Multipurpose Room - 10 Worthwhile Ideas for Your Project

Not unlike people, homes come in all shapes and sizes. Yet, one thing that every homeowner or renter can agree on, regardless of the size of their home, is the desire to make the most out of their living space. 

Turning your home into a more utilitarian space isn’t too difficult if you want to test out the size-restricted boundaries of your house or apartment.

How to Design a Double-Duty Room

1- Shared living room-guest room

Source: Stocksnap

If you have a smaller home but still want to entertain overnight guests, a living guest room is a great option. Incorporating a daybed into your living room can work wonders. Include plenty of throw pillows to keep the room cozy but still functional.

Also, remember to build hidden storage below the bed to hold extra blankets and pillows. Hanging a rod from the ceiling with a stylish but retractable curtain can offer your guest privacy, whether for late-night or early-morning comfort.

2- Library-lounge-studio

Source: Flickr; iBSSR

As society becomes increasingly screen-centric, having a space that’s devoid of tablets and screens to focus on older forms of media: drawing, painting, collaging, etc., sounds rather refreshing. Designing a multipurpose library-lounge-studio space makes for the perfect escape from the realities of the world. 

Incorporate tall bookshelves with a cutout space for a potential craft table or easel, as well as surrounding storage for art supplies. Consider keeping a yoga mat close by, as the lounge could be used for a quick meditation session to recentre yourself.

3- Office guest room

An office guest room is a common staple in smaller homes or apartments with social butterfly dwellers, as having a space where one can both work and host guests seems fairly ideal. A Murphy bed, or wall bed, is a common feature in office guest rooms, folding up into a wall unit when not used. 

If a Murphy bed doesn’t suit your home, or aesthetic, tucking a bed or desk neatly into a corner can be a handy option to further optimize functionality and maximize space.

4- Laundry room/home gym combo

Source: BHG

Confine all messy tasks into one room—that’s basically the idea behind a laundry room/home gym combo. Put the often noisy washer/dryer unit as well as exercise equipment in a space separate from the rest of the house. Lay light hardwood flooring for low-maintenance, safe surfaces in case of any liquid spills. 

Hopefully, the chosen space will have access to the outside world for on-demand fresh air. And, as a bonus: the ability to throw your workout gear directly into the washer when you're done getting your sweat on!

5- Artist's loft

Source: Flickr; Ashley

A loft-like space often calls for finding someone with some serious feng shui skills to make it liveable, as it's generally one room with no closed doors or stand-alone walls. However, with a little bit of creativity, a loft can easily be turned into a multipurpose space. 

Use fold-away partitions, hang artwork, and display houseplants, as well as upright sculptures to break up the space, one can enclose the bedroom without feeling too boxed in.

Another key factor is to house some multipurpose furniture, such as a step stool that doubles as a bookcase or a side table, maybe even a foldaway dining table-shelf. Anything is possible in a loft if you have a little bit of creativity and innovative skills!

6- One bedroom, two separate spaces

Source: Apartment Therapy

Are your children sharing a room, but with just distinctive aesthetics that they're fighting over wall colour and furniture? 

How about a little compromise, one that allows both kids to be seen by painting the walls in two different colours? Although this may sound time-consuming or costly, it doesn't have to be! Try adding white paint to a darker hue, creating two different shades from the same colour. 

That way, each kid feels as if they have a personalized space. Keep different furniture colours and designs on either side, and even consider hanging a curtain in the middle of the room for added privacy, or when the little ones are fighting. 

7- Basement entertainment cave

Source: Unsplash

When the cat’s away, the mouse will play! A hidden basement entertainment space can hold all of the things you don’t necessarily want to showcase in your living or dining room: pool table, bar, dartboard, and entertainment system. This space could double as a kids’ playroom, or for any other activity that you may want to keep out of sight and out of mind.

8- Big closet meets mini workspace

Source: CB2

A "cloffice," or closet/office is as cute as it sounds. For those with walk-in closets but few looks, turning a closet into a workspace could be optimal. All there is to do is install a shelf instead of a desk, grab a small rug, a chair, and a stack of pens, and you've got yourself a home office.

Bring along your laptop and hang a bulletin board on your closet door; you’ll be pencilling in new ideas in no time! Moreover, if you find your cloffice is starting to get a little cluttered, hide it behind closed doors.

9- Loft-like bunk beds

Source: Glaminati

Although the bed is usually the centrepiece in any bedroom, your kingdom might not allow for that king-sized bed. If you’re not afraid of heights, and the ceiling allows for it, why not try lifting the bed off the ground? Designing loft-like bunk beds is a clever way to save space in smaller bedrooms or apartments. If it’s high enough, you can set up a desk underneath, making it easy to slip out of bed and into corporate mode.

10- Dining room/music room

This last one might be reserved for fancy homeowners, but still something to consider for music enthusiasts out there. Adorn your shared dining room/music room with classic features like a plush rug, big houseplants, and a grand piano (or a few guitars will do too!). Make sure the space has good acoustics, and there you have it! You're now ready to wine and dine the night away with friends or rehearse your Chopin solo.