How to Create a New Room

Refurbishing an unfinished space is one way to create a new room.

Whether your family is growing, you're starting a home business or guests are coming to stay a while, occasionally you need to create a new room. Depending on your budget, you can renovate an unfinished space such as a basement or attic, or divide an existing room by investing in a folding screen or simply rearranging the furniture to create a functional, stylish new room that meets your needs.

Instructions

Renovate

1. Calculate the amount of space you need for the new room.

2. Pick an unfinished space that is the right size -- such as a basement, attic, garage or closet -- to renovate.

3. Make a list of the features you want for the new room. Consider flooring, lighting, wall colors and furniture.

4. Get estimates from contractors and decorators for the renovation. Alternately, you may do the work yourself.

Rearrange

1. 

   A corner to keep tools such as a sewing mannequin may be one requirement of the new room.

   Make a list of the features you want for the new room.

2. Evaluate existing spaces in your home to determine the best place to create the new room. Consider unused bedrooms, dining rooms, large closets and even unused corners of rooms in active use.

3. 

   Curtains can divide a space to create a new room.

   Browse furniture stores, garage sales and flea markets for items to divide the existing space. Choose long curtains, tall folding screens, shelving units or tables that can be covered with tall plants, pictures or the objects that you will need in the new room.

4. Rearrange the furniture in the existing room, combining it with the new elements to create a new room.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are on a tight budget, search your basement and garage and those of your friends and family for unused items that may add functionality to the new room or help to divide the space.

• A coat of paint on a portion of one or two walls of an existing room can help create the feeling of a separate environment.

References

• Apartment Therapy: Nursery Tour
• Casa Sugar: Our New Dining Room
• This Old House: Workspaces