Author Topic: What to do with extra room (Read 5879 times)

AtomSmasher · « **on:** October 28, 2005, 06:18:29 pm »

I'm buying a new house that will be finished in about 6 months (so I have plenty of time to figure this out) and I've been trying to figure out what to do with the extra bedroom I'm going to have. I'm single and have no kids which means I'm likely going to be keeping the arcade cabinet I built in the living room, so thats not an issue. Anyways, heres the options I thought of:

1. Game Room - build or get a few more arcade/pinball machines, a foosball and/or air hockey table and make a dedicated game room. Problems with this is that it would be expensive to fill the room and I hardly ever have friends over to my place so it wouldn't get much use.

2. Gym - make a home gym in there, I'm currently planning on just working out in the garage since I'll have plenty of room there.

3. Storage - easiest solution for obvious reasons, also the most boring

4. Movie Theater - I already have a projector and big ass screen which I have in the living room. Right now I just pull down the screen when I want to watch something on it. Since I live by myself I'll likely just do the same thing in my new place, but I could get some stadium seating or something and set up a nice movie theater room.

5. Rent it out - most practical solution since my mortgage payment will be high. I also have an extra bathroom which I could include with the room. I have a cousin whose going to city college and currently living with her parents that I could probably rent it out to. I'm fairly sure I can trust her with my stuff and I can just throw her back to her parents if she pisses me off.

Thoughts anyone?

MameJunkie · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:40:23 pm »

Rent to a 21 yr old hottie

Clonedsheep · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:41:03 pm »

S&M room

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:52:06 pm »

If I rented it, it would probably be to me cousin since I don't really want to rent to a stranger....so best I could hope for is that she brings over hot friends.

MameJunkie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:56:24 pm »

Quote from: AtomSmasher on October 28, 2005, 06:52:06 pm

If I rented it, it would probably be to me cousin since I don't really want to rent to a stranger....so best I could hope for is that she brings over hot friends.

So I guess installing a hidden web cam will probably be out of the question

NIVO · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2005, 07:09:32 pm »

Keg room, fully insulated and chilled, and a walk in beefkeeper 3000 for all the steaks and bacon.

grueinthebox · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2005, 07:16:46 pm »

Quote from: MameJunkie on October 28, 2005, 06:56:24 pm

So I guess installing a hidden web cam will probably be out of the question

Brilliant - income from the rent + income from the webcam!

G@M3FR3@K · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2005, 11:08:12 pm »

Quote from: NIVO on October 28, 2005, 07:09:32 pm

Keg room, fully insulated and chilled, and a walk in beefkeeper 3000 for all the steaks and bacon.

Replace the steaks with Cheesecake and then we're talking!!!

missioncontrol · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2005, 11:19:27 pm »

I vote game room

or

the web cam idea

AC. · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2005, 12:43:28 am »

Leave it empty . . . it will gradually become what it was meant to be.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2005, 12:46:44 am »

Quote from: AtomSmasher on October 28, 2005, 06:18:29 pm

5. Rent it out - most practical solution since my mortgage payment will be high. I also have an extra bathroom which I could include with the room. I have a cousin whose going to city college and currently living with her parents that I could probably rent it out to. I'm fairly sure I can trust her with my stuff and I can just throw her back to her parents if she pisses me off.

Thoughts anyone?

As for renting it. nothing ruins a family worst than money. I have delt with renting to family and they tend to think they can get by with alot more because thay are family. It ends up causing alot of problems. Your better off renting to a stranger.

Stingray · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2005, 11:04:23 am »

Web cam. Seriously, like you needed any further suggestions.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2005, 11:16:53 am »

Don't ever go into a financial arrangement with a family member if you can avoid it. It is just not a good idea and nearly always ruins the relationship.

ark_ader · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2010, 06:46:58 pm »

Go watch pacific heights.

NiN^_^NiN · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2010, 07:26:57 am »

See i have this same issue i've got a brand new house built and im not in yet but i was thinking what i can use the spare bedroom for i thought of a gameroom but i don't have friends pop over alot so like you its kinda useless and i thought a gym would be handy as i don't have anywhere else to setup one but im still not sure what im gonna do i was thinking of having it as a gym and a spare bedroom work out some kind of arragement of the equipment that lets it hide easily but the room layout doesn't affect my space for working out either.

Im abit stumped myself as a spare room is nice but then its a room that's never used unless someone stays which isn't gonna happen alot so i wanna use it for something else but still be able to use as a spare bedroom

HanoiBoi · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2010, 08:51:33 am »

More information could be helpful. You say that you are single with no kids. Is that the way it's going to stay? You don't often have friends over, but will that change? Perhaps with a new home you are planning on doing some more socializing? What are the dimensions of the room? Do you have a basement that might be allocated to some of your ideas? Do you still have a 'guest room' aside from this for, well, guests?

So, we're talking one bedroom here, right? What's that about 12' 12' at most? If you stick an air hockey table or foosball in there, either one would really eat up space, almost filling the room. A dart board doesn't take up much space.

Do you do a lot of reading? If so, maybe you make it a study or library. A couple club chairs with wall to wall bookshelves.

Are you into cigars? You could make it a nice smoke room / humidor. Only the single guys could get away with that!

How about a bar area? Bar, stools, kegerator, pub table, TVs. You could make with a Tiki theme, sports theme, rock and roll theme, movie theme, etc.

Do you like animals? Depending on your local laws, you could make it a dedicated room/cage for an exotic animal, like a monkey.

drventure · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2010, 10:39:01 am »

Personally, I'd nix the theater idea. We've got 1 tv in the house, a projector with a motorized screen. In the living room. I've known people that put in ridiculously over the top home theater setups, but then use them, oh, say, once every 6 months. Don't get me wrong, if your hobby is building, it can be a blast to put that sort of thing together. But in the end, unless you're a +serious+ movie hound, it won't be worth it. Not to mention it can make it tough to sell the house later unless the buyer is specifically looking for a HT room.

Not sure how big the space is, but I'd say Game room/gym. A weight set doesn't take up that much space, and a machine would take up less. Then put a mame cab in the corner, darts on the wall, a chair or couple stools. Could be good.

I'd agree with the other comments about renting to family. If you decide to do that, you HAVE to get into the mindset that you're "simply helping your cousin out". If she pays you a little rent, great, if not, go gotta be prepared to just let it go.

CCM · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2010, 11:10:32 am »

What am I missing?? Did this thread start in 2005? If so, I would guess that AtomSmasher has found a sufficient use for the room the the last 5 years...

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2010, 02:06:21 pm »

Quote from: CCM on May 22, 2010, 11:10:32 am

What am I missing?? Did this thread start in 2005? If so, I would guess that AtomSmasher has found a sufficient use for the room the the last 5 years...

Hehe, when this thread popped back to the top I didn't even realize it was my thread until you just pointed it out. I never did figure out a great use for the room, but it's essentially my gameroom now. In the room I have my arcade cabinet, an old big screen tv, and a couch. For several years I did all my console gaming there, but when Mass Effect 2 came out, I realized I needed to use my hi-def tv, so I moved my current-gen consoles to the living room. Recently, I've once again been toying with the idea of renting it out, but haven't really done anything about it yet.

shateredsoul · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2010, 06:16:16 pm »

rent if you really need it.. but I agree with the whole no business with family thing. You'll also miss that space.

How about making the room a

game+bar+workout+movie room

The workout stuff may not fit, but whatever...

RayB · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2010, 11:28:18 pm »

I like the monkey suggestion.

Benevolance · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2010, 01:14:46 pm »

Haven't you always wanted a monkey?

CCM · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2010, 02:31:46 pm »

Stupid chimp! Smelly eater of filth!

drventure · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2010, 02:50:53 pm »

Doh. Ark resurrected it. Didn't even notice the jump in dates.

I'm with CCM. Surely he's found good use of the space by now.

saint · « **Reply #24 on:** May 23, 2010, 03:28:30 pm »

Quote from: drventure on May 23, 2010, 02:50:53 pm

Doh. Ark resurrected it. Didn't even notice the jump in dates.

I'm with CCM. Surely he's found good use of the space by now.

Ark's not guilty. I deleted the spam post that resurrected it.

RayB · « **Reply #25 on:** May 23, 2010, 04:00:34 pm »

THis forum gets spam? DAMN you're good, Saint!

HanoiBoi · « **Reply #26 on:** May 23, 2010, 10:23:59 pm »

I noticed after that it looked to be a new member with I think 12 posts. Spam or newbie error?

Just sayin'...

saint · « **Reply #27 on:** May 24, 2010, 07:16:07 am »

1 post - they only had one post, poorly worded, about furniture


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