Seven Alternative Uses for Your Walk-In Closet

When apartment or house hunting, it’s always a nice surprise when you find a big, walk-in closet. Your first thought might be, “Wow, think of all the stuff I can put in here!”

Yes, you can use it to store a variety of items, but there are also many ways to turn your walk-in closet into a functional room. The per-square-foot rent on the walk-in closet space is more than you would pay for self storage. You could rent a 5x5 or 5x10 unit, store items there, and turn the closet into a room that fulfills another important need.

Here are six possible uses for that walk-in closet.

Office/Computer Room

Whether you work from home, play games on your computer, or otherwise need to have a place to get on your computer and concentrate, your walk-in closet can make an excellent small office, with enough room for your desk, computer, printer, office chair, and perhaps a bookcase or two.

Child’s Play Room

Tired of tripping over toys in the living room? In that case, consider making that closet into a children’s play room. You can have sturdy shelves for toys, a toy box, or even a video game system and a comfy chair. You can even get your child in the habit of straightening up by helping them clean the room at the end of the day.

Guest Bedroom

Do you occasionally have guests? Would you like to offer them someplace more comfortable to sleep than the living room couch? If your walk-in closet has room for a twin or queen-sized bed, and perhaps a nightstand with a lamp, turning it into a guest room may be the ideal solution.

Hobby Room/Craft Room

If you have a crafty hobby, like scrapbooking, painting miniatures, or doing any other sort of art, your closet can make a great space to keep your supplies and even work. Set up a desk or easel, and keep your supplies organized on shelves or boxes. You’ll have everything you need right there! Here, you really want to make sure the room stays ventilated, especially if you’re working with paint or glue. If you need to use spray paint or a spray sealant, make sure to do that part outside.

Library

While it’s nice having bookcases in various rooms and reading in one’s living room or bedroom, there’s something extra nice about having a room dedicated to books and reading. Assuming your walk-in closet is somewhere in the 6x10 to 10x10 size range, that’s a nice amount of space for a personal library. Include a comfortable reading chair and good lighting, and turn that closet into a space where you can escape into a book.

Homework Room

Homework can be tough for kids. Sometimes, the problem is that there are too many distractions in other rooms. In the living room, other members of the family may be talking or watching television. In their own bedroom, there may be other fun things that keep grabbing their attention. Consider setting up the walk-in closet with a table, a couple of chairs, some helpful books, and places to keep current school books and supplies. You can sit next to your child and help them with their homework in relative peace.