Our houses have always been more than just buildings, but especially over the 18 months we’ve had to work on making them truly feel like home. We’ve learned how to make the most of our space, transforming spare rooms, empty nooks and tucked away corners into multipurpose havens that make it easy to study, work, and play.
When it comes to making the most of your unloved space, the possibilities are endless. Using contrasting colour on the walls, furniture as room dividers or even rugs to differentiate each area can help you create the multipurpose space of your dreams in no time.
If you’re struggling with making room but don’t fancy packing up and moving elsewhere, we’ve compiled a list of some of the easiest ways to make the most of your home. Read on to find out how to roll a guest room, office space, and playroom into one.
Working from home
Parquet desk | @elliesdecorandmore
For when the days of working in the office seem few and far between, we tend to gravitate towards shared spaces, like the living room or kitchen. While sitting at the breakfast bar or lounging on the sofa seems to require minimal effort to set up, these spaces can be hugely distracting and aren’t always helpful for a working mind.
Don’t fret if you don’t have a whole room for an office in your home; it’s easier than you think to find office space you aren’t already making the most of. If your existing spare room only sees guests on annual events or those rare special occasions, consider splitting the space in two so it’s part bedroom and part office.
Leave sufficient room for a standing desk, or a desk with plenty of storage space underneath, so that your electronics and any other items that you need to work can be safely tucked away when you aren’t using them. Learn about how to set up your home office to boost your productivity. If there’s a double bed that takes up a lot of floor space then swap it out to a single, or find yourself a nifty sofa bed for ultimate versatility.
A playroom for little ones
Highgate bookcase | @somerford_manor
Anyone with kids knows how much space they need to do their thing. That said, if the mountain of scattered toys piling up on the floor is starting to impact your productivity, using another room as a substitute playroom might be a great way of using the space.
If you still want the room to function as a guest room as well as a playroom, incorporate hard-wearing and stylish drawers for clothes, a blanket box for spare room bedding, then add in a bookcase or cubby storage to be used on those days when the train tracks and teddy bears need putting away.
Same goes for the office space. If you have important documents or electronics you want tucked away from little hands, try a lockable storage unit or keep extra boxes on high shelves. Keep things colourful and make soft and pretty furnishings work for practical use.
Dressing room
Reclaim a cluttered corner of your bedroom and transform it into a dreamy dressing room. Invest in a stylish and comfortable chair to go with a statement dressing table to create a beautiful focal point of your room.
Unloved alcoves or awkward spaces around a fireplace are great for small free-standing wardrobes or full length mirrors, and can add to that luxurious dressing room feel. Alternatively, if you don’t have space for a dressing table, utilise your bedside table or even a small chest of drawers for your make-up station. Add a cosmetics stand, jewellery box and great light, and anything goes.
Reading room
Copenhagen chest of drawers | @renovating_wynd_house
For those of us who love to read, a space to display all your favourite books is absolutely vital to making a house feel like a home. Transforming an unloved corner into a cosy reading nook might be the perfect way to make that dream a reality.
Add a touch of ambience with a statement floor lamp and a stylish but sturdy bookcase for showing off the best of your covers. If your corner is too small to accommodate a bookcase, try installing shelves above a loveseat, armchair or even a bean bag for easy access to new reads without taking up too much room.
Home cinema and entertainment room
Parquet TV unit | @newcountryhome
If your living room has turned into a battlefield for who gets which remote, it might be time to turn an existing room into an alternative space where you can watch your favourite programme without interrupting someone else’s plans.
Turning an office space or playroom into a home cinema is easier than you think. Add a comfy corner sofa or space-saving sofa bed and shine a screen projector onto an empty wall for the big screen experience.
If you have a multipurpose room that you want to share, make sure you tag us in your Instagram photos using #OakFurnitureland.
