Tv room? pantry? Use storebought closed storage, armoires, hutches, cabinets, to make a useful storage space that doubles as a hallway to the kitchen.

Also, if children are in the near future, keep it for a toy area.

Thank you. We have seen some beautiful armoires that could work well. (The Tv area is already in the living room.) If we go in this direction, would you cap off the light fixture and use other lighting? Would you put a rug in there?

Small sitting room?

That was my initial idea too but he doesn't think he would ever sit in there. It doesn't get much light and it's a busy room because of the need to walk through it all the time and the door to the basement is in there too.

Yeah, I wondered about heavy traffic patterns. Is there a way to set a couch on the opposite wall from window(s) with a nice view? Whether or not he would sit there is immaterial because obviously he needs SOMEthing in the room as it’s right near the front door and probably seen by lots of people.

Wellllllll since we can't read minds? A drawing of "small" with all the feet, inches, and window and passage and etc. Uploaded as a jpeg, showing where the other spaces are located ? Including the door to the basement?

The opposite wall from the window is the opening to the DR so that side of the room is not mostly open. And yes, Jan I will try to provide all those important details in a drawing.

It would be helpful if your son decided on a purpose for the space. He doesn’t want this room to be an office, den or reading area and would not sit in there. Perhaps in the future he will want to expand the adjacent rooms (kitchen or dining room). Or maybe he needs a pantry or mudroom now?

He just moved in. Another option is to just leave it unfurnished for now until he needs the space. But since it’s a walkway from foyer to kitchen, move the round table in the room out of the walk way.

That small table is there (for now) because he had visions of a table, rug and cool lighting to make it a bit of a foyer. But I think he will shift gears to something more practical with some attractive storage options.

Agree that the room should meet his needs - storage etc..

FWIW my son would love a set up with 4 comfy chairs and a table for poker

It can stay empty for a few months or a year while he figures out what he would like there. In the meantime, change out the dead light bulbs in the ceiling fixture or replace the fixture with something stylish that he loves.

Make it a library! Get 2 larger bookcases for the two walls closest together and put a small desk or console on the other side and nothing in the middle of the room so it's a true pass through. Thank me later ;)

Ok. Adding more now that I noticed the floor heating. Yes. Customize a bookcase on the wall by the door with the painting on it now to match a narrower one on opposite wall. I wouldn't construct/put shelves on the wall in case he hates it-or a new owner hates it later.

No rug in there. If it's a main pass through why risk people tripping.

A shame not to take advantage of, even if only occasionally. Visually it will also feel more interesting and art/accessories can make it more inviting.

or…based on needs:

We had the exact same space in our house built in 1905 we did a mucic room sort of idea and added the french doors to look out on the garden

It was one of my favorite spaces in the house it also a walkwayd from the LR/ DR to the kitchen

If it were bigger he would consider a baby grand piano but maybe he will consider an upright. But he has also mentioned the art gallery idea too so that might be the answer for now. Thank you for all these great ideas!

Anyone seen the movie The Breakup? That room would have a pool table, lol