{"id":5822,"date":"2021-05-31T00:41:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T07:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/?p=5822"},"modified":"2021-07-26T04:58:20","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T11:58:20","slug":"multi-purpose-homes-how-to-create-a-living-space-that-serves-as-an-office-playground-gym-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/multi-purpose-homes-how-to-create-a-living-space-that-serves-as-an-office-playground-gym-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Multi-purpose Homes: How To Create A Living Space That Serves As An Office, Playground, Gym and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

The way we use our homes and the roles that a house must fulfill change over time, as society itself changes. Those changes are usually subtle, and it takes plenty of time until new trends become generalized. For example, we now live in much larger houses<\/a> than in the past, but this shift in housing size happened over decades \u2013 in 2019, the median size of a newly built home was over 2,300 square feet, according to the US Census<\/a>, almost 1,000 square feet more than the median home in 1973.<\/p>\n

The past year or so brought a fundamental and very rapid change in how we use our homes \u2013 a change that\u2019s probably here to stay, at least partially. Many of us not only ended up working from home<\/a>, but also homeschooling and entertaining our children, not to mention also exercising at home. As the pandemic is being brought under control, we already returned to some of the old normal \u2013 kids are back in schools and going to the gym is possible throughout most of the country. However, with working remotely<\/a> becoming a more permanent option, some of the new roles our homes must fulfill will stay too.<\/p>\n

All in all, going forward, our homes will have to answer to a wide variety of needs, so here\u2019s how to make sure your home is up to the task<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Define your and your family\u2019s current and future needs<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Think about your family\u2019s particular circumstances \u2013 how many people are working from home or might do so in the future, how do you prefer to exercise, how and where your kids prefer to play, and how their needs will change in the future as they\u2019re getting older. Based on such factors, you can come up with a home reorganizing plan that suits everyone\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Assuming two (or more) adults are working from home in your household, consider turning one larger room into a home office to be used by everyone, instead of trying to fit multiple working spaces in various corners of your house. It\u2019s less isolating and more comfortable for those working from home to be in a larger space with some \u201ccoworkers\u201d \u2013 in this case, other family members. In case of phone calls or video calls, the person who has to take them can go to a different room \u2013 or you could invest in some good quality, noise-canceling headphones.<\/p>\n

\"\"Think about your sport-related preferences and opportunities. For example, if you live in a southern state where you can workout outdoors throughout the entire year, you can set up an exercise area in your backyard, thus saving space inside the home. Or maybe exercising at home is simply not up your alley \u2013 in this case, spending money on a home gym in the hope that it will stimulate you to work out is probably not the best idea. Instead, find alternative ways of being physically active with your family \u2013 take time during weekends to go hiking or biking, if these are the kinds of activities you prefer.<\/p>\n

If you plan to set up a playroom at home, make sure your kids will be able to use it for years to come. Child-size furniture looks really cute, but children outgrow it in a few years. Instead of small and expensive kids\u2019 armchairs, for example, you could get some bean-bag chairs that can be used by children, teenagers and even adults. Buy height adjustable furniture (desks, tables, chairs) as much as possible, so you don\u2019t have to get new items every couple of years. Stay away from very specific d\u00e9cor \u2013 children grow out of their passions, so it\u2019s not a good idea to have a room that\u2019s all cars, trains or dinosaurs, from wallpaper to carpet to furniture. In a year or so, you\u2019ll end up redoing it, so keep the major elements of the playroom neutral, and celebrate your kids\u2019 passions through smaller items \u2013 for example, easy to remove wall or furniture stickers, pillows, storage baskets and so on.<\/p>\n

The main point is to come up with a home design that works for the entire family, not only now but for years to come.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>Reassign and reorganize to create more space at home<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

As the home becomes a hub for different types of activities, it\u2019s important to carve out space for these new functions. Reassigning new roles to different spaces, plus decluttering and reorganizing your entire home will help you accomplish your goal.<\/p>\n

Analyze how much space you have, and how you are using it. If, for example, you have a formal dining room, but you\u2019re rarely eating in there, maybe you should turn it into a home office. Spaces such as the basement or the attic can also be remodeled and turned into very comfortable home offices, gyms, playrooms and so on.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Decluttering and reorganizing<\/strong><\/a> your home are other ways to create more space at home. Decluttering starts with separating the things you\u2019re actually using from the ones that simply take up space and collect dust. Take time and go through your closets with a critical eye. Donate or throw away the pieces of clothing that no longer fit and the ones you simply don\u2019t like anymore. Does your home have junk drawers<\/a>? Take a couple of hours to go through them and separate the junk from the stuff that you need.<\/p>\n

Here are a few rules of thumb that will make decluttering easier:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n