English Living
Interiors
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE VERSATILE
Interior designers reveal how to transform your abode though simply switching up your spaces
Our personal spaces are becoming more valuable than ever. With the nation working from home more often, and spending more time in the house to keep costs low, our abodes have become our meeting rooms, our social spaces, and a place to host our hobbies and interests.
It’s clear households need their spaces to work harder, whilst still remaining stylish and comfortable. In fact, homeowners up and down the country have been desperately searching for ways to make their homes multi-functional – with Google searches for ‘interior design home review’ shooting up a staggering 1,900% in the past 30 days alone. So, how can you achieve expert results, without hiring an actual expert?
Don’t fret – the concept of this seems a lot more strenuous than it actually is. Swoon, the UK’s leading online design-led furniture brand, is here to help. Believe it or not, there is a set list of interior layout rules that you can follow, which will help transform any room into a better version of itself. Swoon’s interior professionals reveal all…
Swoon
Step one – work those windows
When it comes to initially designing a room, the placement of windows and doors has already been decided for you. This therefore means that you need to work around them, and consider how they will effect the design of your space.
Windows are generally a positive addition to any space, as they allow organic lighting, fresh air, and a sense of nature into your room. This is why it is great to place any desks, social seating, or beds near to your window. You want to be able to see the blue sky whilst you are completing your daily work tasks, or watch the stars at night whilst you rest your head. That said, always ensure you have a shielding method, such as curtains or blinds, for those times where you could really do without the beaming sunshine reflecting off your laptop screen. We’ve all been there.
Utilise the space underneath and around your windows for personal storage. If you are using the room as a home office, why not create a bookcase using ladder shelving? If it is a guest bedroom, add floating shelves to display extra towels, bedding, and mini-toiletries. Your visitors will be thrilled.
Doors are slightly different to windows, as they are often a source of external distraction. Whether it’s your partner deciding to vacuum the landing whilst you’re on an important call, or your kids deciding to let themselves in during a high-intensity home workout – these unwelcome interruptions can create calamity where there should be calm. Consider facing your furniture away from your door to dampen these distractions.
Step two – multi-functional madness
To make your space work hard, your furniture needs to work harder. A living room can effortlessly become a yoga studio with the right furniture – you just need to select multi-functional pieces that suit your needs.
A dining table can easily become a work-from-home desk - all you need is a comfortable chair, under table storage for your stationery and paperwork, and a great background to impress your co-workers. Consider implementing a feature wall behind your chosen ‘office’ seat – a simple swipe of paint and a chic art print truly makes all the difference. Don’t forget to implement somewhere to store your equipment, and always remember to consider where the plugs are in your room and how they are placed in relation to your table positioning. Nobody wants a drained laptop mid-way through the working day.
Another great example of multi-functional furnishings is the humble sofa bed. Whether you are expecting overnight guests, planning an indulgent movie night alone, or are simply in need of additional soiree seating, placing a sofa bed in your living room can help to cater to a multitude of situations. Plus, by keeping your guests downstairs, any additional bedrooms can be utilised to fulfil your own hobbies and interests. Always remember to keep bed linens stored close-by for the smoothest experience – bonus style points if you choose ones that match your living room’s aesthetic.
Step three – utilise EVERY inch
We all have that one room in our home that has an awkwardly shaped wall, or an inconvenient feature such as a fuse box or radiator. As annoying as they are, you can actually utilise these elements to your advantage.
Weirdly shaped angles can soon become cosy corners with the right amount of atmosphere. Think twinkly lights, candles, super soft throws, and a singular love seat where you can sit back and unwind. If relaxing isn’t your thing, why not dedicate your awkward corner to your unusual hobby? A sideboard or chest of drawers is the ideal hideaway to store your yarn and needles, or your acrylic paints and easel. Dedicating a space to your hobby will not only encourage you to participate in it more often, but it will also help to contain it within its own space, ensuring the rest of your home remains clutter free.
Functional aspects such as radiators can seem tricky to navigate, however they are a great base to build something creative into. If you have a radiator in your hallway for example, why not build a feature display by adding a slimline desk above the fitting, and adorning it with chic black and white family photographs, a letter stand, and a key hook element? The perfect place to host shopping lists, mail, car keys, and lanyards – a hallway storage feature is an easily installed, yet highly functional addition to your home.
So, with three top tips on how to make the most of your space, how will you be adapting your rooms to work harder in the future? Whether you choose to add a multi-functional furniture piece to save on space, or re-arrange your home office to increase productivity and reduce distractions, these handy steps will have you transforming your abode in no time.
To find out more about Swoon and its latest editions, please click here.
