14 Great Uses For Your Den or Flex Room
Do you have an extra room in your house that you’re not sure what to do with? These rooms are commonly called a flex room – because they’re just that! A multi-purpose living space in your home designed to have a flexible purpose for what your family needs.
It goes by many names – like a den, flex, or bonus room – but whatever you choose to call it, this family room can be a great addition to your home and it doesn’t have to just be a TV or dining room.
What Can You Do With a Flex or Den Room?
Transform your room into a flexible living space that your family can use for nearly endless possibilities! Consider the space around it, such as what rooms it’s next to and what floor it’s on. Most of the time, this recreation room will be on the second floor. However, some floor plans have a flex space on the main level, while others have multiple flex rooms.
Generally speaking, these areas have three walls, with the fourth being open to the rest of the house. They also don’t normally include a closet.
Some questions to ask about the space include:
- Will it be available to guests for more private activities?
- Is it going to be a place for work or for get-togethers?
- What kind of activities would you like to do in the room?
Figure out what you need most in the house; whether that’s a spot for quiet reflection, an office, a craft room, or even a playroom! Bonus rooms are great because they can adapt over time. Today it might be used as a nursery but in two years you could transform it into a home gym or study.
With creativity and forethought, you can make this flex room into whatever is best suited for your family. Here are some fun and creative ideas for using your extra space in a creative and practical way, plus some Sterling models that just might fit the bill.
Organize Everybody With A Family Command Center
Want to take the chaos out of family life? Invest in a Family Command Center! This amazing multi-purpose room can be the heart of your home, creating order and simplifying your day-to-day juggling act.
Think whiteboard calendar, dedicated bulletin board space, laptop charging station, and plenty of storage bins and shelves. Get creative with design choices – now’s the time to explore trendy wallpaper patterns or fire up that custom built-in configuration you’ve been dreaming about.
With a bit of work, you can transform any spare room into a functional command center for organizing the whole family. This works especially well if your extra room is close to the front door, as you can organize everybody as they head out in the mornings.
Build A Welcoming Guest Room
Turning your den room, flex room or bonus room into an inviting guest room is a great way to maximize the space in your home. Create an extra bedroom for when your family and friends come to visit, giving them a comfortable place to stay.
As we mentioned, generally, there is no closet space as they aren’t defined as a “bedroom”. If your goal is a second bedroom, make sure to talk to your builder about your options as they also don’t usually have a door either!
With the right furniture and decorations, you can create a welcoming area for guests that feels like their own mini getaway. Do some research on mattresses, bedding and other pieces of furniture so you have options that are both cozy and functional. Don’t forget to personalize it with some unique touches so your guests feel at home!
Stay Productive With A Home Office
Take advantage of unused space in your home and turn it into an office. Having a dedicated workspace for remote work, running your own business or studying can be invaluable when it comes to keeping organized and productive.
A home office also gives you an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, letting you focus on tasks at hand with fewer distractions than you may have had in a public workspace.
If you’re using the room for work, make sure you document any expenses related to setting up the office as they can often be written off at tax time making your home office investment even more rewarding!
Get Fit With Your Own Home Gym
Another option is to transform your den or flex room into a home gym to stay active! With a few essential pieces of equipment, you can create the perfect atmosphere for an effective workout.
Whether you prefer weightlifting, cardio, yoga or something in between, having your own personal space to exercise can help foster consistency and accountability – plus it’s great for convenient workouts any time of day.
You won’t have to make the trek to the gym and don’t need to wait for machines – just roll out the mat or hop on the treadmill and get to it!
Build A Fun Playroom For The Kids
One great use for the den room, flex room or bonus room is to turn it into a playroom for the kids! Not only will it give them the much-needed space to flex their imaginations, but it’s also a fantastic way to encourage creative thinking and unstructured playtime.
Make sure to include plenty of fun activities like art supplies, board games and toy boxes. And don’t forget a comfy seating area with large pillows so they can retreat to their own special corner when needed.
With a few simple tweaks, you can have a magical space that not only allows your little ones’ imaginations to soar but one that all of the family will enjoy.
A Fabulous Family Room
With a growing family, it can be difficult to find space for everyone to gather together. Turn your den or flex room into a cozy family room! Consider adding comfortable sofas and chairs as seating options. Investing in large floor cushions also provides fun seating that can be stored easily when necessary.
And don’t forget about providing entertainment! Whether it’s old-fashioned board games that the whole family can get excited about or a big-screen TV with your favourite streaming service, make sure to have something that the family can enjoy together.
Finally, with minimal effort, you could easily spruce up your family room with wall décor and soft throws to give it a more homey feel. Make your family room into your personal haven – perfect for movie nights and great conversation with the family!
Get Creative With A Craft Room Or Art Studio
If you’re looking for a creative way to put your den or flex room to use, why not turn it into a craft room or art studio? Designate the room as your personal oasis of creativity and explore all your artistic endeavours! Paint, draw, sculpt, or make whatever you deem necessary to fuel your creativity.
Don’t forget about storage solutions – consider shelving units, drawers and multiple table surfaces for organizing all of your essential supplies. Whatever you decide to use the space for in the end, an at-home craft room or art studio can be a great way to indulge in your hobbies without having to leave the house.
Create A Marvellous Music Room
Is there a musically gifted member of your family? You can give them their own music room!
Add some soundproofing to the walls, and add a sitting area where they can perform mini-concerts or sit to relax and compose. Of course, you also need to make sure the sound in this room is completely optimized with a great system and incredible speakers.
If they like to work on music digitally, add a desk to hold their system and make sure to include a comfortable chair for those long hours spent editing.
Set Up A Home Theatre Or Media Room
Many of us dream of having home theatre systems, like those media rooms you see on Pinterest. A place where we can watch movies, binge our favourite shows and relax after a long day. Setting up such a space doesn’t have to break the bank – with some creativity, you can create the perfect movie retreat which is so much more than a simple TV room.
Start with comfortable seating; beanbag chairs and/or large sofas fit the bill nicely. Then, install ambient lighting. If you’re big into snacks, a bar fridge and a popcorn machine would be a great addition to this space! Finally, invest in quality speakers so when you watch TV the audio is crisp and clear.
Whether your home theatre is shared among the household members or reserved just for you, this upgraded TV room can serve as the perfect entertainment hub right in your home.
Go Game Crazy With Your Own Game Room
Maybe you’re not as much of a movie buff as you are a gamer. You can follow the same kind of idea as the media room, or add some game tables if that’s more your style.
Adding a round table to your game room makes the perfect space for poker nights with friends or board games with your family members. Consider a dartboard and possibly a mini-bar setup too!
With this space, you have the ability to optimize it for multiple types of activities. Adding a game desk and chair along one wall (preferably away from the windows!) allows for the techies in the house to enjoy this room as well.
Make A Dedicated Homework Room
Having a properly organized, functional homework room in your home can help your kids stay on top of school assignments and extracurricular projects. If you homeschool, this idea gives you space to focus on schoolwork without it taking over the family rooms in other areas of the house.
Creating a designated area for homework helps minimize distractions and cultivate a productive space to focus on the tasks at hand.
Take advantage of the homework room by making sure it’s stocked with essential supplies such as workbooks, laptops, comfortable seating, reference materials and perhaps even a mini-fridge for snacks!
Designate separate areas for specific activities like art projects or reading science textbooks. Additionally, include decorated lockers for kids so their school books are easily accessible and clutter stays contained. With intentional organizational tactics, you can create an inviting homework haven everyone in the household will love using.
Create A Reading Nook Or Library
Creating a cozy reading nook or library in your home can be a great way to utilize that extra space in your flex room. Set up an inviting area with comfortable seating and good lighting to get yourself into the perfect mood for a riveting journey through your favourite book. Use this space to create a comfortable room you can retreat to!
It can also be an opportunity to showcase some of your favourite pieces – add cushions, shelves, posters or artwork that reflects your personal style. Whatever you decide, shape it into a unique home library and make it special!
Go Fancy for Formal Occasions
Sometimes these spaces are located in the perfect spot of your floor plan to go a little more upscale!
Dining rooms, formal living rooms or a sitting room on the main level can really dress up the whole feel of your home. Consider adding beautiful french doors to this space so you can close it off from the rest of the house when you’re not using it.
If you’re going for a formal dining room, make sure you measure the space. The last thing you want is a furniture set that’s too large or small. Add a buffet or china cabinet for some extra storage and to display your fancy serving dishes!
For sitting or formal living rooms, add more seating to ensure you have enough room for your guests. A coffee table is a good bet as well, you need someone where to put that tea set from Grandma! Natural lighting usually works best but some lamps or candles are a nice decorative touch.
Create A Traditional Den
You don’t have to create a space for formal occasions or deck this room out with all the latest tech gear – sometimes traditional is the way to go!
This den room idea works best when your flex space is a little smaller than the rest of the areas of the house and is usually done in a more masculine vibe. Darker wall colours, leather furniture and some statement pieces create a modern-meets-old-school dramatic look that many people are falling in love with.
Add in a desk and some bookcases, and you have the perfect den suited for working, a casual meeting, or cocktails!
What Are The Best Sterling Model Options For A Den or Flex Room?
At Sterling Homes, we have a wide selection of home models that are perfect for creating the den or flex room of your dreams. Our award-winning designs boast open floorplans and large windows to let in plenty of natural light, making any bonus room feel spacious and inviting. Whether you’re looking for a traditional single-family home with a bonus room or a bigger front-attached home with plenty of space to create the perfect den, we’ve got you covered.
Some of our most popular models with flex rooms include…
The Allure
The Allure is a spacious 1,830 square-foot front-attached home with 3-4 bedrooms and a huge, central flex room located on the upper level. The layout of this model makes the bonus room perfect for a family or game room and the lifestyle package gives you extra natural light as well!
The Apex
Similar to the Allure, the Apex is a front-attached home with an upstairs flex room, and at 2,024 square feet, this model has even more floor space available. The upstairs flex room in this model has two entrances; one to the main living space and a door that leads directly into the master bedroom. There’s also a den on the main floor, great for setting up a home office or study.
The Assurance
With a huge 2,263 square-foot floor plan and space for 4-7 bedrooms, the Assurance is the perfect choice for larger families who need plenty of room to spread out. It includes a bonus room located on the upper level and a flex room on the main level.
The Accolade
If the models listed above still don’t have enough space for your growing family, consider the Accolade. With 2,477 square feet of space and two bonus rooms centrally located on the main and upper floors, this home model is the ideal choice for big families. Make a playroom for the kids on one floor, and a reading room on another floor for when you need a bit of peace and quiet!
The Affinity
The Affinity is a great choice for those who don’t need quite as much square footage, and it doesn’t compromise on flex room choices. At 2,005 square feet, it still has plenty of space, as well as the same den and flex rooms on the main and upper floors respectively.
The Atlas
At 2,413 square feet, the Atlas is another extensive model, featuring a den close to the foyer on the main level (great for a family command center!) and a flex room on the upper floor, situated towards the back of the home closer to the extra bedrooms. This makes it a great option for a kids’ playroom, situated a little further away from the master bedroom so noise won’t be an issue.
If you can see yourself living in any of these models, try out our furniture planner so you can visualize your floor plan! You can find this located under the floor plan option on each model page to see how they’d work for your family.
You don’t need to worry about finding the right place for everything anymore; just give us a call and allow us to take care of all your needs! We’ll make sure that whatever configuration you choose provides maximum comfort and convenience.
When it comes to what you can do with your den room, flex room or bonus room the possibilities are endless! Whether you’re looking to make space for the family to hang out in, set up an office at home, create a playroom for your children or make room for some reading and relaxing, you’re likely to find exactly what you need within one of our models here at Sterling Homes.
With all the possibilities at your fingertips now is the time to think outside the box and really get creative.
Contact Sterling Homes today to see which models we have available – it’s time to take advantage of this little oasis in your home!
Originally posted May 21, 2018; updated Mar 16, 2023
About the Author:
At Sterling Homes, our mission is to provide the opportunity for affordable homeownership without compromise. Over the last 70 years, Sterling Edmonton has quickly become one of Edmonton’s most popular builders. We bring more than seven decades worth of exceptional customer service, superior design and unparalleled craftsmanship to the greater Edmonton area. As a member of the Qualico Group, Sterling Homes focuses on greater Edmonton’s finest family communities, while being able to offer some of the region’s most family friendly prices thanks to volume purchasing power for materials, trades and land. This has not only made Sterling one of Edmonton’s bestselling, move-up builders, but also one of the industry’s most respected home providers. It is through our uncompromising commitment to our customers that we proudly deliver the Sterling Advantage – that’s why each and every home we build includes a 10-year home warranty, a completion guarantee and new home warranty excellence rating. Our Advantage is our pledge that, when you build your dream home with Sterling, we will deliver a timely, well-built home you’re sure to enjoy for years to come.
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