8 Ways to Turn Your Spare Room Into a Functional Mixed-Use Space

Making your home work harder for you.

In a country like Singapore where space is a premium, making the most out of every inch in your home is extra important. And what better way to do so than to create a multipurpose space that serves various functions?

So, if you’ve got a spare room, take it one step further and turn it into a mixed use space that can complement your lifestyle, like these homeowners have done within their own home:

1. Create a secondary entertainment space separate from the living room

Whether you have a large family or are always entertaining multiple guests, one thing’s certain: not everyone wants to do the same thing at the same time.

That’s when a second ‘‘living room’ will come in handy. As seen in this home, the spare room was converted into a flexible entertainment space that can be used for a myriad of purposes – like gaming, movie nights, or even as a simple chill area away from the main crowd in the living room.

With loose furnishings, it can even be used for future-proofing purposes (e.g. to make way for a kid’s playroom).

2. Turn it into a home office with a small relaxation corner…

If you’re the type who finds it easier to focus with company, consider creating a his-hers office space for you and your spouse/sibling in your spare room.

And since no one can work non-stop, consider adding a comfy chair or sofa to create a relaxation corner within the space. You’ll be able to take quick breaks, power naps, or recharge away from your screen without leaving the room!

We’d also like to point out the L-shaped sliding doors, which keeps the area semi-open. The benefits? Allowing the homeowners to open or close up the area whenever they like (e.g. when they’re having virtual meetings and wanting to keep the noise from the living room at bay).

3. …or a gym…

For the active people among you, why not take it a step further and incorporate a home gym setup within your office space? This way, you’ll have your workout essentials – like your weights and resistance bands – within reach, for times you want to squeeze in a quick workout during breaks or between meetings.

Bonus: working up a sweat can actually help you stay focused throughout the day!

4. …or a walk-in wardrobe!

If neither a gym or a relaxation corner within your study sounds appealing, here’s another way to make the space work harder for you: create your walk-in wardrobe within the home office setup.

As shown here, a full-length wardrobe lines the wall behind the workstation, allowing the homeowners to free up the other rooms in their house.

5. Hack the walls of your spare room and replace them with display shelves

Display shelves can take up a fair amount of space, especially if you have a ton of things to store. Unless, of course, you decided to follow in this homeowner’s footsteps by hacking the walls of your spare room and then building up display areas in their stead.

Subsequently, you’re free to do whatever you want within the room itself – in this case, the homeowner decided to turn it into a study that houses his sizeable workstation.

6. Use the spare room as a space for board game sessions (that also doubles up as an extra seating area)

You don’t need to head out to a board games cafe when you have one within your very own home! As seen in this home, shelves upon shelves of board games line the walls of this homeowner’s board games room, while a simple five-seater table provides ample space to facilitate tabletop games.

And when not in use, it can double up as extra seating for guests – ideal for times when the dining or living area is full, or when they just want a quiet space away from the crowd to chill and hang out.

7. Carve out a music studio with a sofa for chill time

For the musically-inclined, your spare room can be the perfect opportunity to set up your very own music studio. Here, the space houses the homeowner’s mixing desk (i.e. a music producer’s workstation to craft new beats), along with soundproofing equipment to keep the noise to a minimum.

But it isn’t just all work – they’ve also included a plush sofa within the space, for the inevitable times they need a breather, or a comfy space to listen to their favourite tracks.

8. Consider having your study double up as a makeshift guest room

At first glance, this room seems like your average study, with a workstation and office equipment neatly set up within the space.

In reality, the cabinets behind the workstation conceals a dropdown bed, which allows this room to function as a makeshift guest room for anyone who may need to stay the night!

Love these ideas, or got a question for us? Leave a comment down below! 👇