The Guest Room Got a Makeover in 2026

Home gyms, walk-in closets, and even podcast studios are on the rise.
green theater room
A moody home theater takes the place of a guest room in this Florida abode. Photography by Frazier Springfield

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There’s something lovely about having a guest room ready for visiting friends and family—fresh sheets, fluffy towels, a little bedside lamp all prepped. But what about the other 350 days of the year when nobody is sleeping in there, especially if you live alone? Apparently, more people are asking themselves that question and coming up with interesting answers. According to Taskrabbit’s 2026 Trend Report, solo dwellers are increasingly transforming their spare rooms into spaces dedicated entirely to their own interests. The company reports that bookings related to podcast studios have jumped 90 percent year over year, while home gyms are up 59 percent, saunas 35 percent, and craft rooms 33 percent.

home gym
The spare room-turned-gym in this Australian home makes it easy to get in a daily workout. Photography by William Meppem
yellow closet
How about turning that extra space into your dream dressing room, like in this Manchester home? Photography by Jennifer Rothbury

This shift is part of a larger trend Taskrabbit calls “The Independent Home,” in which people living alone are treating their spaces not as temporary stops on the way to some future shared household but as homes worth investing in right now. And without a roommate or partner to negotiate with, the possibilities are pretty much endless.

arched doorway into green room
An awkward pocket of space in this artsy L.A. home was turned into a music room. Photography by Kort Havens Kort Havens

Of course, you don’t need to install a cold plunge or go deep on audio production to get in on the fun. A spare bedroom could become a theater room, reading retreat, sewing space, or simply a place to spread out your latest creative endeavor without having to clean up before dinner. Extra square footage can balance hosting duties and your favorite hobby.

white kitchen
Camille Styles turned her barely used guest bedroom into a creative studio with a partial kitchen. Photography by Michelle Nash
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Zoë Sessums

Contributing Editor

Zoë Sessums is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, and New York Magazine. Over nearly a decade in media, she’s covered everything from home tours and renovations to product guides and newsletters. She has a background in journalism and creative writing and is motivated in roughly equal measure by good design, good pizza, and a very solid pair of shoes. She lives in Midcoast Maine.

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