SPARE ROOM DESIGN IDEAS

Making the most of your spare room...

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Do you have a spare room in your home that you do not know what to do with? The task of designing your spare room is no small undertaking.... while the decor and feel of the room have to be aligned with your tastes, it’s important to remember that you’re not the person who’s likely to be spending a lot of time in there, so the room’s appeal must be universal, but cool of-course! 

Here are a few tips to spruce up your spare room:

Decide on its use...

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Before you begin purchasing new furniture for the room, or selecting color schemes, sit down and give some thought to how you intend to use the room so it doesn't end up looking like an uncomfortable blend of conflicting ideas.. If it’s primarily going to be for guests, remember this and decorate the room accordingly. There is nothing wrong with mixed-use spare rooms, but it’s best to decide on how they’re going to be used advance of decoration. 

Get rid of all your clutter....

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Whatever good intentions you may have, spare rooms often become a dumping ground for all of the items that you can’t find space for in the rest of your home. Especially books that keep piling up and up, like in the image above....Redecorating your spare room is, therefore, the perfect opportunity to get rid of all your clutter.

Before making any changes to the decor or furniture arrangements, clear the room of all the items that you never use and consider giving away donating them to a local charity shop. 

Go for neutral colors....

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Whether you have decided to turn your spare room into a home office or a guest room, neutral colors are always the best choice when it comes to decor. 

Grays and taupes are the new neutral for 2013 and are inherently welcoming to all.  Neutral colors always give you the option to easily change the purpose of the room at a later date, if your circumstances and needs should change.

Opt for some space savers...

When it comes to decorating a spare room, space is traditionally at a premium; it is, therefore, wise to invest in some space-saving items like sofa beds. The London based company Sainsbury have a range of sofa beds and is an exceptionally comfortable sofa bed for your spare room that is both functional and helps to create the illusion of extra space. (see pic above)

Other space saving items on your Sainsbury’s shopping list could include shelving and stackable storage boxes. When trying to make the most of your spare room, it’s all about creating as much floor space as possible.

Create the illusion of space.....

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A well lit room should have two or three different light sources, including ambient lighting, accent lighting and task lighting. Strategically placed mirrors reflect light from lamps and create the illusion of space, too. Love the look of different sized mirrors in the industrial-chic image above.

Applying the finishing touches.....

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When designing your spare room, the finishing touches are your opportunity to add a little personality to the decor. Are you lovin' that skull in the image above? Whether it’s a tastefully chosen armchair, a bold painting or a trendy sculpture, the finishing touches are the perfect way to give your neutral spare room that little bit of character!!

Good luck with the re-design of your spare room. Send me pics!