Multi-Purpose Rooms

Nowadays, whether it’s by choice or necessity, a big trend we’re seeing in American homes is multi-purpose rooms. They can function as a guest bedroom, office, reading room or even a playroom for the kids. So, the question I get asked often is, “how can I make my room serve different functions, yet have one cohesive design?”

The answer is to separate the room by areas for different tasks. For example, in the makeover featured in the photos, I created a sitting room on one side and a home office on the other. To give the two spaces visual separation, while allowing them to flow into each other, I used a glass panel from a sliding door that the homeowner had lying around and framed it with 2x4 pieces of wood. The concept was to create a wall partition that also functioned as an art installation by using vinyl lettering on the surface to display a poem the husband had written to his wife. Super romantic and meaningful!

Another option to divide the room is to place two bookcases—one on opposite sides of the walls (same position as the glass divider you see in the photos)—while leaving a center opening into both spaces. The trick here is to paint the back of the bookcase the same color as the walls and even continue the baseboards around the bottom of the bookcases giving it a custom built-in look. Use one side to display your books and collectibles and on the “back side” hang artwork like a regular wall.  

Finally, make sure you have a consistent color scheme in both areas. Tie in the color with the accessories such as toss pillows, curtains, or area rugs.  If you’re creating a guest bedroom on one side, make sure you have a sleeper sofa, since a regular bed occupies too much space when not in use; and keep things tidy and organized by having lots of areas for storage thru baskets, bins and even ottoman cubes, some of which can even function as end tables and/or coffee tables.  Double-duty furniture!