HOW TO CONVERT UNUSED SPACE INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE LIVING AREA
Space has become a commodity that’s being reimagined to be more flexible and sustainable. For example, the guest bedroom, a room reserved for the occasional houseguest, has become a home office or a home gym. It no longer makes sense to keep such valuable space for once-in-a-while use.
If you have under-used space in your home, be it an entire room or a corner in your main living area, you may be wondering how to transform it into something that suits your needs these days. Follow the tips below to make this space functional and flexible for the way you live today.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
When your house was built, each room was designed for a specific purpose, but that doesn’t mean you must stick to those ideals. Feel free to reimagine your space. Think about the activities that take place in the room and add furnishings and décor to meet those needs. That huge walk-in closet that collects more random junk than anything? Clean it out and make it into a home office!
THINK ABOUT HOW YOU’LL USE THE SPACE LATER
If you have young children or plan to host out-of-town guests regularly, consider how you’ll accommodate their changing needs. Purchase lightweight furnishings that are easy to rearrange, and if you’re planning a home gym, consider things like tension bands rather than large pieces of equipment to make the space more flexible as your needs change.
PLAN APPROPRIATE STORAGE
Since your new multi-purpose living area will accommodate multiple activities, plan for plenty of storage to keep things organized and clutter-free. Choose furniture with doors or lids that close to hide messes and look for decorative trunks and/or bins so everything has a place.
DESIGNATE AREAS
To further designate your new living area by the activities that will take place in it, physically mark off different areas. For example, make one corner your home office area while the other side of the room can be a workout space.
Use bookcases and other tall furnishings to physically separate these areas or paint accent walls to indicate what happens where.
FLEXIBLE FURNITURE
A flexible room needs flexible furniture. Look for chairs that stack and tables that expand. An armoire that opens to reveal a work area works well, too.
DON’T FORGET TO SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE
While your new multi-purpose room will be highly functional, it should also showcase your personality and style as well. There are lots of opportunities to customize the space and feature your favorite things, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
