Unless you grew up in a cave (no judgments!), odds are you know what most rooms in a house are called. For instance, you know full well what a bedroom is, and a bathroom is also self-explanatory (but half-bath or quarter-bath, not so much). Yet homes do have a few rooms that could be head-scratchers, and one of those is what's called a "bonus room." So what is a bonus room?
 | While it might sound like some game show feature where you pick the correct door to open to win an exciting prize, a bonus room is actually best defined by what it is not: It typically does not have a closet. It might not even have a door, windows, or all four walls. The ceiling might be lower than standard in places, so you have to watch your head. In other words, a bonus room might lack the comforts of a traditional room. It is typically found in attics, above garages, or in other forgotten spaces. Nonetheless, bonus rooms have their benefits. First and foremost, it's extra space, even it it doesn't count as a bedroom because it lacks those roomlike features. Plus, it doesn't count as a room on your property taxes , which are lower as a result. So, a bonus room can offer a "Bonus" in square footage without the financial costs. |
What can you do with a bonus room?
While a bonus room might not work well for roommates or guests who crave closets, privacy, and other comforts afforded by traditional rooms, there are plenty of other options for the space.
Depending on the size, shape, and location of a bonus room, it could be used as a crafts room, office, playroom, library, exercise room, teen/tween escape pod, or a combination of these.
Another term for this versatile space is a "flex room." Add a TV, some shelves, and a sofa, and this narrow space with a sloped ceiling becomes a media room.
Depending on the size, shape, and location of a bonus room, it could be used as a crafts room, office, playroom, library, exercise room, teen/tween escape pod, or a combination of these.
Another term for this versatile space is a "flex room." Add a TV, some shelves, and a sofa, and this narrow space with a sloped ceiling becomes a media room.
Bonus room turned into a media room. With some custom built-ins, a similarly odd-shaped space becomes a reading nook that also works as a guest room and an office.
 Reading nook, guest room, and office. |  The ceiling in this attic room is too awkward for adults, but it works for a children's bedroom. |
Bonus room questions and concerns;
Just how big a bonus room is hinges largely on what you do with it—and how useful it seems to prospective buyers. Case in point: A real estate agent was listing a house with a bonus room above the garage that was being used as an office.
“There was no door at the top of the staircase. You just popped into the nicely finished open space,” she says. While the space was filled with natural light and had a vaulted ceiling, the feedback she got from prospective buyers was, “Why didn’t the bonus room have a door? If it had a door, it would feel more like a true room since it was on the upper level.” The realtor believes it would have been easy to add that door, and that it would have made a difference.
So if you have a bonus room or want one, consider making any roomlike renovations that would make it more comfortable and appealing—to yourself and others. As the realtor points out, a room above an unheated garage will be colder than other upper-level rooms.
“Considerations you’d want to plan for include an effective and efficient HVAC system, perhaps with added insulation, ventilation, and/or ductwork to ensure for a comfortable and useful room," she says. "You’d also want to have windows for light as well as for egress purposes, with fire safety in mind.”
Prospective buyers of a home with a bonus room will want to check local tax laws to find out if they will be paying for an actual room or if this one will fly under the radar, legally speaking. Plus, if you plan to renovate it, you'll want to know how adding a closet, wall, door, or window might affect how it's defined—and taxed.
“There was no door at the top of the staircase. You just popped into the nicely finished open space,” she says. While the space was filled with natural light and had a vaulted ceiling, the feedback she got from prospective buyers was, “Why didn’t the bonus room have a door? If it had a door, it would feel more like a true room since it was on the upper level.” The realtor believes it would have been easy to add that door, and that it would have made a difference.
So if you have a bonus room or want one, consider making any roomlike renovations that would make it more comfortable and appealing—to yourself and others. As the realtor points out, a room above an unheated garage will be colder than other upper-level rooms.
“Considerations you’d want to plan for include an effective and efficient HVAC system, perhaps with added insulation, ventilation, and/or ductwork to ensure for a comfortable and useful room," she says. "You’d also want to have windows for light as well as for egress purposes, with fire safety in mind.”
Prospective buyers of a home with a bonus room will want to check local tax laws to find out if they will be paying for an actual room or if this one will fly under the radar, legally speaking. Plus, if you plan to renovate it, you'll want to know how adding a closet, wall, door, or window might affect how it's defined—and taxed.
In other words, making the most of your bonus room is a balancing act!
The more roomlike features you add, the higher the odds it could be considered a true room, which would affect your taxes. So be sure to weigh the pros and cons before you buy or renovate the home.
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