In my ever-evolving home, I am constantly scheming ways to squeeze more function out of my minimal square footage. If we had the budget, we would add on but as it is, we make do with less than 1,500 square feet plus a 144 square foot pump house a few yards down the driveway. I'm guessing there are plenty of you out there with similar restrictions. I have found, over the years, that with a little creativity and planning, you can accommodate multiple functions in small spaces quite well.
Studio/Guest Room
We have never had the luxury of a guest room. Even with one kid out of the house and the other nearly there, a dedicated guest room is still not in the cards given our unusual house layout. It's a long story. But I have been able to create the most adorable guest room - mostly for my mom when she visits - in my 144 sf studio. When guests are not visiting, it is my fabric and design studio. And when needed, it can transform into a self-contained bunkie (as the Canadians call it). This is the same phenomenon that has helped spur the rise of the backyard she shed. It's basically a room that functions one way most of the time but can accommodate a guest or two when needed. No bathroom, though, so that's one of the drawbacks.
Tv Room/Guest Room
For some reason when I think of the 80's, small alcove tv rooms with a hide-a-bed come to mind. It's like it was ubiquitous for all those John Hughes films to be set in homes with multiple bedrooms but also tiny tv rooms that could also host overnight guests. If your tv room is somewhat separate from other public spaces, it might also make for a semi-private space for your company. Sleeper sofas have really come a long way in terms of comfort - both when using as a sofa AND when using as a bed. American Leather is the leader, in my opinion, with striking this balance.
Office/Guest Room
Ok, this is the last example of double duty rooms involving room for guests. But if you have an area dedicated to working from home, you can also account for the occasional use as extra sleeping space without feeling like you're working in a hotel room. As in the tv room suggestion, a sofa sleeper can be a great choice here too OR you can design a Murphy bed system that is useful for office activities as well as sleeping. These systems are amazing with clever storage as well as mechanisms that don't require you to completely pack up your work set up in order to open the bed.
Laundry/Sewing
What do you think of this idea? A little specific? Maybe. But you can replace sewing with any kind of crafting or hobby. With planning for storage, work surfaces and good lighting, you can easily combine activities in this one room. Of course, being organized and tidy are keys to making this arrangement work. But how much more likely are you to keep the laundry cycle going if you are right there creating something amazing anyway?
Living Room/Bedroom
Hear me out. This one may seem kinda out there, but I recently saw this in a Swiss cabin on YouTube and it was so cool. This would be more suited to a tiny or small home or cabin but the principle can be applied to your own home easily. Especially if you have high ceilings, think about how you can use that vertical space to your advantage. Mounting a bed to a hydraulic system allows it to be stored up high, out of the line of sight if your ceilings are much higher than the standard 8 to 9 feet. That space is used as the main living area during the day. And then when night time comes, you simply lower the bed from the ceiling. It sounds a little crazy but it's an incredibly clever way to maximize the entire volume of space.
Eat-in Kitchens
Because I really love a built-in banquette, I feel like every kitchen should be an eat-in kitchen. I am particularly obsessed with building in seating on the back of an island instead of barstool seating. This allows a good sized table to be brought in close which takes care of your dining space which then frees up space elsewhere. See? It's all connected. Or if an island banquette doesn't do it for you, building one in a corner has the same effect. It can maximize space by condensing or eliminating the amount of furniture needed for that footprint.
I'm sure there are plenty more examples of combining multiple uses in one space. This is just scratching the surface. But if the suggestion of a sofa sleeper sparked an aha moment for you, you're in luck! We are currently having the best clearance sale we've ever had - which includes a handful of sofa sleepers. The sale ends Monday May 6th so you should probably head to Samuel's to see what's still in stock! Hope to see you here.
