Smart Design for Dual-Purpose Rooms

"Look for furnishings that allow rooms to morph from one function to another," Sarah Susanka advises. Some selections do more than earn their keep: A coffee table that raises up to dining height. A lidded ottoman that pulls quadruple-duty as a coffee table, footrest, storage bench and extra seating. A shapely stool that’s a side table one minute and seating the next. A handsome secretary with a fold-down work surface for your laptop. A daybed or flip-down couch that functions as everyday seating and occasional sleep spot. Even a tricked-out Murphy bed disguised as bookshelves or a desk for everyday use. Portability is important, too: "Put furniture on casters so you can easily move it around — you need that mobility to make a multiuse space really function," Langdon says.