Ideas for a spare room: a space for hobbies
Do you have a room that you don't use or is full of junk? Turn it into a space for your hobbies! We'll show you how to give that empty room a new lease of life and transform it into a multipurpose area
Households, like people, transform over time and evolve with us. However, when our children take the next step and begin a new life elsewhere, their rooms stay exactly the same, as if they are forced to wait patiently for a possible return.
Being sensible is fine, but when the time comes don't you think it would be better to give that room a new purpose? Why not use it to create that sewing and craft area or that workshop you've always wanted? This could be the perfect chance!
One room for different hobbies
Once we have the empty room and we can see the actual amount of space we have, it's time to plan its new purpose. You and your partner may want to make the most of the room, so first of all you need to know what this spare room is going to be used for.
In this home, for example, we've created a carpentry and crafts workshop that also turns into a sewing workshop.
As you are going to work with tools and materials that could be dangerous, it's worth taking every extra precaution, so the KOLON floor protector is a great ally if you want to prevent marks or liquid from damaging the floor. It's recommended that the storage system installed (shelves, drawers, etc.) is also made of a tough material that isn't affected by stains or scratches. This is why the IVAR wooden shelving system and metal drawers are perfect for this workshop.
Everything you need at your fingertips
The time you spend on your hobbies is precious. So don't waste it looking for things. Always focus on visibility and order. You know what you need better than anyone, so try to be as smart as possible when organising your space.
We've used our GREJIG shoe rack as an improvised basket for tubes of wrapping paper. What do you think? Because it has hooks, we can fold the shelf away when it's empty. It goes completely flat, and the mesh means we can use extra hooks to hang things as we need it.
Transparent drawers and toolboxes
There's a limit to what can be hung on a board without overloading it.
To assemble your small workshop, we recommend that you use steel drawers like our LENNART drawer unit, because it's transparent enough that you can see each small screwdriver while at the same time it's easy to move from one side of a room to the other.
A large, foldable work desk
From mending trousers to turning curtains into clothes, sewing can be a versatile, useful and fun activity. That's why a foldable table like the NORDEN table is perfect, ensuring that you never run out of space. When you need it, you can fold down one or both wings, and when you're done it won't take up any space because it can be closed completely.
Don't forget to make use of the walls. As you can see, we've opted for a SKÅDIS pegboard with different compartments and hooks to store the objects that we use the most, like scissors or a tape measure.
Prepare to pause ongoing projects
Every centimetre counts, and as we said, we have to be smart about how we use space and apply some inventiveness to store and organise all our things.
From the creators of "a shoe rack/basket" comes "a towel rack on the ceiling". Yes, you've read this correctly. A towel rack mounted on the ceiling offers additional bars to hang longer garments or very large sheets of paper, for example. This means you don't have to fold it. And you'll avoid creases!
Tips: Place it about 30 centimetres from the wall to allow room for hangers.
All the details of a work desk
At the desk, you'll need extra storage space. The NORDEN table, for example, has small drawers in the middle to store reels of thread, small cuts of fabric, patterns and so on. A trolley with baskets is another great idea.
Oh! And most important, good lighting so as not to harm your eyesight while enjoying your favourite hobby. If you don't want to have it right in the middle of things, you can use attractive adjustable lamps like the NÄVLINGE or the TERTIAL, and even install it on the wall as we've done here with the NYMÅNE.
Order in every corner
The workshop you've always dreamt of is complete! What did you think? Put these tips into practice and you'll see how you can give that spare room a new lease of life. You'll love spending hours and hours in that personal space while you create and enjoy yourself.
If you want more ideas and advice on design and order for your home, take a look at this article on how to create a space for meditation and relaxation.
We are delighted to see our customers use our products creatively. Why not try being creative too? But do remember, any modifications or changes that you make to IKEA products prevent them from being resold or used for their original use, and so voiding IKEA product warranties and your right of return.
