In the past, living rooms have mostly been used as lounging and socialising areas for homeowners and their guests. Nowadays, however, people have come to embrace the flexibility and potential of the space for other purposes.
Depending on your needs and lifestyle, your living room can double as an office, a guest bedroom, a play area, and many more. If you want to make the most out of your living room space for multiple functions, here are some tips from DROOL Art that you can keep in mind during the designing process:
1) Plan Your Space
The first step towards designing your living room is to figure out what you want to use it for. A solid plan will help you as you finalise the room’s colour palette, furniture, and decorations. Do you want to use the room as both a lounging space and office space? Or would you rather use it as a guest bedroom for any visitors? Once you’ve figured out your intended purposes for the room, you can start planning the layout and design.
2) Add Versatile Decor
Decoration always adds a bit of life and personality to any home, but some decor pieces work better for certain rooms than others. It’s best to add decoration that can easily adapt to any function the room is currently being used for, so that there is a sense of cohesion at all times.
Art prints are a versatile option if you want to decorate your walls. Fitted out with high-quality frames, they’ll be a perfect addition to any living room and can still blend in well if you’re using the space as an office or as a play area for kids. You can opt for posters with a more neutral palette so that they work with any style, or ones with a lot of colour and personality to show off your adventurous side.
3) Create Zones
Next, establish small zones in your living room for each function you intend to use it for. The goal is to make the most out of the space without having too much overlap. You can start by focusing on the biggest zone first, then creating smaller zones around it.
For example, the centre of your living room could have a TV set, coffee table, and seating for the family and guests to lounge in. Near the window, you can allot just enough space to fit in a desk, table, and shelves—perfect for a reading nook or as a tiny office area. Then, add decorations to separate the areas even further, such as rugs or room dividers.
4) Use Movable and Transforming Furniture
Multifunctional furniture is a common sight nowadays, especially as multi-purpose rooms have risen in popularity. Consider looking for furniture that can transform based on how you want to use it. A sofa bed, for example, works as comfortable seating for you and your guests. Then, if someone needs to stay over for the night, you can turn it into a bed and transform the living room into a temporary guest room.
5) Maximise Storage
A multi-purpose room will have a lot of things to accommodate each of its purposes, and proper storage is needed to keep the entire room tidy and organised. Tall bookshelves will keep the area looking neat while also providing ample space for storing books, board games, video games, toys, or other things meant for each function of the living room. Many furniture options also double as storage units, such as ottoman stools or sofas with storage drawers.
6) Incorporate an Adaptable Colour Palette
Neutral colours, such as white, beige, grey, or black, are perfect for multi-purpose rooms thanks to their versatility. A brighter and more colourful scheme may be suitable for a children’s play area, but can be distracting if said area also doubles as a home office. Try to stick to an adaptable palette that’s easy to work with and that can tie the entire room together without clashing against any of its functions.
7) Use Layered Lighting
Lighting can do wonders for setting the mood of a room. You can utilise this effect in your living room by using certain lighting effects for certain functions. Bright overhead lights are great for play areas, while smaller lights like lamps are ideal additions for an office desk. Ambient, adjustable lighting can be your go-to option for movie nights, allowing you to set the tone for whatever you and your housemates plan on watching.
Designing a Living Room That Suits All of Your Needs
To create a multifunctional living room, it’s important to carefully consider each element of its interior design and how, together, they can contribute towards the area’s different purposes. Your choice in furniture, layout, colour, storage, lighting, and decor will all go hand-in-hand to create an area that’s both pleasant to stay in and conducive to productivity when you need it to be.
Whether you need a space for lounging with loved ones, working at home, or playing with the kids, your living room can become a true all-in-one hub that maximises every inch of space. For pieces to accentuate the desired mood and purposes of your living room, shop now at DROOL!
