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 WoodworkingOne of the main questions asked during the design meeting is what color the owners want for their kitchen cabinets. Were they looking to do a natural wood or a color instead? While many will opt to do the wood, many enjoy adding a splash of color to their kitchen or mixing and matching. It is a great way to break up the area and create a focal point, but with so many options available, how do you know which one is right for you? While it is up to you in the end, there are three colors that have stood out for some time and will most likely continue to do so. White, gray, and blue remain high on the selection chart, so let’s talk about these popular colors and why they may be the right fit for you.
Walker WoodworkingWhile the kitchen was often viewed as the place where food was merely prepped and served, it has transitioned into a command center as people gather to talk or enjoy a snack while getting some work done. Layouts have slowly shifted to accommodate this change, which has produced the open concept. This floor plan allows families to stay connected even when they are doing things in different areas of the home. While not as popular as it was in the 1990s and early 2000s, many families still choose this floor plan because of their desire to stay close to their family and guests. Today, we want to discuss the open floor concept, the elements that make it up, and if it is the right fit for your family.
Greenbrook DesignYou have just waved goodbye to your last child as they head out to college. While you adjust to not having kids in the house, you also begin to realize that you now have more space, but you’re not sure what to do with it. There are many ways to reuse the space, expand existing spaces, or make room for something new. Let’s take a look at the design possibilities available to you.
In the second of our three-part series on selection tips, we want to focus on tile. Backsplash, shower walls, and flooring are just a few of the many uses for tile since it is beautiful, durable, and timeless. Sometimes considered a small part of the design, it has the potential to make a big impact on the design. Here are some helpful tips when choosing tile.
While cabinets tend to be the focal point of the main spaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms, it is the details that add the final touch to the design. The selection process can be one of the highlights of the design phase, but it can also be overwhelming with multiple styles, colors, and options. In this three-part series, we want to give our best tips for the top three categories of selections and help make this as enjoyable and simple as possible. Our focus today is hardware.
Walker Woodworking
Greenbrook Design