How to Adapt Your Spaces Rather than Simply Maximize Them
By: Megan Williams
Picture this: You have a beautiful guest room in your home. It has plush bedding, ample natural light from two second story windows, enough closet space for your guests to tuck in for a while should they choose to extend their stay. You’ve meticulously crafted this room to be a home-away-from-home for your friends and family. It’s perfect.
But then: Your job shifts to remote work (a reality many of us were familiar with just five years ago). You don’t have a quiet office space in your home. The living room won’t do, because that’s also your toddler’s playroom; the dining room chairs will cause sciatica on your otherwise healthy back and limbs if you sit in them for too long; and your primary bedroom is already packed to the gills. You peer into your spacious guest bedroom. You take in its spaciousness, its crisp linens, its intentional lack of modern technology and shudder: Do I really have to turn this into an office?
All is not lost and, as it turns out, sometimes you can have the best of both worlds.
More families are spending time at home. With 14% of U.S. workers—about 22 million people—now working remotely (Pew Research Center), many households are rethinking how to make their spaces work for both personal and professional life.
The Guest Room/Office Combo
“We like to opt for pieces that are flexible, such as furniture that can be reconfigured—think murphy bed, sofa bed, daybed, chairs that turn into twin beds, and so on,” explained Ashley Hilbish, co-owner and principal designer for Greer Design Co. “If you’re customizing a desk, have your cabinet maker work in drawers to hide printers and keyboards, and consider built-in shelving for visual interest and for storage space for your pesky paperwork that won’t pique your guests’ interest when they’re staying.”
Hilbish also suggests investing in side tables that can double as desks, if space is a concern, or opting for slim office chairs that are both beautiful and functional.
“We also like to go for an overall neutral color scheme that offers pops of color to create a serene space for your guests but an inspiring space for work,” she added.
The Living Room/Playroom Dynamic Duo
“First and foremost, it’s key to invest in lifestyle fabrics,” advised Hilbish, whose company focuses on combining the team’s expertise in window coverings, styling, and soft goods with comprehensive design services. “Those are the fabrics that offer stain resistant factors either naturally or due to a coating that has been applied. Those could look like performance velvets, leathers, or items with washable slipcovers. Lifestyle fabrics are available in almost every collection of furniture, without having to pay a huge, upgraded fee.”
Hilbish advises, when in doubt, ask for a sample and give it a “red popsicle test” to determine if it’s up to the challenge of rigorous use from rambunctious kids.
“Melt a popsicle in a Tupperware, submerge the fabric sample, and see how easy it is to wash off,” she suggested.
Depending on the age of your children, it’s also important to consider furniture with soft or rounded edges to help reduce the number of accidents.
But what to do with all the toys?
“To help keep your spaces aesthetically pleasing, we suggest plenty of storage for toys such as textured baskets or bins with lids, and built-ins with cabinets that are low enough for easy access,” she said. “Washable rugs also offer a sense of convenience for parents in a space where there will be food and drink—on the other end, a high-quality run will clean beautifully when done professionally and is designed to stand the test of time.”
Hilbish also advises against washable rugs over 5’ x 7’, as they tend to be frustrating to put in the wash and dry.
Photo Courtesy Greer Design Co.
Creating Defined Zones in an Open-Concept Space
If you have an open flow to your home, with your kitchen, dining area, and living spaces all intertwining with one another, there is still plenty of opportunity to create functional and flexible spaces that will adapt with your lifestyle needs.
First and foremost, arrange your furniture to create distinct areas, or “rooms” within your larger space.
“One mistake we see often is the phenomenon of ‘perimeter people’ where everything is pushed against the wall,” Hilbish said. “Pulling your furniture off to float and grounding it with a rug in an open concept is key! We never suggest having any furniture touch the wall, it should always have some breathing room of at least a couple of inches.”
When it comes to “grounding” furniture with a rug, Hilbish and her team advise a minimum of an 8’ x 10’ rug for a standard 7’ or 8’ sofa.
“Lighting can play another key element in defining areas and we suggest mixing and matching the varieties to highlight specific zones—pendants, chandeliers, scones, floor and table lamps, and so on. We’re personally not ‘big light people’ and you can always find our design projects with layered lighting,” she said. “You can even use window coverings to help make one space feel more or less dressy than the next, such as adding draperies in the dining area and shades in the living room for a nice mix and match.”
With a little creativity, your home can evolve with your lifestyle—offering function, flexibility, and a design you love.
