Reimagining the rumpus room

A well-planned rumpus room can easily convert from home office to playroom, guestroom, teen retreat, and back again.

Don’t think you have room for a rumpus room? Consider whether you can convert an existing space into this multi-use haven:

• Convert your garage
• Build an attached extension on top of or behind your home
• Convert a lightly used home office space
• Build a separate granny flat-style dwelling in your garden (but make sure to adhere to building codes)

To create a rumpus room that serves your family for years to come, it’s worth taking some time to consider the layout and design of your space.

First, consider who will use the room, when, and for what purpose.

Ask yourself questions like:

• Will a small child be playing in the room while an adult is working?
• How childproof does the room need to be?
• Will an older child or teen have friends over?
• Will you need specific furniture or accessories for certain games or hobbies, like a sewing table, a futsal table, or a pottery wheel?

Your rumpus room needs to work for your family, so consider everyone’s needs before you get into the nitty-gritty of planning.

Layout

Converting an existing room in your home into a rumpus room doesn’t have to mean being limited to the existing layout.

Try these easy hacks to section off parts of the room for specific purposes:

• Use an L-shaped couch to section off a play space for younger kids from a media zone for teens and adults.
• Section off a home office nook with a privacy screen—just ensure you invest in some noise-cancelling headphones for meetings!
• An open bookshelf can act as an internal wall between two separate spaces while doubling as storage.

Soundproofing

Whether you want your rumpus room to be the space where your kids can go wild or where you take Zoom calls in private, soundproofing is key. If you’ve opted to build your rumpus room in a converted garage or extension, plan for soundproofing at the building stage.

You can also soundproof existing walls, saving you the hassle and cleanup of demolishing an existing internal wall, as well as potentially saving you money. There are plenty of options to choose from, including peel-and-stick foam options, mass loaded vinyl, and polyester.

Remember that acoustic and thermal insulation only overlap to a degree; not all thermal insulation provides acoustic soundproofing, and vice versa. An insulation specialist is best placed to offer you advice on acoustic soundproofing options that make sense for your home.

You can also DIY extra soundproofing. While not as effective as professionally installed soundproofing, these options can nevertheless help minimise how much sound travels through your walls.

• Thick wall hangings or tapestries dampen sound
• A solid door minimises noise transfer compared to a hollow one
• Carpets absorb sound—this is especially important if your rumpus room is located upstairs

Installing carpet in your rumpus room is a job best left to the experts. Hire a local, trusted carpet installer for this job.

Well-placed power points and lights can make all the difference to a rumpus room. Decide on the type of lighting you want and determine the best locations for power points before hiring a licensed electrician to install them. Consider options like:

• Dimmable overhead lighting. Turn down the lights for movie night, then up again when you work from home
• USB outlets near couches and desks
• Ports for wifi routers or extenders
• Smart lighting you can control from your phone

The rumpus rooms’ primary purpose is functionality. This is not the room to display your china collection in, but that doesn’t mean it has to be all function and no style, either.

When selecting furniture, opt for durable finishes that are easy to clean and maintain. There’s no point investing in a beautiful timber coffee table, for instance, if there’s a high likelihood your teens will spill a drink or two on it in the first week!

Similarly, try to avoid unnecessary clutter that will collect dust without adding to the functionality.

Smart storage is always a good idea, but nowhere is it more critical than in a rumpus room. Built-in shelving can work wonders here, acting as storage, display shelf and bookshelf in one. To ensure it’s built to your specific needs and dimensions, it’s best to hire a trusted cabinet maker or carpenter for a job like this.

If kids of different ages are using the rumpus room, you’ll want to consider how to keep their toys and gadgets separate. After all, your teen won’t thank you if they’re younger sibling gets their hands on their gaming console! Similarly, your younger child’s stuffed animals will lose your teen some serious street cred when they have friends over.

Keep everyone happy with storage options like:

• Opaque, lockable doors on cabinets or storage cubes to prevent curious hands from getting into valuable and fragile items.
• Rolling carts—they make great storage for art supplies or games and are easy to transport to where they’re needed.
• Cube storage, which allows young kids to help pack away toys
• Coffee tables with hidden storage compartments
• Storage ottomans that provide extra seating, storage, and footrests
• Hidden cable storage to keep curious kids and pets safe

Get the whole family involved in planning your rumpus room storage. When everybody knows where things belong, the likelihood of tidiness rises (well, to an extent at least).

Multi-use and easy-to-store furniture is a must-have in the rumpus room. Consider options like:

• Modular sofas or sofa beds
• Daybed with a trundle
• Fold-down guest bed
• Fold-down desks
• Nesting coffee tables

These fun and practical ideas inspired by playrooms, home offices, and media rooms. Get creative and see how you can integrate these into the ultimate rumpus room.

• Adjustable climbing walls and ladder sets
• Play/crash couches for safe, active play
• Play mats or interlocking tiles
• Mini-fridge for snack storage
• Hanging hammocks for young kids
• Road or train track printed rugs
• Patterned or dark rugs (which hide a multitude of sins)
• Ceiling-mounted projector and roll-down screen for cosy movie nights
• A TV frame or cover for when it’s not in use