Turn bogus room into bonus room.

• Position: Recreation

Take a deep breath and open the door to that unused bedroom, cluttered playroom, or banished basement, but do not enter alone. If you have decided to create a recreation room, the first step is simple: Gather up the family and tackle this project together. From there, the American Furniture Manufacturers Association recommends the following:

Develop a wish list. First, ask everyone to list all the activities they would like to do in this space. Then, as a group, identify the priorities. Conduct this meeting in the targeted area to help keep some perspective on how much the room can accommodate.

Consider a "zone" for each activity. If watching movies and playing video games is high on everyone's list, an entertainment center and appropriate seating will probably anchor the room. DO you need a place for playing and storing board games? A corner for reading? A closet outfitted with shelving and a desk could become a home computing zone or a hobby/craft zone, while a dormer might become a game storage zone.

Identify needed furnishings. What do you need to buy? What can you pull from other rooms? Remember, the fact that this area was underfurnished is part of the reason it was underused. You do not have to spend a fortune. Look for multifunctional pieces that help...