The large dining room, family room or bonus rooms was one of the things that sold your house to you.  Despite our good intentions, though, those rooms sometimes end up being used for storage, folded laundry, or just not being used altogether.  Use these ideas to inspire you to get these rooms ready to spend more time in: 

Extra Bedroom 

Most extra bedrooms end up being the guest room, whether you have guest often or not.  Turn that room into a dual-purpose room; use a daybed with trundle or a wall bed so you’ll have more space in the room for other things. 

• Set up a home office or study space for the kids. 

• Add a small double-leafed or card table, use stackable or folding chairs, install some shelving, and have the room serve as the game/play room.   
• If your children like to invite friends over for video games, hang a flat screen on the wall, a small shelf for their game console, lay a cushy area rug on the floor, and purchase bean bag chairs, slip chairs are large floor pillows for seating. 
• Create a reading room with a small bookshelf, a comfy chair, blanket, small side table and lamp. 

Bonus/Flex Room 

You couldn’t wait to start decorating and using your extra room, but you’re stumped on exactly what to do.   

• Get the television out of your living space, get some affordable seating, and create a home theater.  
• Do you have a musician in the family?  Soundproof the walls, add extra electrical outlets, and clear the floor for your own concert hall. 
• Give your workout equipment a home in the extra room, use a small television for workout entertainment, install a comfortable bench, hooks for small towels, and include a small fridge for water and smoothies when you’re finished with exercising. 

Not Just for Dining 

Busy families don’t always have time for a sit-down meal at the dining table, but there’s no need to use it for special occasions. 

• Use one end of the table for office space.  A dining room is less busy than other rooms, and you can get more done there without distractions.  Use a laptop for the space, take advantage of wireless printing, and use part of a china cabinet for supplies so you won’t fill the room with office clutter. 
• Consider using a smaller table or remove the leaf from a large table.  Place some comfortable seating at one end of the room, add a sideboard to use for a coffee/tea bar, and have an after-dinner seating area. 
• If your home lacks an extra living area, why not use it for family time instead of a dining area?  Treat the space as you would a den, and furnish it with sofa, chairs, and television for a cozy family room. 

There are no rules that say a room must be used for what the blueprint says.  Your home is just that–your home.  You know best how you and your family can use a space.  It doesn’t have to cost a lot; shop thrift shops and tag sales, or use what you already have.  You can add extra space to your home without picking up a hammer and nail!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

When we think of being ecologically minded, what usually comes to mind is recycling, organic gardening, and alternative sources of energy. Far from our minds is our home’s decor! Decorating is a deeply personal part of living, and if you are thinking about becoming greener, here are a few ways you can reduce your carbon footprint while you create your interior environment: 

• In some cases, going green for decor can be expensive, but it does not have to be! Thrift stores, consignment shops, and tag sales are all perfectly green alternatives to buying new! 
• Paint and other wall/wood treatments can be full of harmful chemicals.  Look for labels that say “non-toxic,” and paints that are low- or zero-VOC.  Learn more about “green” paint from the spruce. 
• When shopping for new items, look for wood that is harvested responsibly, made from repurposed pieces, or even repurposed wood. 

• You will pay more for carpeting made of natural fibers or recycled materials and organic dyes, but a clear conscience for the green living you are trying to achieve will outweigh the cost. Create custom designs with Flor carpet tiles, or go with 100% biodegradable Earth Weave carpet. 
• Other eco-friendly flooring options are reclaimed wood, bamboo, and cork flooring. 
• Use natural fabrics for bedding and draperies, or even upholstery:  cotton, linen, hemp, or wool are all more sustainable than synthetic textiles. 
• Look for locally made artisan furniture, art, or decorative pieces.  You will likely find these crafters use locally found, sustainable materials. 

Green living is a commitment to a lifestyle, but it does not mean your home’s interiors cannot be beautiful. Being fully committed to using less energy and water, as well as purchasing earth-friendly items for your home will make your home beautiful to you, and that is what matters most. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Photo credit: Inhabitat 

Decorating is the most personal way to express yourself in your home, and sometimes, when you want to try something different–something that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere on the list of design rules–it may be tempting to go with the flow, despite what you want to do.  Get design-rebellious with these tips: 

Color 

• Small room?  It doesn’t have to be a neutral color!  Go bold but create balance with open shelving or smaller furnishings. 
• We’re told not to stick with one color in a room, but going monochrome creates a bold, dramatic statement. 

• Your ceilings can be considered another wall when it comes to color.  Just remember to keep the walls a neutral color and get samples to paint on the ceiling before you commit to it. 
• Trim doesn’t have to be white!  Use high-gloss black for drama, stain that complements wood flooring, or neutrals for a modern twist on a traditional look. 

Finishes 

• If the metal finish on your kitchen light fixture doesn’t match the drawer pulls, it’s fine!  Mixing metals is perfectly acceptable, and check out this article from the Invaluable blog for inspiration! 

• Wood finishes don’t have to be the same throughout the house; create dimension with different stain colors, adding depth to a room or the whole house. 
• Who said tile is only for kitchens and bathrooms? Create an accent wall with tile in any room.  Be inspired by using the HGTV photo library search for whatever room you have in mind and add “wile tall” to the search term.   
• Speaking of kitchen tile, why not use wallpaper for your backsplash?  Protect it from splashes and oils with mounted plexiglass or a sealant made especially for sealing wallpaper. 

Furnishings and Accessories 

• Furniture stores have us fooled into thinking that our furniture sets must match, and this logic applies to even pieces like dining chairs. Mixing styles adds interest. 
• Mixing more than two patterns can be scary, so start small with accessories in bold patterns that are easily changed.  Staying in the same color family with your patterns will made this decision less daunting. 
• If you’d like to add some natural pieces to your space but don’t have a green thumb, then don’t be ashamed to use artificial plants!   
• It’s tempting to just scoot furniture to the wall and leave it because you want to follow symmetry.  Go diagonal!  Check out the difference a rearrangement can make by placing the sofa at a slant and give it a try in your living room! 

Not all rules of design should be broken, and there are likely rules that tell us why going against the norm with our personal decorating has a great result.  If you want to do something different, try it–you may like it! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Photo credit: stylecaster