Embracing Multifunctional Furniture? We investigate options that will help maximise space and reduce clutter!
Prebuilt spaces and apartments are getting smaller. It is a hard pill a lot of renters have had to swallow when looking for new homes, and a reality that first-time renters have had to adjust to in large cities. Gone are the days when sprawling rooms and large bathrooms which fitted tubs made up rental homes. Today bedrooms have just about enough space to fit a bed and a wardrobe comfortably, kitchens provide minimal counter and storage space and living rooms are tiny enough to just fit a sofa and a TV unit, with very little room for a dining setup.
While moving to smaller homes means finding a way to pare down your belongings or fit them creatively in the space, moving to your own home for the first time will mean having to invest in pieces of furniture and homeware, both big and small. In both these occasions, to minimise clutter and maximise space, may we interest you in multifunctional furniture?
Multifunctional furniture boasts of modern design that is thought through and crafted with only one goal in mind – to maximise the square footage a single piece of furniture occupies, while reducing the number of total pieces of furniture in a room. The great thing about multifunctional furniture is that it can be customised depending to the requirements of each home. While previously multifunctional furniture was largely customised and therefore expensive, today most furniture retailers in the world are providing affordable options that can be easily incorporated into your space. Here are some pieces that we love for their innovative concepts and their many uses…
Sofa beds
No matter how big your home is, we recommend opting for a sofa bed that comes in very handy when you have visitors from out of town. There are several options when it comes to sofas working as beds. There are futons with an upright back that collapses to lay flat as a bed. There are pull-out couches, and sofas with mattresses and bed frames stored under them. There are day beds that double as sleeping mattresses. And sectionals which pull out with cushions folding over to create enough sleeping space for two.
Beds with storage
Sure, we all used to place luggage and boxes filled with linens under beds, but now, beds come with innovative storage solutions that truly serve many purposes. There are beds with bookcases for headboards that can house all your favourite reads. And ones which come with drawers underneath to store everything from clothing and linens to tools and cleaning supplies. Beds which lift off to reveal a large storage space underneath are great for storing luggage and larger items. If you have kids who love having friends over for slumber parties, or you like hosting relatives over weekends, a trundle beds with a roll-out bed on casters is the way to go.
Bookshelf room separators
While bookshelves may not be designed with this purpose in mind, a functional use of a bookshelf is to separate a room with it. A trick that is especially sought after in studio apartments, tall bookcases are used to cordon off the sleeping area to provide for more privacy while also keeping the layout open and airy and creating additional storage for books, trinkets and other items.
Ottomans and storage benches
Pouffes, ottomans and benches are great options for additional seating when you have people over, but in order to maximise even the small surface area these pieces occupy, it’s great to have underneath storage options within them. Extra pillows, throw blankets and even shoes meant for special occasions can be stored in them.
Entertaining dining table
Multifunctional furniture doesn’t have to only be practical; there could also be a recreational function woven in there. And these dining tables cum snooker/pool tables are an example of just that. Eliminating the need for space to hold a bulky snooker set, these tables are sleek, great for hosting family luncheons and dinner parties, followed by a fun session of pool.
Wall-mounted tables
Flat surfaces are a must in a home, whether they are needed for dining or working, homework corners for kids or just a place for you to attend to any paperwork. A wonderful trick to free up floor space, while still catering to all these needs is installing a fold-out one on a wall. This way you can fit a table or desk into a space that cannot house one full-time, maybe in a hallway or the corner of a room, and you can keep the room looking spacious and less cluttered.