What would you do with small spare room?

[Pollyanna]

The house I am renovating has a room which is the old laundry (size approx 2.5 x 2.8m) and I am not unsure what would be best to do with this room. Options I can see are:

1. A second bathroom
2. A study nook
3. Knock down the wall between it and the kitchen and the wall between it and the dining/sunroom which would open the whole area up and give it a more open plan feel/look

I could do with either a 2nd bathroom or a study and I also like the idea of the open plan. Hence my indecision about what to do!

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[abitfishy]

I guess it really comes down to having a think about how the area would best suit your uses.

Personally unless the house was 'pokey' and you needed the walls knocked down to make it more open, I wouldn't - it sounds like it will become part of a larger area and hence dead space once the walls are down.

I'd be tempted to make it a study nook, a large built in wardrobe, or set it up nicely with lots of shelving (melamine perhaps) and plastic tubs to store heaps of those bits and pieces that don't seem to have a perfect home.

[Ashwood]

Depends on what you want and how much $$ you want to put in.

Have you gotten a price on your options? That might help decide.

Other options (in addition to what you listed):
- walk in/through pantry
- computer corner (probably a bit too small)
- knock down one wall instead of both and expand one of the 2 rooms (if I undertstand the layout correctly)

the low cost option would be as abitfishy said ie. make it a storage area for all your "don't know where to put this" items.

[dennford]

I have a home with a verandah all around so we moved the laundry outside - My wife reckons that it works much better out there where there is more space. As for the vacant room left next to the kitchen it was just screaming to be made into a walk in pantry/crockery store. That was the cheapest, easiest and best alteration that I have ever done.
Denn

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Depends on what you want and how much $$ you want to put in.

I guess it really comes down to having a think about how the area would best suit your uses.

For example, I'd probably make it a computer den come library. But I would spend quite a bit of time in there. If you're going to convert it make it into something that will see use on a regular basis, otherwise it'll end up being just a storage area and, basically, a dead space.

[Pollyanna]

the low cost option would be as abitfishy said ie. make it a storage area for all your "don't know where to put this" items.

I have a garage and studio dedicated to "don't know where to put this items" last thing is another space for that purpose. I want it to a usable space.

I have a home with a verandah all around so we moved the laundry outside

Mine is in a cupboard.

made into a walk in pantry/crockery store. That was the cheapest, easiest and best alteration that I have ever done.

I have a large pantry cupboard. Converting it into a study would be the cheapest easiest option. Really would only need a paint job and the necessary furniture and accessories moved in. Perhaps what I might do is use it as a study first and see how that works and if we get desperate for another bathroom with 5 in the house I can seriously consider this option.

Okay so what about adding value to the house. What is worth doing? The study nook or having a 2nd bathroom? Just curious.

[joe greiner]

Okay so what about adding value to the house. What is worth doing? The study nook or having a 2nd bathroom? Just curious.

If the house can hold 5 residents, second bathroom, far and away. Even if traffic patterns are weird, guests probably won't care. And citation of two bathrooms will boost the listing when put up for sale.

Joe

[Dirty Doogie]

I think a second bathroom would add the most value. Also the most expensive option.