Convertible Spaces

A room that has only one function, like a formal dining room, is SO last year (insert eye-rolling sigh here).   Gone are the days of having multiple rooms that serve only one function for only a small portion of the time.  Separate rooms for formal dining and entertaining are being shunned for a great room concept where every activity takes place within sight of each other.

But what happens if you live in a home with formal spaces and you just don't have the money for an all-out remodel?  That's where convertible spaces come in.  Convertible spaces are rooms that can be converted to have more than one function.    They allow you to make use of spaces that are seldom used otherwise.

Formal Dining Rooms

Formal dining rooms are usually located close to the kitchen which makes them ideal spaces for kids activities.  Close enough for you to keep an eye on them yet out from under your feet.  With the addition of a few built-in cabinets, you can convert that space for a kid's domain.  The cabinets can contain board games, craft items,  and homework projects.  The items can stay out on the table because you don't have to set it for dinner every night.  And you can clean it all up and neatly store everything in the cabinets when you want to have your spouse's entire family over for Thanksgiving dinner.



And if you never have need of a formal dining space?  Then why not take the table out and put in a ping-pong table or a pool table.  Instant rec room.




Formal Living Room

When you bought your home with that beautiful formal living room, you probably envisioned having guests over and chatting on the sofa with a glass of wine in everyone's hands.  But the reality is that you never use the room and it currently serves as the storage spot for your grandma's stuffy old couch and some house plants.  These spaces are ideal places for libraries, music rooms, or even a home office if you can find a way to enclose the space with a door.  Heck, it can even serve all three purposes at once.




Guest Bedroom

You insisted on buying a home with a guest bedroom even though all your friends and family live close by.  This presents the perfect opportunity to put in a home office or a craft room.  Still have a friend or two who live out of town and come to visit once in a while?  A murphy bed converts any room into a guest room at the drop of a hat.




Get those creative juices flowing and use all your space to its fullest advantage.