Many people would consider the kitchen or living room as their favourite room in the house. For myself, whether I’m buying or building a house, the flex room is the room that always peaks my interest. A house with one or even two flex rooms allows homebuyers to customize the home to suit their growing needs. For those of you that have never heard of this term, the ‘flex’ room is a space in the house that can serve a variety of different uses, marking that room as the most ‘flexible’ room in the house.

The versatility of this room is endless, making the flex room is a must have for custom homes and a selling point for any house on the market. Families can appreciate having an extra room in the house that serves different purposes. As the children age, the flex room can start off as a playroom, become a study room, music room or a movie room or family entertainment area.

Flex rooms are often found on the main floor near the living room or kitchen, but they can also be found away from the main living area. The room can serve as a guest bedroom or an additional bedroom for in-laws or extended family. Having this room away from the main living area helps to create some privacy for them.

Many homeowners opt for the additional suite in the house as added income to help pay the mortgage on the house. A flex room downstairs can either be used as an extra room for the main floor or as an additional room for the suite. That additional room downstairs gives you the flexibility to have either a 1 or 2-bedroom income generating suite.

For those that work from home, consider having a flex room with a separate entrance for clients as to not disturb the rest of the house. Again, a home office or studio away from the main area of the house helps to not only create privacy but also to keep some separation between work and home.

Things I consider when putting together a flex room:

Choose materials that can be used to serve any room. For example, whether you choose carpet or hardwood, make sure that you choose materials that work with you.

Create Open Spaces. If you’re building a custom home, keep the space as open as possible. Make sure there’s enough natural light, and that it has a variety of electrical outlets and bare walls. Things like built in shelving would limit the use of the space.

Furniture. Choose pieces that are functional that could serve a purpose for a number of different uses. Tables that could also be used as desks, or ottoman seats that also have storage are great items to have and can be used in a number of different rooms.