Over the past 12 months, life has changed significantly for all of us. Different ways of working and learning, the need to shield, how we keep in touch with friends and family, and three national lockdowns, have all meant we’ve had to spend considerably more time in our homes than we are used to. Not only that, but our homes have had to take on new functions, often with very little notice.
Few of us are blessed with ‘spare’ living space and it’s doubtful that many of us planned our homes in a way that would adequately see us through a global pandemic. However, if your home has turned from a haven of relaxation into a hectic hub of home-schooling and home working, you may wish to make a few changes to it now. In this blog, we look at ways in which clever bespoke furniture designs can alter your living space to make it work harder and accommodate your new way of life….
Best of Both
A home study would be a highly appreciated addition to most homes right now, but many of us need our spare rooms for visiting friends and family (hopefully in the near future!). With a little planning and some expertly designed fitted furniture, your room can easily function as both a bedroom and an effective WFH space. The joy of fitted furniture is that it is tailored exactly to your needs. A work-station can be integrated into a corner for home working and a fold-down bed can be easily incorporated into the room design, seamlessly tucked away until required, leaving your room to function as an office for the immediate future.
Dress With Less Stress
Who wouldn’t love their very own walk-in wardrobe or dressing room? Unfortunately, most of us simply don’t have the space but that doesn’t mean we don’t have an abundance of clothing and accessories which need to be stored away. Fitted bedroom furniture is the ideal solution for those with limited space. There are numerous storage solutions which can be incorporated into bespoke wardrobes, including tie racks, shoe stores and all manner of hanging options, so that items can be housed neatly and safely. You could also include a dressing area; a designated space for fixing hair or applying make-up could mean fewer arguments over the bathroom!
A Window of Opportunity
We all need a little space to sit and unwind, and at the moment such places can be few and far between in a home that is working as a 24-7 multi-functional hub. Hence a window seat is the perfect way of adding extra seating within a peaceful(ish) area of your home with the bonus of increasing your storage space too. Designed to fit in with your existing décor, a comfy window seat will provide a safe and convenient place for you to keep laptops, books and files which many of us often struggle to create space for.
A Working Library
If you already have a dedicated home study, that’s going to make your life easier. However, it doesn’t mean that a few alterations won’t make it work harder for you. If you’re an avid reader and like many of us, possess a vast number of books, adding a library area to your home study may save precious space in other parts of your home. By choosing fitted furniture to include shelving and cabinets with inbuilt lighting, you can display and easily access your favourite literature and reference books. Add a relaxing chair and a cosy throw and you’ll have your very own reading corner to enjoy during much needed screen breaks.
Work, Rest and Play
It’s highly likely that your home study is now used solely for work purposes. Whilst all members of your household will need to relax and unwind, we all do this in different ways, so finding a quiet and comfy spot in which to chill out will be more difficult than usual. By adding a cosy corner or snug to your home study, you will increase its functionality and give your family somewhere to enjoy in peace. By choosing fitted furniture (and maybe a bean bag), you could build in a TV cabinet and a space for games consoles so your home study can be used for work and for play.
At Hartleys we’ve got plenty of experience in making living spaces work hard whilst looking aesthetically pleasing. If you’d like to improve the functionality of your home by incorporating multi-purpose furniture, we’d love to help. You can see us online at www.hartleysbedrooms.co.uk or call us on 01756 700471.
