Multifunctional Living Spaces

Open-plan living is one trend in home design that is here to stay, the family home has been subject to many changes over the past 100 years: the size of houses is different, as are the attitudes and needs of modern families.

This means that homes need to be more flexible to allow for the many different demands of everyone who lives there, and they need to be able to adapt as children grow and require different spaces.

To ensure that the whole family can enjoy the home at the same time, it has become important that spaces can be used for more than one purpose, so it’s not simply all about the kids. With a little thought, many rooms in the house can be used for a range of family activities.

Zoning for Open Plan Living

The biggest change in family homes has been the removal of internal walls creating large open-plan spaces.

Open-plan homes are perfect to entertain and great for the whole family to spend time together as one unit, but it can provide interesting issues as the family grows and everyone tries to get a little bit of that space to themselves.

“Zoning” a room with furniture can go a long way to creating spaces that are clearly defined within an open-plan area, allowing more than one family member to be in the space at a time.

Placing furniture strategically, like floating the sofa in the middle of a space, and using simple tricks, like positioning large floor rugs to define zones, can clearly define the dining, living and cooking areas.

Home Theatre/Play Room/Guest Room

For many people these days who are building new large family homes, one of the “must haves” is often a home theatre. This room is a great place to enjoy movies in a cinema-style environment, with sound and light adjusted to suit the movie experience.

But the home theatre doesn’t have to be used for this function alone. If you allow the seating to be easily moved around the room, then you can simply pull back the blackout curtains, let the sun shine in and enjoy this space as a playroom or reading room.

If you include a sofa bed, then you have the clever addition of comfy cinema seating as well as somewhere for family or friends to stay overnight.

Remember that light and sound are important issues in this room, so having darker walls, as well as suitable curtains to block out light, will usually be the most practical choices, so you can enjoy movies even in the middle of the day.

The Home Office/Cupboard

Having a dedicated space for work or study can help improve productivity and create a clear separation between work and personal life, even if you do not have a separate room for an office. Converting a cabinet or a built-in linen cupboard into a home office is a smart way to make the most out of your living space. With a little creativity and planning, you can transform a small and unused space into a functional home office that fits your needs and style.

Another benefit of having a home office inside a cabinet or wardrobe is that it can be easily hidden away when not in use. It also allows the space to be in an open-plan room, so even when the kids are studying or working, they are not cut off from the rest of the family.

There are plenty of great ideas to help you make a study/home office inside this small space, allowing all the family to get on with their work, be as messy as they wish, and then when it is time to eat or friends arrive, you simply close the doors and hide all the mess away. Top of Form

Overall, creating a home office inside a cabinet or wardrobe can be a practical and stylish way to make the most of a small space while also providing a comfortable and productive workspace.