Design Notes
We have all witnessed the transformation this past year, bedrooms become offices, kitchen tables become classrooms, and your basement doubles as a home gym. The problem is that most of these spaces were not ready to accommodate double duty. Multifunctional means one area of the home can handle multiple duties, while this sounds great, no one wants it to look like it’s a three-in-one, which is where good design comes into play. Selecting furniture pieces that can serve several purposes or planning a layout that can fulfill multiple needs is key to creating a home that suits your family’s unique lifestyle and routine. Let’s discuss what goes into designing these spaces and how you can make the most of the space you have.
Planning For Multifunctional Spaces
Everything begins with planning. A good plan can help you accomplish your goals while avoiding unnecessary delays or problems. We recommend that you take the time to write down your needs for each space. Will you spend a lot of time here? How many people will need to use this space at the same time? What needs to be accomplished in this space? Also, consider pairing things that naturally go together, such as an office space and study area, or a kitchen and dining room. By placing areas that have a similar purpose together, it makes it easier to design. Spend some time browsing Pinterest boards and reading blogs to get inspired and find what would work best for you.
Furniture For Multifunctional Spaces
Selecting the right pieces of furniture for your home is important, as they can help you maximize the space in each room. There are so many options available, now with more being continually added as manufacturers see the need. Here are some helpful tips when browsing potential options:
- Utilize wall space: Sometimes, the best solution is to go up, utilizing cabinets, built-ins, or shelves. Each of these options allows you to gain valuable storage space by going up instead of out, leaving room for other items you may need. Adding boxes and containers to these spaces will help you maximize these pieces even more and keep everything nicely organized.
- Unified pieces: One thing that is helpful is if many of the furniture pieces have a common thread, such as color or texture. This helps to keep a room together in style while allowing it to serve multiple functions within the area.
- Versatile pieces: We normally like to pick our furniture pieces based on our personal preferences, such as color and style, but storage should be factored in when trying to maximize usable space. There are many pieces now that are designed to double as storage, such as a bed with drawers built underneath or a coffee table. What about a couch that doubles as a fold-out bed for guests? Some even transform into an additional piece of furniture, such as a table that folds down into a bench. Don’t forget about that ottoman with the hollow inside that can be used for storage, too.
- Think outside the box: Just because something has been used for one thing doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Furniture is continually adapting, so when you see a piece you like, don’t just stick with what it is, but let your creativity flow, and you never know what can happen.
Most manufacturers have boarded the multifunctional train, meaning there are ample choices available to you, and many have even done the work to show you the multiple jobs their pieces can fulfill, so be sure to spend time browsing through different vendors.
Layout For Multifunctional Spaces
When planning a space to serve a variety of purposes, layout can have a big impact on the functionality. The flow of a room influences the use so it is important to be strategic in placing your furniture. When creating multiple spaces in a room, keep these things in mind.
- Boundaries: By setting boundaries within a space, it can help define the multiple areas and maintain a visually appealing space. Some simple ways to do this are by placing a rug or even assembling furniture that shares similar characteristics.
- Open concept: While it is important to make boundaries, an open concept makes the room flow easier, giving the area a nice, easy feel. This works well for main spaces in the home, such as the kitchen and living room.
Layout is a great tool when designing multifunctional spaces, but thoughtful planning must be paired with it. Talk to your designer when looking to start a project, making sure to make your needs known for each space.
Walker Woodworking We love spaces that look beautiful, but many times we underestimate the little things that can have the biggest impact. Facets provide our bathrooms and kitchens with a clean and elegant way to wash our hands, our food, and our dishes. They are a functional part of the design, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. With the numerous styles and finishes offered by manufacturers, it can be challenging to determine which one will best suit your home. Several other factors should also be considered, including durability, maintenance, and suitability for specific areas of the home. Let’s talk about them here before you head out to buy your next amazing faucet.
Walker WoodworkingIf you have looked at a renovated kitchen and wondered where the appliances, such as the refrigerator and dishwasher, were, you have just experienced paneled appliances. The beauty of these custom panels lies in their ability to cover the appliances, allowing them to blend in seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry.
Greenbrook DesignMany of our clients come to us from an hour or more away, often from the greater Charlotte metro area. A common question we hear is, “Why make the drive to Shelby when there are design centers closer to home?” It’s a fair question—and one we completely understand. That’s why we’d like to share a few key reasons why we believe the experience, service, and value you’ll find at Greenbrook Design make the trip well worth it.
Walker WoodworkingThere are many elements that help assemble the perfect design for your space, such as color, texture, and pattern, but one, in particular, plays a key role in making a statement: the focal point. Without a focal point, a room can feel busy or even boring, as it lacks something that immediately draws the eye. This is one of the reasons it is essential to include a focal point in the design; however, given its critical role, sufficient thought should be given to placing it in the optimal location. How do you design the perfect focal point that stands out without overpowering everything else? How do you best use focal points in a room or design with it in mind? Let’s explore the answers to getting the most out of your focal point.
Greenbrook DesignThe sofa is often one of the first things we notice when entering the living room since it tends to be the largest object in the room. We love to stretch out to watch TV or curl up under a blanket to read a book. Sometimes it also ends up being the quick solution to an additional place to sleep when in a bind. Designers have verified that this is a key piece of furniture for the living room, making it a sizable investment when the time comes for it to be replaced. As it is so important to the design, it stands to reason that there should be some things considered before making your next purchase. What things, exactly, should you look for before finalizing your choice, and what makes a sofa perfect for your home? Read on to find out some helpful tips that can assist you in picking your next sofa.
Walker Woodworking
Greenbrook Design