Rooms with a Use

Do you have fond memories of the dinner parties and family gatherings you used to enjoy in your formal dining room? You would set the table with your China and polished silver and host your friends and loved ones around a wonderful meal. Nowadays, people are not entertaining like they used to. The formal dining room has become one of the least used rooms in the entire house – but that doesn’t mean it is a room without a use.

Bryan Devore is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and Director of the Senior Division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. When he is not helping seniors make the transition to the next chapter of their lives, he stays busy with his wife, two sons, and his “bonus” son and daughter. You can learn more about Bryan at www.DevoreRealtyGroup.com

Usually, the formal dining room has several windows that bring in natural light. Most dining rooms also have plenty of wall space. These features make it a great space to create a craft room, office, or even an exercise area. If you need privacy, you can erect permanent walls or perhaps avoid that cost by partitioning the room with a decorative screen.

If your goal is to age in your current home, having a downstairs bedroom is a must. If you do not already have one, using your dining room as a bedroom can give you the space you need. It is important to note that a room must meet certain parameters to “legally” be a bedroom. There are certain size requirements, it must have a door, and it must have two methods of ingress and egress. Your city or state may have other requirements as well. While these requirements are important to note when it comes to resale value, practically speaking they do not need to prevent you from using the space as a bedroom. Just adding walls may be exactly what you need.

Even if you are no longer using your dining room as a dining room, don’t let that stop you from enjoying that space. Don’t hesitate to call if you would like any guidance or ideas to maximize the value of your home.

—Bryan Devore