We all have one: that extra room in our house that becomes the catch-all because we didn’t know quite what to do with it when we moved in. Undoubtedly, the room has become such a disaster that the door remains closed at all times. It’s far easier to forget what we’ve turned the room into if we don’t have to look at it on a daily basis. Open the door!

Are you greeted with a mountain of “stuff”? Do you see extra chairs for the dining room table, that treadmill turned coat rack or maybe bags of clothes that you had every intention of donating to the charity shop? It’s time to clean out your junk room and turn it into your own private haven. The best news of all is that it can be done in a weekend with a bit of planning.

Here are five steps to turn that non-functional room into the best room in the house:

1. New Use

What do you want to turn the room into? Do you need a home office, a craft room, a meditation room or maybe a library? Perhaps you need all of those spaces! Why not create a versatile space that will fit all of your needs? With a bit of ingenuity, you can turn that small room into a multifunctional oasis.

2. Planning

Sit down with a pad of paper and channel your inner architect. Sketch out the general parameters of the room, being sure to include any windows, closets or doorways. After you’ve drawn your room, put it aside. Make a list of all of the things you’ll need to make your dream room a reality. Do you need a desk? Maybe you need a long table for your crafting or sewing needs? What about storage? Once you’ve decided the uses of your new room, it will be easy to decide what you need to fill it with.

3. Organization

Now that you’ve got your blank sketch and a list of things you’d like to put in the room, add your items to your sketch. Will a desk look fantastic under the window? Perhaps your craft table will be better under the window, allowing you to take advantage of natural light. Do you have one long, blank wall? That wall may be the perfect place for shelving and storage units. It’s much easier to lay out your room on a piece of paper than it is to lug furniture around a tiny space once you’ve purchased it all!

4. Furniture

When you are furnishing your room, look for modular furniture that will offer many uses. A chair or love-seat sized futon will make great seating while it’s in its upright position, and a fabulous guest bed when you need it. Shelves lined with baskets, file cabinets on wheels, long tables; look for things that can help keep you organized but will also have multiple uses for your space.

5. Off-limits?

Once you’ve created your space, decide if it will be off-limits to the kids, spouse or even the pets. You’ve created this oasis for you; it’s your decision to make. Set down ground rules. For instance, if the door is shut, you aren’t to be disturbed; if the door is open, people are free to come in. How you use the room is up to you, so set clear expectations.

Don’t let that junk room continue to grow into a mountain of disaster. Open the door, clear it out and turn it into a room you’ll love!

Amanda Peters is an interior decorator and volunteers her expertise to help choose the right school furniture for the local high school. She enjoys browsing the internet for unique furniture finds!