Bonus Room Furniture and Design Tips

How Do You Make a Bonus Room Cozy?

When it comes to decorating a home, many people struggle to figure out what to do with their bonus rooms. Some go for the popular spare bedroom or home office options, while others want to get creative and transform these extra spaces into something unique. Whichever approach you prefer, this article offers bonus room ideas for establishing a practical and comfy hangout spot in a spare room.

Overview

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What is the Purpose of a Bonus Room?

What you use your bonus room for mostly depends on you and your family’s needs. For example, you could use your bonus room as a designated playroom for your children to keep their toys from overwhelming your living room and their bedrooms. However, you might prefer to turn the space into a separate music room, yoga studio or crafting area so you can enjoy your favorite hobby in peace.

You should also consider the layout of your bonus room to determine what you should use it for. While you may want to put your gaming or painting setup in your spare room, it might lack the electrical outlets or natural lighting you need to enjoy those activities. Depending on the size of the space, you might also have to scale down your plans and use small bonus room ideas to suit the small room.

What Do You Put in a Bonus Room?

Once you figure out how to get the best use out of your bonus room, you can start furnishing the space with comfortable and stylish decor that fulfills that purpose. Take a look at some of these practical and popular bonus room ideas to get inspiration for your own spare room decorating project.

Bonus Room Office or Study

Many people transform their first-floor bonus room into an office or homeschool room for their children. If you choose to go this route, you’ll need to prioritize functional furnishings like desks, worktable accents and office chairs. Be sure to put these workstations in a spot with the most natural light and add table and floor lamps or other task lighting to brighten up the space.

Storage pieces like bookcases, shelves and file cabinets are essential for keeping an office organized. Practical wall decor like clocks, calendars and wall-mounted to-do lists can also help you or your kids stay on task while completing assignments. Lastly, add a comfy chaise lounge or bean bag chair in the corner to establish a cozy spot for work and study breaks.

Family Bonus Room Ideas

In some homes, the living room serves as a formal sitting area for entertaining guests, while the family room is a more casual space where everyone gathers to watch TV, play board games and hang out. Furnishing your spare room with an upholstered sofa or sectional set, a spacious round coffee table and a TV stand creates the perfect setup for family-friendly movie marathons and game nights.

Speaking of games, a spare room can also be a great place to put plush couches, a TV console with shelves, computer desks and gamer chairs to establish a fun place to play video games with your loved ones. Got a family full of film buffs? Set up home theater seating like leather recliner chairs and TV wall units to create an entertainment area for watching all your favorite movies.

Spare Bedroom

If your bonus room is on the second floor or in the attic, consider turning it into a spare room for overnight guests. Use a full– or queen-size bedroom set with a comfy bed, a nightstand and a six-drawer dresser or chest to create a comfy, practical guest room design. Enhance the cozy atmosphere of the space by rolling out a soft area rug and adding throw pillows and comforter sets to the bedspread.

Need tips for decorating a bonus room above the garage? Set up a small sofa set, a corner twin-size bed and some room dividers between the two to create a studio apartment. For an extra cozy touch, include a small TV console with a fireplace to bring charming warmth to the space.

Bonus Room Bar

A bonus room could even serve as an at-home cocktail lounge or sports bar. If completely remodeling the space seems like a bit much, try mounting shelves on a blank wall and placing a large kitchen island in front of them to create a drink-making station. Line up a few bar tables and swivel-base, adjustable-height bar stools on the outward-facing side to establish a traditional bar setup.

Prefer a sophisticated speakeasy aesthetic? Hang up a golden chandelier and furnish your bonus room with fabric chaises, a sleek U-shaped sectional and golden bar carts with wine racks so party guests can make their own cocktails before kicking back and relaxing. You can also set up three-piece bar sets or round dining sets where people can enjoy private chats or poker games.

With a little creativity, the possibilities for decorating your bonus room can be endless. Take a moment to consider whether you want your spare room to serve a practical or fun purpose, then figure out which furniture you need to establish a comfortable and stylish layout that you and your family can enjoy.