Back

How to Get the Most from your Empty Nest

Aug 16, 2024
Home Library
A new survey conducted by David Wilson Homes found that almost three quarters of British homeowners (73%) have a spare room in their home, and over half (51%) are keen to transform this unused space into a room dedicated to bringing them joy.

With almost one in four (22%) homeowners having an empty room because their child has moved out, and over a third (35%) admitting that this space has no specific usage, the experts at David Wilson Homes dug a little deeper to find out how Brits can make the most of their empty nest.

Our survey found that the most sought-after alternative use for a spare room by British homeowners was, in fact, a home office, with almost 1 in 4 (23%) of respondents saying they would choose one for their home, beating out home gyms (18%), games rooms (15%) and dressing rooms (13%).

Finding inspiration

To find out more, we spoke to interior designer and creative manager, Rebekah Earls from Show Business Interior, who shared their expert advice on how to make the most of your spare room. “In light of COVID-19, people are much more aware of how they’re using spare rooms. There’s been a definite attitude shift towards dedicating these empty spaces to hobbies or other things that are important to them. 
 
“Home offices are still incredibly popular as 40% of the UK work remotely at least once per week. However, as there has been a gradual rise in the number of people returning to offices, creating the perfect home working setup may not be as important as it was a couple of years ago. 
 
“Interestingly, games rooms have become increasingly common, sparking its own design trend of RBG neon lighting accessories. Home gyms are growing in popularity too, as more people want to look after their health without the hassle of driving or walking to a busy gym. 
 
“The most important question to ask yourself when converting your spare room is ‘is the space right for what I want?’ Home gyms require space for equipment and for you to move around safely, so a converted attic room might not be ideal for that. Alternatively, a smaller room might make for the perfect ‘zen den’ to relax in, or to house your games console and monitor.”

 

What spare room ideas are trending in 2024?

For those seeking inspiration, David Wilson Homes analysed Pinterest search data to find upcoming spare room trends. We asked Rebekah to share some design inspiration which could be useful to homeowners looking to give their home a new lease of life.
 

Craft room - 257% YoY increase

“For most crafts, you’ll need a large desk to work from. Placing this desk in the middle of the room will improve feng shui, help centre your creative energies, and keep your work well lit. Replace yellow light bulbs with white, which will illuminate your workspace and make your craft the main feature of the room. 
 
“Craft rooms need to inspire you, so embrace maximalism and use up available wall space to display your frequently used tools or paints. Smart storage, such as pegboards, add to the creative aesthetic of the room while making the space more functional. Framed artwork or mood boards can also help to inspire creativity.” 
 

Indoor Gardens - 100% YOY increase

“People are starting to move their gardens inside, with an increasing number of people dubbing themselves as proud plant parents on social media in 2024. And with so many tips and inspiration shared on TikTok and Pinterest, gardening has become more accessible than ever. 
 
“If you’re looking to convert your spare room into an indoor garden, you need to make sure your room is getting enough light. You can maximise the amount of light in your room by adding mirrors and keeping a bright colour scheme. White walls will bounce the most light back to your plants and will provide a nice contrast to green leaves and pigmented flowers.
 
“For those with a smaller spare room, make use of vertical space with hanging planters to really take advantage of the space. Using natural materials in your furnishings can also help to create an organic aesthetic.”
 

Home library - 55% YoY increase

“Home libraries are often seen as a luxury that only appear in Victorian townhouses or extravagant mansions, but there’s nothing stopping you from building your very own personal library in your spare room. 
 
“While you can always go down the classic library route, with rich wood furnishings and a dark academia aesthetic, that’s not the only option. You can also use Scandinavian design to create a brighter space using lighter wood such as ash and beech rather than mahogany. You also want to make sure that your shelves are more than just functional. You can do this by breaking up sections of books with interesting sculptures or mini lamp lights. 
 
“Arguably the most important part of a reading room is the seating. If you want to spend long hours enjoying your favourite books in this room, I recommend investing in a quality armchair which will be comfortable enough for you to stay seated for hours without experiencing any neck or back pain.” 
 

Zen Den - 54% YoY increase

“If self-care is something you’re trying to work on, introducing a zen den to your home might help you on your way to achieving inner peace. 
 
“Calming pastels, soft furnishings, and minimalism are three things that can help transform a boring box room into the perfect meditation space. I’d recommend calming blue tones for people who want to relieve stress or soft yellow hues for those looking to meditate and reflect. 
 
“Consider minimalist decluttering techniques and storage solutions as well as using an oil diffuser or incense sticks to release a calming scent for the den. Incorporating materials like bamboo and linen can further cultivate a zen ambiance, creating a peaceful and calming environment. 
 
“Feng shui is incredibly important if you want your room to channel positive energy. Place your comfy sofa or yoga mat in the centre of the room with the door in your eyeline, this signifies that you’re receptive to energy entering the space and sets you in the command position, ready to control the energies in your life.” 
 

Pet bedroom - 46% YoY increase

“Many people enjoy making their furry companion a priority in their life, so it’s no surprise to see pet bedrooms are growing in popularity. 
 
“Pet bedrooms can sometimes be difficult to design for as they need to be both functional and fun. If you have a smaller animal, I recommend making the most of your vertical space by building ramps and mezzanine structures for your pet to climb up and explore. You can fill these spaces with different toys, hideaways, or sleeping spaces, making their little room feel much larger to them. 
 
“I would also recommend pulling up any carpet you might have and opting for a hardwood or linoleum floor in your pet’s bedroom as carpets will trap unwanted pet smells and allow them to linger in the home. Ensure that the room is properly ventilated and make sure that floors and furnishings are wipe-clean and durable, and that all paints and materials used are non-toxic and ideally scratch resistant.” 
 

Multifunctional spaces

“If you can’t decide on one purpose for your spare room, there are lots of tricks to help you create a space that’s suitable for an abundance of needs.
 
“Multifunctional furniture is ideal for this. Sofa beds and murphy beds can save you space while keeping somewhere for guests to sleep. Extendable tables and foldable desks can also be used to create a pop-up home office that can easily be put away out of work hours. 
 
“Ottomans and underbed storage can help hide unwanted clutter, as can transforming awkward nooks into stylish units. You can also use your walls for vertical storage, freeing up valuable floor space. 
 
“You can easily change the style of a room by zoning the room with carpets, paint bands, or blocked furniture. Flexible lighting can help to switch up the ambience, to brighten the room with upward-facing lighting for visual activities or point your bulbs to the floor to create moodier and more atmospheric lighting.” 
 
Want to visualise how your new home might look with different room types? Use our interactive tool below to see how you can transform one of our Kennett homes to suit your dream aesthetic. 
 
 
Find out more about how David Wilson Homes can help make your dream home a reality, with support from schemes such as the Own New Rate Reducer – where you could receive either 3% or 5% of the purchase price towards your move.
 
 

Methodology

YoY Pinterest search data taken from keywordtool.io [18/07/24]. 
Survey data of 500 British homeowners conducted by David Wilson Homes.  
 

Related Articles