Multiuse Room 2013 Decorating Ideas

With flexible furnishings and a little imagination, an extra bedroom shows how to finesse a floor plan, boost square footage, and create a versatile room that's as handsome as it is hardworking. 

By Allison Maze

Adaptable storage and handmade charm transform this spare room into a single do it all space for family and guests. A DIY daybed dressed with throw pillows converts to a bed when guests come knocking. Crate-style cabinets stocked with extra linens pull double duty as nightstands holding an alarm clock, a lamp, books, and decor.

Hairpin legs lend midcentury flair to the bed's custom built platform. The legs create the perfect amount of clearance to tuck away suitcases and extra office items under the bed.

Multiuse rooms are chameleons, able to modify function to fill different needs and often at the drop of a hat. Double duty furniture and a mix of crafty amenities fill this all in one space with purpose, style, and comfort.

To optimize multiuse spaces, focus on incorporating furniture that's both practical and versatile. Moveable pieces such as wheeled bins and carts encourage you to repurpose or simply roll into a corner when floor space is at a premium. Here, a clear acrylic end table wheels up as an extra work surface and neatly tucks away when not in use.

Plush, easy sew accent pillows made from wool felt dress up the DIY daybed and add a layer of comfort in keeping with the room's woodland theme.

A collection of message boards framed with white molding transforms a blank wall into a communication station for guests and family members. A handmade wood and concrete bench anchors the arrangement and provides space for display items. Woven baskets stow reading materials beneath the bench.

A stealthy charging station fashioned from a vintage toolbox keeps phones, music players, and cameras fully charged and cords tangle free. Within the box, a board cut with cord holes covers a power strip. Simply close the box's lid to cover electronic devices and showcase its patinaed charm.

Small, smart touches amplify function throughout the office area. Refinished vintage desk accessories and clever paper management tools make the work area pretty, practical, and productive. Adding a pullout shelf to the cabinet near the computer desk creates an easy to access spot for a printer and paper supplies when they’re needed.

The room’s standard 6 foot wide closet was converted into a hobby station that can be quickly masked behind canvas curtains. A pegboard, paper files, and ribbon dispensers put the wall to work.

Inside the closet, a metal pegboard provides sleek, efficient access to crafts tools and supplies. A wall mount ribbon holder makes gift wrapping a snap. Small buckets of colored pencils stay organized and accessible on a desktop turntable.

Keeping hobby supplies in check is easy with smart storage. Acrylic drawer dividers corral tiny crafts accessories, such as buttons, brads, and stickers. Clear jars identify precut ribbon by color. A container resembling a lunch box serves as a sewing kit with needles, scissors, and thread.