Post-pandemic, homeowners expect a lot more from their homes and need to be able to work/live/learn/play in comfort. That is in part why floorplans that feature a flex room are so appealing. The flex room is the ultimate shapeshifter, as a space that can suit any number of objectives, driven by homeowner lifestyle.
Bonus room vs. flex room
While the terms flex room and bonus room are sometimes used interchangeably, and they both offer space that can easily suit a number of purposes, there are some slight differences.
“The bonus room is generally on the second floor, can be an open space at the top of the stairs (often referred to as a loft) or an optional space over the garage somewhat set apart from the rest of the second floor,” says Paul Smith, vice president of architecture, Mattamy Homes.
Commonly, these areas are used for media rooms, playrooms and so on.
While a flex room can be located anywhere in a home, it is “often found on the first floor and is open or somewhat open to the other living spaces on that floor,” says Smith.
“Typically, the flex room is intimate in size. As the name suggests, there are any number of uses for this space,” says Smith.
The most common use for a flex room with remote work becoming a mainstay is the home office. Also popular according to Smith are: “wine tasting rooms, home pubs, cigar lounges and card rooms.”
“Then there are hobby uses, such as music studios, gaming dens, podcast studios, craft/art studios, reading rooms and even pet rooms,” says Smith.
What are the benefits of including a flex room during the construction phase?
While an existing home can be modified over time as needs change, a new build homeowner has a rare opportunity to incorporate flexibility and longevity with the inclusion of a flex room right away.
“Building in the flex room space from the beginning removes the needs for future renovations or having to move to a new home as your needs evolve, both of which are expensive propositions,” says Smith.
A lot can happen over the tenure of homeownership that will change space needs and priorities, from having children, including aging parents in the household, working from home, or even taking up a new hobby that would benefit from having dedicated space at home.
Does a flex room add value?
Homeowners benefit from both financial and perceived value by having a flex room.
Although a flex room does not technically increase the square footage of a home, it increases its usable space, which is a value-add financially when it comes time to sell the home.
“Having a home that can flex to suit the needs of different homeowners makes your home more attractive to a broader selection of potential buyers, thus increasing its saleability and sale price,” says Smith.
There is perceived value of a flex room because of the lifestyle-enhancing benefits for homeowners, giving them options to modify space easily, literally getting the most from their home.
Designing a functional flex room
Ideally, a flex room should be designed in such a way that minimal structural changes are needed to change the functionality of the room.
While a homeowner can always renovate to re-purpose a room, the benefit of the flex room is that it is inherently transitional and is designed to change without knocking down walls. The room’s purpose can be defined by changing the room’s furnishings, accents and décor.
There are a few exceptions. For example, if a homeowner thinks that a flex space might be used as a bedroom, they are wise to install a closet when the home is being built. While homeowners can always put one in after the fact, or have moveable storage, having an additional closet is always a bonus, even if the room ends up with other uses beyond a bedroom.
Some other design elements that should be included to maximize potential uses include high ceilings, access to natural light, proper insulation (for soundproofing) and a door.
If a homeowner is undecided on the purpose of a flex room, or if the plan is for the room to potentially have multiple uses over time, neutral décor is best because it is most versatile.
Multi-purpose furniture is a good choice, such as a murphy bed with a storage unit or desk, which means that the flex room could be a home office or homework station by day and a guest bedroom by night, for example.
Using a moveable divider, a barn door or a half wall can split the flex space and delineate zones for different activities, such as a room that is part nursery, part playroom.
Flex room styling tips
The flex room is the ultimate blank canvas for homeowners. Here are some tips for creating a stylish and functional flex room:
- Home office. Include a comfortable chair and desk and bookshelves, along with task and overhead lighting. Paint walls a color that inspires you.
- Home gym. Make sure flooring is durable and relatively shock-absorbent. Hang mirrors. Have lighting on dimmers, so there are options based on activities, for example turning lights down to practice yoga and turning them up for a cardio workout.
- Library. Bibliophile homeowners will relish having the opportunity to have a library and reading nook. In addition to bookshelves, add comfortable seating, soft lighting and a beverage fridge.
- Wine cellar. Have accessible wine racks to store bottles. Include a tasting bar and stylish seating. A display cabinet for glassware is decorative.
- Craft or hobby room. Have shelving or other storage on the walls to store materials for your hobby. Make sure you have a large table or workstation.
- Games room. Include shelving for board games, a pool table or ping pong and comfy rocker chairs for video games. Consider furniture with built-in games potential such as a checkerboard/chess table.
- Dressing room. When the walk-in closet isn’t enough, dedicate an entire room clothes. Include built-in or moveable storage, a makeup vanity, a dressing table, and a blingy mirror.
