Since the 1970s, the square footage of new American homes has grown with each decade, giving families more room to stretch out, hang out, and store their stuff. But even as blueprints have expanded, the layouts themselves have shrunk in some homes where the coziest spaces like bedrooms and living rooms have been scaled back to make way for larger kitchens and bathrooms.
While this means more countertop to throw down pizza dough and spa-like master baths for weeknight tub soaks, it also means families are squeezing cribs, home office furniture, gym equipment and toys into random corners in an attempt to make home everything it needs to be for everyone who lives there.
So many of us do more at home these days than ever before, from afternoon Zoom meetings and virtual school to keeping a budget by staying in for dinner and streaming movies from the living room. With all that home time in mind, here’s how to make the best use of each square foot by creating multi-functional living spaces.
What is a Multi-Functional Living Space or Dual-Purpose Room?
This is a room that can be used for more than one thing. Maybe it’s a home office that now also holds all of the kids’ homework supplies and a table for crafting or, perhaps it’s a corner of a large kitchen that’s been decked out with its own little toy kitchen and play food so that the area can also be used as a playspace while the grownups are getting dishes done. Wherever it is and whatever happens there, these rooms are a clever way to maximize homes of any size.
Where to Start
Before deciding which areas to convert into serving dual purposes ask:
What happens here at home?
For some, home is a pitstop between work and weekend adventures, a place for a quick sprint on the treadmill and an outfit change before dinner out with friends. For others, it’s the mainstay of their family’s day, where morning playdates run long into lunchtime and the kitchen’s always occupied by warm crockpots and hungry kids. Knowing these things will help keep the goals realistic - a family that doesn’t include any work-from-home employees probably doesn’t need a home office but maybe they need extra dining space for those long playdates.
What is lacking?
Maybe the main bedroom is huge but there’s no basement for gym equipment or baby is on the way but there’s no nursery. Identify bottlenecks to make the biggest impact with each conversion.
What is really needed to make home feel functional and what is a nice thought but not necessary in execution?
Dual-purpose conversions like an entryway reading nook next to the coat rack looks charming on Pinterest but if it goes unused it’ll just become one more clutterpoint to deal with over time.
How can a visual flow be created to keep this dual-purpose space from feeling like a mish-mashed disaster?
When combining two clashing functions in the same space, say a playroom and a home office, choose furniture pieces (and playthings) that coordinate. A neutral-toned wood dollhouse will blend in with a pine desk much better than a splashy pink and purple plastic castle.
Don’t let square footage limit functionality! A well laid out space, no matter how small, is the key to accomplishing a successful dual-purpose room.
How to Turn Excess Space into Multi-Functional Space
Once priorities are clear, it’s time to pull the details together! Figure out where excess (or at least a little extra) space can be carved out and repurpose it to exist alongside the room’s original purpose. Here’s some multifunctional room conversion ideas for inspiration.
How to Fit a Home Gym into a Bedroom
Get those Z’s and those gains all in the same room by converting a corner of a large master bedroom into a dedicated workout space.
How to Do It
1. First, figure out how much space can realistically be eliminated as bedroom space.
Maybe it’s time to downsize from a king bed to a queen or even a full size. Then, rearrange any leftover furniture until a decent corner of the room has been emptied out for gym equipment.
2. Next, measure the new space to ensure whatever equipment is designated will actually fit and still be functional.
Keep in mind that an outlet in this area is an absolute must if a treadmill, elliptical or other electronic machine is going to be used there. Certain machines operate best with a minimum distance requirement for space around them; be sure to consult user manuals to confirm you can exercise safely.
3. Before placing the equipment consider the flooring.
For bedrooms that have carpet, delicate wood, or vinyl flooring, a set of rubber floor tiles can protect the surrounding area. These slide together easily just like puzzle pieces and can be wiped down and taken apart if needed. Plus, they’re better for on-the-floor workouts.
4. Once the logistics have been sorted out, clear the eye clutter.
Hide away the industrial visuals with decorative room dividers to keep things feeling cozy in the bedroom. Whether it’s a set of curtains that hang from the ceiling or a folding partition with built-in shelving, the bedroom is a space that deserves its own aesthetic. Afterall, who wants to wind down for the day with a view of a Peloton?
How to Maximize a Guest Room
Leaving an entire room unused except for the occasional overnight visitor is no way to maximize space. Here’s some tips for making a dual-purpose room out of a spare bedroom.
Guest rooms don’t have to languish unused! They’re the perfect place to branch out by creating office space, a homeschool study corner, or even a family gaming room.
Choose Furniture That Does Double-Duty
When space is limited, make every piece count. These ones were made to serve dual-purposes or to streamline dual-purpose rooms and will instantly increase the functionality of any place you put them:
● An upscale futon (think more mid-century modern and less bachelor pad) or sleeper sofa. Serve dual functionality as a comfy spot to cozy up for family movie night or while scheduling tomorrow’s emails. Then, on the days when guests are in town, they’ll still sleep peacefully without feeling like they’re couch-surfing.
● A sturdy daybed. When styled right, daybeds play the part of a sofa and when an extra bed is needed just shuffle a couple pillows around and ta-da! It’s a twin bed. Even better, a trundle bed can be slid beneath it and pulled out in a pinch for even more sleeping space.
● A storage ottoman. Guests can kick their feet up on a storage ottoman where board games and consoles can be stored for game nights the rest of the time.
● A storage Murphy bed. These units are affixed to the wall where a bed can be pulled down for overnight guests and pushed back up come morning. When it’s not in use as a guest bed, the piece serves as shelving.
● A floating desk. Like a Murphy bed, this desk is installed on a wall and then folds down to create impromptu office space. The upper ledge acts as a shelf where fairy lights and small potted plants can be used to decorate. When the workday is over the desk can be gently folded back into the wall to make room for an evening yoga session or, if guests are in town, a spot to drop their luggage.
Mount a Television on the Wall
When faraway family has finally hit the road back home, use their guest room as a TV and gaming room. Mounting the TV instead of using a media console frees up floor space for a futon which doubles as seating and is compact enough to make way for a lounger or two and a small coffee table to round things out.
Avoid Using the Guest Room as a Storage Unit
Instead of storing holiday decorations and other seasonal cast-offs in the guest room, try to relegate those items to designated storage areas like closets or the basement and maintain the guest room as an extension of the floorplan. Not only is it valuable everyday space, but guests will feel more comfortable if there aren’t mops and ice skates stashed in the corner.
Delegate Space for a Home Office
With work-from-home jobs on the rise there’s no better dual-purpose for a guest room than a home office! For smaller guest bedrooms go for a compact floating desk paired with a pretty upholstered chair that can be styled in a corner when guests are using the space. Stow office supplies in large wicker or woven baskets that can be placed under or behind bedroom furniture to keep things uniform.
For larger bedrooms, go for a corner desk with lots of storage to hide away printers and paperwork and use the surface area to arrange lighting and items your guests may find handy like pens, note paper and a charging station.
Don’t Have a Guest Room? Here’s 4 Clever Places to Create a Home Office
1. In a staircase nook.
For homes with more than one floor, staircase nooks make a quaint spot to scoot a small desk, chair, and table lamp.
2. The farthest corner of the living room.
For linear floor plans without many alcoves or hidden corners to carve out an office space, set aside the end of the living room as an office nook. Use a decorative partition to create solitude and to hide away paper clutter.
3. In a walk-in closet.
While not all walk-in closets have the outlets necessary for chargers, some do and they make a just-right spot for quiet afternoon phone calls and brainstorming.
4. On a landing.
Setup on a staircase landing between bedrooms. This is an especially convenient option for those who might need to keep an ear on a sleeping baby in the room next door.
Tips for Creating a Playroom Space Within Another Room
What’s often an afterthought becomes pretty necessary the bigger kids (and their toys) get—a playroom. For homes without one, there’s still opportunities to create play space, whether it’s by incorporating toys throughout the home or relegating them to a single multi-use room.
Elevate children’s play spaces and incorporate them into any room by choosing neutral-toned toys.
Keep Tiny Pieces Contained
Use decorative storage to keep small toys and their accessories organized. By giving toys a designated home, cleanup is as simple as putting things back where they belong and can be easily found again. No more emptying the entire toy chest to find a specific plaything.
Choose Toys That Match Their Surroundings
While toys like dollhouses, play kitchen sets and Lego tables come in bright, splashy colors that don’t coordinate with most living room furniture or adult bedroom sets, there are higher end, neutral options available that will ensure a clean aesthetic prevails.
Ban Clutter
Keep clutter from overtaking a play space by pitching kids meal toys, half-finished craft kits and vending machine trinkets.
7 Uses for a Walk-In Closet
This often-overlooked space is brimming with opportunity. Just pop the doors off (replace with a set of curtains for privacy) and voila! An extra room within a room. No outlets? Look into battery-powered lighting to keep things bright.
1. Quaint Nursery
Keep baby close by converting a master bedroom closet into a nursery. Place the crib safely away from any overhead shelving, then stow swaddles, binkies, and diapers nearby for easy access throughout the night.
2. Cozy Reading Nook
String white lights along the ceiling’s perimeter for a magical place to read fairytales or go old school and install floor to ceiling bookshelves for a home library.
3. Extra Sleep Space
Most walk-in closets can comfortably fit a twin bed with room to spare! Rather than lose closet space to a bed, just install high shelving above to keep spare blankets, bedding, and clothing folded neatly and at the ready.
4. Home Office or Study
Need a quiet place for homework or meetings? Create solitude by keeping the door on the hinges so it can be shut during “office hours.”
5. Playroom
Throw down a soft shag rug and surround it with accessible low-profile cube storage to keep little ones safe and busy. If there’s no time to cleanup before lights-out, just close the door (or curtain) and let play resume in the morning.
6. Pet Room
Closets with hard floors make a great place for litter boxes, dog crates, and water dishes.
7. Gaming Room
For hours-long epic battles there’s no darker or quieter space than a converted closet.
Transform any room into the multi-functional space you are looking for with assistance from our design studio. Let us help you make the most of your home.