Smart Design for Dual-Purpose Rooms

If you opt not to install physical barriers, you can still demarcate discrete zones in a room with a few simple tricks: Use rugs to define and unite different areas — anchoring a seating arrangement with a large rug and setting off an adjoining dining area with a smaller one. "You can also delineate space with paint — an accent wall defines a dining or work area within a larger room," Langdon says. Texture serves a similar purpose. You might paint the wall behind your living-room work zone an energizing lime green, for instance, and keep furnishings and other surfaces smooth and glossy. In the "living" area, use a more restful wall tone and cushier textures to invite relaxation and to indicate a subtle shift in function.