14 Types of Specialty Rooms for Your Home
Our Austin Architects Love These Functional and Fun Specialty Rooms
Over the last few years, our Austin architects have received more and more requests for different types of specialty rooms. Rather than designing multipurpose spaces, homeowners are looking to create designated rooms to house their unique and varied interests. When it comes to specialty rooms, there are no limits to what's possible. So, what kind of space will you create? We’ve come up with a list of the 14 types of specialty rooms we’ve designed (and want to design) that would make a functional and fun addition to any home. Let’s take a look!
What is a Specialty Room?
So, what exactly is a specialty room? Specialty rooms are spaces designed for one clear purpose rather than multipurpose use. These rooms are built with a specific activity in mind, adhering to necessary dimensions and incorporating any required built-in equipment or millwork. A specialty room could be as simple as an art studio with good natural light and an easy-to-clean concrete floor or as complex as a home theater wired with a state-of-the-art sound system.
Custom Home Project by DK Studio
The Custom Home Design Trend
The popularity of specialty rooms has risen alongside the custom home design trend. Homeowners are moving away from cookie-cutter house plans in favor of custom designs catered to their unique needs and lifestyles. When you work with an architect on a custom home, you can create any space imaginable (as long as it fits the parameters of your built site and budget)!
14 Types of Specialty Rooms to Consider for Your Home
Here are 14 types of specialty rooms to inspire your dream home design. Our Austin architects have designed most of these, but there are a few on the list that we’d love to work on in our next project. (Maybe that will be your home!)
1. Home Office
Home Office By DK Studio
Since the work-from-home revolution, our most requested specialty room design is the home office. These rooms should be quiet, separate from the rest of the living areas, and functional. Why not add a fun coffee station to the design?
2. Pet Room
Laundry Pet Room by Studio DK
If you have a pet, you know they are just as important as any other family member and deserve their own space, too. Pet rooms are the perfect place to house kennels, food stations, and even at-home grooming stations.
3. Arts & Crafts Room
Whether your medium is oil painting or quilting, your architect can create an arts & crafts room to inspire your next great project. Your craft will determine the design, but consider incorporating built-in storage for supplies, work tables, and durable materials.
4. Home Theater
A home theater is a great amenity for movie lovers. Like any smart home design, home theaters require early planning and consideration in the initial design phase. The room should be designed with acoustics, soundproofing, and necessary wiring in mind.
5. Music Room
Like home theaters, music rooms should also consider acoustics and soundproofing. These spaces should allow for secluded practice sessions but also be large and welcoming for intimate at-home concerts.
6. Game Room
Game Room by DK Studio
A game room design could range from a cozy nook with a card table to a full-fledged arcade. While these spaces are designed around gaming, the design should also consider family bonding time. So, make sure to incorporate cozy seating options in between rounds.
7. Billiard Room
A pool table or billiard room requires a few more design considerations than a regular game room. The most overlooked component is the necessary square footage! You must allow a minimum clearance of 5 feet around the table for easy play, which adds up fast!
8. Home Gym
Home gyms are a must-have for the fitness enthusiast. At a minimum, you will want to include durable flooring, mirrors, and a sound system. However, don’t forget to think about the location of your home gym. Easy access to decks for outdoor yoga and bathrooms for showering will make the workout even better.
9. Home Bar
Home Bar by Studio DK
Why go out when you can bring the party to you? Our Austin architects have designed home bars that range from small built-ins off the kitchen to entire rooms. No matter the size, we recommend including a sink, mini fridge, and ice machine in every design for easy cocktail mixing.
10. Wine Cellar
Designing a sommelier-level wine cellar requires a few more steps than the average home bar. Wine storage requires specific types of shelving and even temperature control. The space required will be determined by your collection (and how much you want to expand it)!
11. Caterer’s Kitchen
Caterer’s kitchens include everything from butler’s pantries to sculleries. (A butler’s pantry provides extra storage, whereas a scullery is essentially a second, smaller kitchen for behind-the-scenes prep work.) No matter how elaborate the space, a caterer’s kitchen provides a hidden area to stow dishes, food, or mess out of view when guests are over.
12. Conservatory
If you are a “plant parent,” you might want to consider building your own conservatory or sunroom for your plants to thrive. A conservatory is a predominantly glass room attached to the main house. Additional design considerations would include waterproof flooring, floor drains, and plenty of tables and shelves for potted plants.
13. Mudroom
Entryway Mudroom by Studio DK
A mudroom is a great addition to a secondary entrance for the family. Our Austin architects recommend placing a mudroom off of the garage or kitchen. These catch-all spaces require durable flooring and plenty of built-in storage for the deluge of bags, shoes, and packages.
14. Pool Cabana
If your dream home has a pool, why not build a pool cabana? Pool cabanas can range from a simple outdoor pavilion to relax in the shade to a small casita that includes a pool bathroom and changing room. Pool cabanas are great backyard additions to keep the party outside (and prevent tracking water inside).
What Specialty Room Do You Want in Your Home?
So these are our Austin architects' top 14 specialty rooms. We hope to have inspired some ideas for your next home renovation or new construction project. If you need help designing your specialty room, reach out to our team.
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