The Drop Zone & Other Functional Spaces

We're living in the era of "The Great Room" when it comes to housing design.  Many families love the concept of all the functional areas of the home being open to each other so that family members can interact together in all aspects of living.  There are some drawbacks to this approach to design, however.  When everything is out in the open, that includes all the clutter of your life as well, such as keys, mail, cell phones charging, homework, etc.  This not-so-loved aspect of open living is causing many people to include a drop zone in their design, either in the planning stages of a new home or in creating a new area to handle all the clutter.

A drop zone incorporates storage nooks where home owners can stow keys, mail, and all the other items that so easily fill up the living space when occupants come home for the day.  It can be as elaborate as a multi-functional mudroom, or as simple as a small table with a drawer, a mail organizer, key hooks, and a charging station in your entryway.




Source:  designbuildmn.blogspot.com


Still, not everything can be left in the drop zone. Instead of allowing the great room to become a place for everything, designers are trying to put each thing in its place. They’re carving out small spaces such as homework nooks for kids, food prep stations in the pantry, and other spots that allow a delineated area for common household activities.  These “lifestyle spaces” help home owners break up larger great rooms into usable, well-defined areas.




Homework Nook
Source:  ridgewood.tipsfromtown.com



Multi-functional Pantry
Source:  home-officedesign.blogspot.com