This is How You Make a Multipurpose Room Work
Four tips for creating a chic and stress-free bedroom/office combo from a 2015 Next Big Name.
It's a reality of small-space living that our rooms often serve more than one purpose. And anyone who's every folded laundry on their dining table or had a guest room turn into an unofficial storage facility can tell you it's not always glamorous. But some rooms do play well together if you do some creative and disciplined decorating. Here's a look at how one of our 2015 Next Big Names, Caleb Anderson, made an office/bedroom combo look crazy chic, and totally intentional.
1. Make Your Bed a Room Within a Room. Anderson created a faux four-poster by hanging streamlined curtains from a track installed on the ceiling. This soft wall creates physical separation between the two areas, and makes the bed feel like a self-contained escape.
2. Consider an Unconventional Desk. This space features a desk surface built into the footboard of the bed. The clever customization saves floor space and eliminates the need for extra furniture. For a less costly option, consider a sturdy floating shelf or slim sofa table as a stand in for a traditional desk.
3. Use Airy Silhouettes. For the office must-haves—a seat and task lamp—Anderson chose streamlined pieces that don't take up much in the way of visual space. An curvy acrylic desk chair is the ultimate in there-but-not furniture.
4. Make Your Sightline Beautiful From Bed. Opening your eyes to a computer monitor or a stack of paperwork is far from ideal. By placing a large piece of art opposite the bed and keeping the desk clutter free, Anderson ensured that work won't be the first thing you think of in the morning.
