Three Ways To Make a Functional Room in Your Home

A trend emerging among homeowners is to have a “functional room” within their houses or apartments. These spaces usually serve as laundry rooms, studies or storerooms. Their presence increases property value by an estimated five to seven percent and rentals by two to three percent. 

The return on investment (ROI) ranges between six to eight percent per year.

If you are planning to incorporate a functional room into your home, following are the three factors you should consider:

1.      Space. The minimum size of a functional room should be at least 50 square feet and should ideally have a door that serves as an entry / exit point into the apartment or house. The easiest thing to do is to convert a spare room into a functional one. If you do not have a spare room, consider converting a terrace or balcony into one- if space allows. The option works well for both apartments and houses. In the case of a house, the area below a staircase can work equally well if it I spacious enough.

Construction / renovation cost - $ 1500 – 2000.

2.      The basics. Matte tiles in dark colors such as dark green, steel grey and terracotta are easy to maintain and give a natural feel to the space. In the case of a laundry room, include a sink and counter space; the latter can be used as an ironing board or as a workstation in the case of a study. Shelves are a must-have for functional rooms as they can be used for a variety of purposes.

Cost – tiles: $ 150 – 180 per sq ft; sink / wash basin: $ 2000 – 3000

3.      Lighting. In addition to spotlights, consider using skylights or glass bricks in place of walls to allow natural light. Louvers are another option, these can be substituted for windows or even be fitted within doors that serves as entrances.

4.      Cost – spotlights: $ 50 – 80 (each); glass bricks: $ 20 – 35 per brick; skylights: $ 200 to 250; louvers: $ 150 to 200 per sq ft.

Six Things to Consider When Setting Up A Spa in Your Home

An increasing number of people are setting up spas in their homes. Although the cost of materials and installation are relatively high, their presence increases properly value by nearly 10 to 12%, and rentals by 15 to 20%.

If you are thinking about setting up a spa in your home, you should consider following six steps:
Size. The size of a spa to accommodate a spa (consisting of a Jacuzzi, Sauna and steam room) should range between 180 to 250 square feet.
Jacuzzi's. You can either install a ready made portable whirlpool of have one custom made, according to your taste in terms if size, shape and materials used.
Cost: Ready made - $ 10,000; customized $ 250 - 500 per square feet.
Saunas. the primary components of a sauna include a stove (heater) that provides dry heat, as well as wooden paneling for the floor and the walls. Remember, a sauna must have a window to allow ventilation when it is not in use.
Cost: $ 2,000 - 4,500.
Steam Rooms. A shower cubicle can be converted into a steam room by installing steam injectors and seating. Avoid false ceilings, as there are prone to mold and fungi due to humidity.
Cost: $ 500 - 700.
Lighting. Dimmer equipped spotlights and string lights work best. Popular colors include blue, orange, red and warm white.
Cost: $ 80 - 150 per light.
Tiles. Miniature mosaic patterns in tones such as green, brown and blue are ideal;they should be waterproof to ensure safety and reduced maintenance costs.
Cost: $ 120 - 350 per square feet.