The Incredible, Changeable Room

 It used to be that homeowners confirmed to the dictates of their houses, furnishing the living room, dining room and guest room as such, even if it meant those rooms were rarely used. Then the table turned. Homeowners took charge, converting dining rooms to playrooms, living rooms to dens, guest rooms to home offices. Recognizing the need for adaptable spaces, designers and home builders have gone a step further, including in their plans flex rooms or rooms with the built-in flexibility to be used for whatever purposes suit the homeowners.

Flex rooms are ideal for universal design homes. they accommodate various uses now, and can be changed easily to meet different needs later. First-floor flex rooms are especially worthwhile, expanding the options for families with children, adults looking to stay in their homes and age in place, and for homeowners who anticipate that elderly relatives may move in at some point.

A room that begins as a nursery can evolve into a playroom and then a study as the children grow. A hobby room can morph into a guest room or vice versa. A library can become a home office. A sitting area or exercise room can be transformed into a caregiver apartment.

The Basics

For maximum flexibility, the room needs wide doorways, flat thresholds, good lighting and enough space for easy circulation, even when it is set up for various uses. A room that might become a bedroom needs enough clear wall area for placement of the bed and other furnishings. Built-in storage should be accessible for all, whether standing or seated.

The location of flex rooms is important. If a den or dining room, for example, is envisioned as a future bedroom, it should be outside the center of the living space but close, if not connected, to a bathroom. In a master suite, both the bedroom and the flex room should have direct access to closets and the bathroom; that way, if the flex room becomes a bedroom for one homeowner or a station for a caregiver, both rooms will enjoy privacy and convenience. A room that might serve as an office or apartment works best along an outside wall, for natural light, and near an entry-perhaps a secondary entry that could be a private entrance for a relative or caregiver.

Running plumbing and high-capacity wiring through the walls multiplies the options for a flex room. Prepping the room in this way adds to the initial construction cost, but saves much more money later by simplifying the remodeling when it's time to adapt the room. With pipes in place, you can add a bathroom or a kitchenette to create a self-sufficient apartment, or set up a laundry room in an accessible new location. With wiring and outlets lined up, your flex room can go to work as a home office. If you'd rather have a media room, it's ready to be that too!