Smart Design for Dual-Purpose Rooms

Good storage is key to keeping a hardworking double-duty room from becoming a chaotic mess. If square-footage is tight, stretch bookcases, cabinets and open shelving to the ceiling to super-size storage space without cutting into the room’s footprint. "Any time you can go floor-to-ceiling, you gain so much storage — and visually enlarge the space," Langdon says. Vertical storage also helps maximize floor space, so affix slender shelves or display cubes to walls instead of using floor-hogging furniture, and don’t overlook the storage potential above a door or window, which can be a perfect spot for a substantial shelf. If you’re lucky enough to have a nearby closet or pantry, invest in an organizing system that will eke every available inch out of those spaces, or spring for furniture that will house all of your needed supplies in style. Attractive baskets, bins, or cloth-covered boxes on shelves or in cubbies keep everyday supplies handy without adding visual clutter.