Smart Design for Dual-Purpose Rooms

"Think about those awkward, underutilized little spaces in your home — see if there’s a wasted corner, pass-through, nook, or niche that you can turn into something functional," suggests Libby Langdon, a New York City interior designer and expert commentator on Small Space, Big Style. Add a slim table or wall-mounted countertop to that odd little space off the living room or bedroom, for instance, then stash a set of roll-away drawers underneath for files, mount a few shelves above for books and other supplies, and voila – instant office nook. Likewise, consider giving purpose to the spaces beneath eaves or open stairwells, between window bays, along hallways, or even inside closets. Nancy Old of Springfield, Tenn., did just that when she tucked a home office and a crafting and sewing station under the eaves in her family room, simply by mounting twin countertops under the low-hanging ceilings on each side of the room. "Suddenly, you’ve created whole new ‘rooms’ where there were none," Langdon says.