4 tips for creating multifunctional rooms
A more affordable home on a smaller footprint doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice functionality. Thanks to the evolution of clever furniture and floorplans, you can have the best of both worlds.
‘By designing rooms that serve more than one purpose, you can create flexible zones that meet the changing needs of your family. Whether it’s a study that can be transformed into a guest room, or a playroom that can be converted into a gym,’ says Homebuyers Centre’s Display Designer, Nadija Saluwadana.
Consider your lifestyle and daily routines to determine what functions your rooms need to serve. How do you plan to use each room, both now and in five to ten years? Then, look for the products that will help you to achieve your goals.
Below, Nadija provides her top tips for creating beautiful and purposeful multifunctional spaces:
1. Choose convertible or extendable furniture
Choose functional furniture pieces that are retractable and extendable. Not only will it save on space, it will also allow you to tweak your rooms for different tasks. For example, wall mounted or folding furniture options that can be tucked away when not in use.
‘Murphy beds, which can be folded vertically against the wall, can seamlessly transform a bedroom or guest bedroom into a home office, gym or playroom during the day,’ says Nadija.
‘A great example is the Troya wall bed used to create a versatile loft at the Mt Atkinson display home.’
Other clever examples of transformative furniture pieces include:
- Wall mounted desks – Rather than investing in a dedicated study, create a quaint e-zone in your living space using a discrete wall mounted desk.
- Sofa beds – Tried and tested, sofa beds can provide seating during the day, a bed for guests at night and can often provide hidden storage room in the base.
- Extendable tables – Perfect for entertaining larger dinner parties, simply retract your dining table to create an area for play or yoga.
2. Install smart storage options
Clever storage solutions not only allow rooms to serve multiple functions, it also minimises clutter and helps to make your home feel larger. Turn your bedroom into an additional linen closet by choosing a bed frame with drawers or gas lift storage. Or consider a storage ottoman or bench seat in your living room to hide away kids’ toys, linen and general clutter.
‘If you don’t want to create a dedicated study or workspace in your home, look for beautiful furniture pieces that can also provide a workspace if needed,’ says Nadija.
‘Many bookshelves come with an integrated desk. You can also look for nesting or convertible coffee tables that take up minimal space, while transforming into dining or study bench when needed.’
Your garage is also the perfect space to store suitcases, camping gear and seasonal items such as holiday decorations. Consider a mix of wall-mounted, overhead and cabinet storage.
‘Metal shelves can be mounted on the wall to hold boxes or storage containers. Pegboards are great for organising tools or gardening equipment, while bike racks can help to free up floorspace,’ says Nadija.
‘A workbench with shelves or drawers underneath also works well.’
3. Divide your rooms with clever styling
Make a larger room multi-functional by using curtains, dividers or styling to dictate different purposes. Use different colours or patterns, wall art and plants to give each space a dedicated personality and define different zones within a space.
‘Use a rug to create a kids’ corner or meditation space in your lounge. I also love placing a comfy reading chair and lamp in the corner of a bedroom to create a reading nook,’ suggests Nadija.
‘To make the function of each area even clearer, you can use physical barriers. At the recently opened Lawson 25 display home , the e-zone is located behind the kitchen, hidden by white shutters that match the farmhouse aesthetic of the home.’
4. Make simple adjustments to your floorplan
Look for flexible home designs with bespoke design options that meet your family’s needs.
‘Homebuyers Centre’s Winton 29 floorplan offers a children’s retreat design option that can also be used as a multi-purpose area. Other examples include the Kingston and Harvey home designs, which offer a fourth bedroom that can easily be converted to a guest room and study,’ explains Nadija.
European laundries allow you to have all the functionality of a freestanding laundry, without compromising on living or bedroom size. ‘You can even add overhead cabinetry, a broom cupboard and bench space, all hidden behind closed doors,’ adds Nadija.
Looking for more inspiration?
Pop into a Homebuyers Centre display home near you and discover endless possibilities for your dream home.