Smart Design for Dual-Purpose Rooms

Does your dining room sit dark and empty most nights? Do you have a formal living room that people rarely set foot in, preferring instead the casual coziness of the family room? "The rooms we rarely use are prime real estate, great for a home office or other uses," Susanka says. Try this exercise: Write down all the rooms in your home, then estimate how often you use them for their intended purpose. The room that gets the least love in its current incarnation is a leading candidate for a double-duty makeover.