What is a Bonus Room?

(Shown above: The same bonus room before and after makeover)

Bonus rooms are common in larger homes, and agents out on the Eastside tell me homes with bonus rooms sell faster. They are ambigously named “bonus” because there is no pre-determined use for them, nor do they come with closets, which would make them a bedroom, according to permitting regulations. They are usually in houses that also have the traditional family and living room spaces, though they are much more useful than living rooms simply because they are a blank page, waiting to be transformed into whatever your imagination will allow. If you happen to have a home with one of these rooms in the rough, open your mind and consider all that the room could be. Either as is, or possibly with the simple and cheap addition of some partioning walls, you could turn the space into one (or more) of these ideas:

• Bedroom. Add a closet or purchase an armoire and use the space as an additional bedroom.
• Playroom. Decorate with Fisher Price and Little Tikes and be the envy of every parent on the block! With a large bonus room, plastic outdoor Little Tikes playhouses can be kept indoors for the little ones to climb on with friends on rainy days. What better place to store all your toys than one toy heaven!
• Teen haven. Along the same lines as above, add game tables, lounging furniture and a TV so that your teens have a place to invite their friends, all within close supervisory distance–and no driving involved!
• Theater room. Convert your room into the theater room of your dreams, complete with surround sound and drop down screen.
• Exercise room. For the fitness junkie, save on your dues and create your own in-home gym.
• Hobby/study area. Desks, cabinets, shelves and more can be added to create a workspace of your dreams.
• Home office. If you’re a telecommuter, this could be the perfect place to set up office space.