Ideas for How to Make the Most of a Spare Room or Flex Space

By Toll Brothers 4 minute read

Last updated on January 10th, 2024

Does your home have extra space that you’re not quite sure what to do with? Almost every new home is built with a flex room these days, and these bonus spaces can serve multiple purposes, depending on your needs. This extra space may even become your favorite room in your home. Learn more about flex spaces, how to make the most of an extra room, and discover inspirational design ideas from our Toll Brothers design experts.

What is a Flex Room?

A flex room is an area of your home that can be used for multiple purposes. It could be an entire room or just an extra space in your home, and it will likely evolve over the years to meet your shifting needs.

Flex room with natural lighting converted to entertainment center
Regency at Santa Rita Ranch by Toll Brothers in Liberty Hill, TX

As lifestyles have changed, so too have home desings to reflect the changing needs of home buyers. Rooms and spaces in our homes have become more flexible. For example, your basement probably does more than store your belongings. It may also be a family room, a home theater, or a workspace.

Today, most homes are designed with an extra room, a spare bedroom, a spacious stairway landing, or a finished basement, and these flex spaces are perfect for serving your evolving needs as a homeowner.

What is a Flex Room Used For?

There are so many ways to use a flex space in your home. To make the most of these areas, start by thinking about what your needs are. Perhaps you’re looking for a place to cultivate your hobbies, have a home office, show off your wine collection, or make space for your new baby.

Keep in mind that this room can evolve over time. What starts out as a spare bedroom could end up as a library or nursery.

Dark-toned home office with built-in shelving and pendant lighting
Lakeside at Cielo Ranch by Toll Brothers in Shady Shores, TX

How to Design an Extra Room

Designing your ideal extra room will most likely be an ongoing process as you progress through various stages of life. But it’s a good idea to utilize multipurpose flex room furniture and versatile materials and colors, as well as maximizing natural light to ensure the space continues to meet your needs.

Here are a few flex room ideas to inspire you:

Craft Room

Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Transform your flex space into the ultimate craft room. Line the walls with shelves to hold your supplies, and then add a large table to spread out your projects. These craft room organization ideas will help you create your dream space.

Élan at Wolf Ranch by Toll Brothers, Colorado Springs, CO

Nursery

When your family is expanding, a bonus room is an ideal space for a nursery. You can easily turn an extra bedroom or cozy nook into a beautiful nursery with paint or wallpaper, furniture, and kid-friendly art.

Playful nursery featuring geometric wallpaper design
The Willows at the Meadows by Toll Brothers in Lake Forest, CA

Home Office

Whether you work from home or you’re simply looking for somewhere to pay the bills, consider converting your extra space into a home office flex room with a desk, file cabinets, and a few bookcases.

Spacious home office with a light, airy feel and expansive bookcase shelving
Mt. Prospect by Toll Brothers in North Potomac, MD

Reading Nook or Library

Are you an avid reader? Revamp an extra room or even a staircase landing into your personal library. Start by installing bookshelves, and then add a chair or a window seat. Be sure to include soft lighting to give the area a cozy and relaxed feel.

Library flex room with innovative bookcase featuring functional ladder
Cinnamon Ridge by Toll Brothers in Sparks, NV

Entertainment Room

If you love socializing, turn your extra space into an entertainment room. Depending on your interests, an entertainment room could be a game room, a home theater, a music room, or a place for teens to hang out.

Entertainment room elevated by wood accent wall and industrial pendant lighting
Stone Creek Ranch by Toll Brothers in La Quinta, CA

Playroom

Keep your kids’ toys corralled in a playroom. A playroom is a perfect example of how multi-purpose rooms can evolve over time. Today it’s a playroom, tomorrow it’s a homework station, and in the future, it could be your craft room or home gym.

Expansive playroom including storage units, work stations, and comfy couch
Grand Reserve by Toll Brothers in Roswell, GA

Wine Cellar or Bar

Show off your wine collection or bartending chops by transforming the flex space in your home into a wine cellar or bar. This is the ideal room to enjoy life and kick back with friends.

Elegant wine room tucked away from main living spaces
Toll Brothers at Adero Canyon in Fountain Hills, AZ

Home Gym

Flex rooms make excellent home gyms. Creating your workout space can be as simple as adding a yoga mat and free weights to a basement corner, or as extensive as converting an entire room with your favorite machines, mirrored walls, and a TV to keep you entertained.

Home gym with workout machines, wood flooring, and wall mirror
Silver Star by Toll Brothers in Nampa, ID

Dressing Room or Walk-In Closet

A flex space is a fashionista’s best friend. Install shelves to display your designer bags and shoes, add a center island with drawers for clothing, display your favorite jewelry, and bring in a beautiful vanity for applying makeup.

Flex room converted into walk-in closet with ample hanging racks and drawers
Doylestown Walk by Toll Brothers in Doylestown, PA

The best thing about a flex space is that it can change with you through the different chapters of your life. What’s a nursery today, maybe a home office tomorrow. For more flex room decor ideas, visit Toll Brothers’ Flex Space board on Pinterest.

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Embracing an unwavering commitment to quality and customer service, Toll Brothers currently builds in over 60 markets in 24 states nationwide, and is a publicly owned company with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TOL). In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™ list.* Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information, visit TollBrothers.com. From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

  • 8 Comments

    1. Holly carmichael says:

      My friend designed her new home to combine a small kichenette in same room with her laundry so she could so all her canning and presearving .
      I would love that!!!

    2. Jenna Janssen says:

      I have a Toll house and I wish that whoever does these interior designs would come visit my home!

      • Andrew Espinoza says:

        Hi Jenna, which interior are you most a fan of? We could help share the best way to get in touch with designers of that model!

    3. Jenna katouzian says:

      Hi,
      I love this article. I saw the above comments. I’m buying Westcliff Summit the Asti home. Do you know the designer for my model? I need help.

    4. Jenna katouzian says:

      Hi,
      What’s the name of the model in the first picture with the kitchen in the flex room? Please help! Thank you.

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Jenna, the photo is of the Fairway model from Toll Brothers at Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills Estates, CA. The interior designer of this model is Savannah Design Group. However, this model is no longer available. We hope this helps answer your question. Thanks!

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