that doubles as a guest room, for example. Or perhaps you’d like an entertainment room with cinematic seating in one place and a cozy reading and writing nook in the other. Visualize and imagine what you want the room to accomplish.
Spend a Little
An exercise room is a noble idea, but what will inspire you to work out there? A drab room with a single spin bike draped with a towel or a well-lit area with several exercise machines? Make sure that you have some inspiration to use the room. Also, be sure to set a reasonable budget but spend enough to make it worth your while.
Think Outside the Box
The last of our four tips for making the most of a newly empty room is to think outside of the box and restructure the room as a whole. Consider whether the room would benefit from a little rehabbing. Would a bigger window or skylight make a bigger difference? For example, an arts and crafts room could always use more light. A potential guest room could use more comfort features, such as an enlarged closet. Take time to think beyond the existing four walls!
Dianne Pajo is a Certified Personal Trainer based out of the Chicagoland area with a passion for music, combat sports, and animals. She enjoys competing in amateur boxing and kickboxing, but in her other leisure time, you can find her outdoors and performing music around the city. She is also a dog mom of 2.