Unless you grew up in a cave (no judgments!), odds are you know what most rooms in a house are called. For instance, you know full well what a bedroom is, and a bathroom is also self-explanatory (buthalf-bath or quarter-bath,not so much). Yet homesdo have a few rooms that could be head-scratchers, and one of those is what’s called a “bonus room.” So what is a bonus room?
While it might sound likesome game show featurewhere you pick the correctdoor to open to win an exciting prize, a bonus room is actually best defined by what it is not:It typically does not have a closet. It mightnot even have a door, windows, or all four walls. The ceiling mightbe lower than standard in places, so you have to watch your head.
In other words, a bonus room might lackthe comforts of a traditional room. It is typically found in attics, above garages, or in other forgotten spaces.
Nonetheless, bonus rooms have their benefits. First and foremost, it’s extra space, even if it doesn’t count as a bedroom because it lacks those roomlike features. Plus, it doesn’t count as a room on your property taxes, which arelower as a result. So, a bonus room can offer a “bonus” in square footage, without the financial costs.
What can you do with a bonus room?
While a bonus room might not work well for roommates or guests who craveclosets, privacy, and other comforts afforded by traditional rooms, there are plenty of other options for the space.
Depending on the size, shape, and location of a bonus room, it could be used as a crafts room, office, playroom, library, exercise room, teen/tween escape pod, or a combination of these.
Another term for this versatile space is a “flex room.” Add a TV, some shelves, and a sofa, and this narrow space with a sloped ceiling becomes a media room.
Bonus room turned into a media room /Photo by Beaman Building and Realty
With some custom built-ins, a similarly odd-shaped space becomes a reading nook that also works as a guest room and an office.
Reading nook, guest room, and office /Photo by Driggs Designs
The ceiling in this attic room istoo awkward for adults, but it works for a children’s bedroom.
Children’s bedroom /Photo by Alan Mascord Design Associates
Bonus room questions and concerns
Just how big a boona bonus room is hinges largely on what you do with it—and how usefulit seems to prospective buyers.Case in point:Virginia real estate agent Sharon Langwas the listing agent for a house with a bonus room abovethe garage that was being used asan office.
“There was no door at the top of the staircase. You just popped into the nicely finished open space,” she says. While the spacewas filled with natural light and had a vaulted ceiling, the feedback Lang got from prospective buyers was, “Why didn’t the bonus room have a door? If it had a door, it would feel more like a true room since it was on the upper level.” Lang believes it would have been easy to add that door, and that it would have made a difference.
So if youhave a bonus room or want one, consider making any roomlike renovations that wouldmake it more comfortable and appealing—to yourself and others.As Lang points out, a room above an unheated garage will be colder than other upper-level rooms.
“Considerations you’d want to plan for include an effective and efficient HVAC system, perhaps with added insulation, ventilation, and/or ductwork to ensure for a comfortable and useful room,” she says. “You’d also want to have windows for light as well as for egress purposes, with fire safety in mind.”
Prospective buyers of a home with a bonus room will want to check local tax laws to find out if they will be paying for an actual room or if this one will fly under the radar, legally speaking. Plus, if you plan to renovate it, you’ll want to know how adding a closet, wall, door, or window might affecthow it’s defined—and taxed.
In other words, making the most of your bonus room is a balancing act: The more roomlike features you add, the higher the odds it could be considered a true room, whichwould affectyour taxes. So be sure to weigh the pros and cons before you buy or renovate the home. Or, if you’re just looking for bonus-room ideas—playroom,guest room, man cave, she shed—Lang offersalookbookto get your gears turning.
