A bonus room is a relatively recent term that is mainly used in the United States. It is used to describe a large room in a house which could be used as a multi-purpose area. A bonus room, unlike an American bedroom, does not usually contain a closet. A bonus room might be used as a sewing or hobby room, game room, home cinema, or office. It is sometimes over a garage or in an attic area with partially reduced ceiling height or some other less desirable characteristic.

Etymology

One early use of the word is from The New York Times in 1991, which described it as "A recent solution to the problem of noisy teen-agers is the enticingly titled bonus room, which is a spare room on the bedroom floor that can be used as a den, television room or guest room."

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