Making interiors more adaptable
On the face of it, the concept of a multifunctional space seems pretty straightforward. It’s a room that has multiple uses, not being constrained towards just one activity. But there’s a little bit more to it than that…
Basically, it’s about making your interiors smarter so you can do more with less. And if you want some ideas on how to achieve that in your own spaces, we’ve got some great ideas from our experts at Sharps.
What is a multifunctional space?
Multifunctional spaces reflect a design philosophy that emphasises flexibility through clever furniture, interior design and storage options. It’s not just about how you use the space but whether the space itself is set up to meet your changing needs.
You can create multipurpose spaces through just a few considered additions to your interiors. It might be through partitioning off part of your living room to add a cosy reading nook, or it could be through adding a hideaway desk in a bedroom to create an ad hoc home office.
Adding versatile furnishings can completely transform the underused areas of your home, making them a more cohesive part of your everyday life. And the only limit to these multifunctional spaces is your own imagination.
Say yes to the kitchen-office-utility area combination and embrace the guest room-gym-gaming nook. With the right furniture, you can do more with your home than you ever thought possible.
What created the multifunctional trend?
With the floorplan of the average home getting smaller and apartment living leaning towards high-end yet functional space-saving solutions, the concept of the multifunctional space had already been gaining ground for some time.
But what really launched this trend into the public consciousness was the pandemic in 2020. As we all became intimately acquainted with our interiors, many of us realised that the concept of ‘one space, one use’ wasn’t serving us as well as it had done in the past.
We needed spaces that could evolve and adapt. Spaces that had the expansive atmosphere of an open-plan layout, yet with the options for privacy and quiet when needed. And even though we’ve returned to some semblance of normality since 2020, this need hasn’t gone away - our appetite for flexible interiors is larger than ever.
Multifunctional room ideas that are easy to style
You might already have a project in mind for your own spaces but if you need some inspiration, let’s take a look at some multipurpose room ideas that are a popular choice with home renovation enthusiasts.
Study bedroom
Any veteran work-from-home professional will tell you that carving out a dedicated office space is essential if you want to get more done during the day. This is where a bedroom office or study bedroom can be invaluable.
If you’ve got a spare corner or under-window area free, adding a desk will give you a place for work, study, or even personal projects. And it’s not just a great choice for the adults - adding a desk space into a children’s room can help them concentrate on homework and keep papers off the dining table.
Cosy and moody or bright and fresh, you can create the perfect atmosphere for streamlining your 9-5, all without detracting from the rest of your bedroom space.
Cloffice in a bedroom
If you can’t stand a visual reminder of your working day - we hear you. That’s the whole reason cloffices were invented. The epitome of excellent multipurpose room design, a cloffice combines a home office and closet to create a discreet work space that can hide away at the end of the day.
When it’s not needed, you can shut the doors on your desk space so that it doesn’t interrupt the flow of your room. This way, your office only appears when needed. Just open the doors and your cosy desk space is revealed, letting you get on with your workload in peace.
This is a fantastic option if you want a workspace in a bedroom but don’t want all of your tech on show. A smart way to make working from home a breeze.
Living room to home cinema
Our living rooms tend to be where we come to unwind at the end of the day and spend time with our family. But we also use them for entertaining, and in this respect, it always pays to make sure your guests have plenty to keep them occupied.
One way to make sure every big gathering goes smoothly is to make your living room a home cinema space too.
By making your TV the star of the show, you can add in speakers for surround sound quality, and even dimmable lights for that silver screen experience.
And if you want to really push the boat out, you can even invest in a mini fridge or home popcorn machine to make your own little snack bar. Take movie night to the next level!
Guest room and dressing room combined
Spare rooms are a fantastic blank canvas to transform into whatever you like. If there has to be a downside, it’s coming to the tricky decision of what to actually use it for.
Should it be a guest room or that dressing room you’ve always wanted?
Why not both? If you’re not completely sold on just having one or the other, you can combine the two by adding fitted wardrobes and a sofa bed to your space, so you can get more use out of the room.
By not having a spare bed taking up the floor, you’ll also have much more room to spread out and maybe even fit in a dressing table too.
Bar and lounge space
Another fantastic way to make your main living spaces more convenient for entertaining guests is by adding a home bar into your lounge.
Rather than having to retreat into the kitchen to prepare the drinks, a home bar makes sure everything you need is to hand (apart from maybe the ice!) so you can whip up your favourite cocktails while you chat with friends.
A home bar space can also be really handy if your living room or lounge opens out into the garden, as it provides a handy place to grab another drink as you pass through. And during the times when it’s not in use, your cabinet will make a stylish centrepiece, where your drinks and cut glass decanters will glimmer in the background.
Get started with your own unique multipurpose space
Want to jump right into designing your own space-saving multipurpose rooms? We can help with any fitted furniture solutions you might need. From the mini home offices to the dressing room-cum-guest spaces, our clever storage solutions can reveal the full potential of your interiors, making your home the stylish and convenient place it deserves to be.
Fill in our online form to Book a Free Design Visit and your Sharps designer will work with you to create multipurpose interiors that streamline your day-to-day.
