Is multi-functional furniture right for me?

[Sajib Molla]

Multifunctional furniture

A multifunctional furniture is a furniture with several functions combined. The functions combined may vary, but a common variant is to incorporate an extra .Multi-functional or multi-purpose furniture are pieces that serve more than one function in the home. These pieces accommodate different needs and variables, allowing for more flexibility in your space.

The desire for multi-use furniture has also increased as we've changed the way we're building homes. Newer builds are moving away from closed-off rooms that only have a singular purpose, like a study or a formal dining room. Because of the popularity of open concept layouts, rooms are becoming more multifunctional, so furniture has naturally followed suit.

Fewer rooms are static nowadays - they're dynamic, ready to facilitate different events and accommodate extra company. Look at living rooms, for instance. Those can be family rooms, TV rooms, entertainment areas, formal sitting rooms – all depending on the occasion and who's using the space.

Multifunctional furniture allows us to change the layout of a room at a moment's notice. By changing how we use or position the furniture, we can accommodate more people or give ourselves more space in our homes. 

Multi-functional furniture can be a little less obvious, too. It can serve a singular function but allow for a lot of flexibility in your room – like a swivel chair. A swivel chair's sole purpose is for sitting, but the swivel allows you to easily change positions and face different focal points in a room.

The benefits of multi-functional furniture:
Cost-effective
Multi-purpose furniture offers a more cost-effective route because you're basically getting two (or more) pieces of furniture for the price of one. For example, you could use an oversized storage ottoman as a coffee table instead of buying a coffee table, an ottoman, and a separate piece for storage. 

You're getting more bang for your buck because that one piece of furniture is giving you three different options – and you can even use it for all three functions at the same time! Now that's multifunction at its finest. 

It should be noted, though, that multi-use furniture will likely cost more than if you bought one piece that served a singular purpose. So, that oversized storage ottoman will generally cost more than a regular ottoman, but it would still be less expensive than buying a coffee table, storage piece, and an ottoman.
Maximizes space
A big reason why a lot of people opt for multi-use furniture is that they live in a smaller space, and they've found the less stuff they have, the better! When you only need to buy one item instead of a few, that one piece of furniture will take up less room.

This also means that you can truly make the most out of the space you have – more often. For instance, instead of having a designated guest room that only gets used a few times a year, you can furnish it with multi-purpose pieces - like a sleeper sofa – so you can lounge in that room when you don't have company.  

As Teresa says, "Your needs are met on more levels," which allows you to get more out of the space you have.
Allows for flexibility
Again, with the rise in popularity of open concept layouts, our homes have become more flexible – some of us even have literal "flex rooms." So, a secondary bedroom may be more of an office/guest room or workout studio/sewing room.

Multi-use furniture can also give you that security of knowing you can accommodate whoever comes into your home. If you'd like extra seating for dinner – perfect, you have an expandable table. If you need an extra bed – good thing you have a sleeper sofa in your office.
Less clutter
With multi-use furniture, there's generally less clutter because you simply have less furniture and accessories getting in your way.

It's a "less is more," or minimalist, approach to design.

And the very concept of minimalism is based on every item in your home serving a purpose. Everything is there for a practical reason – space, time, and money is not wasted on furniture that doesn't get used very often.

Minimalism is quite a popular trend at the moment and if you think that's a style you'd like to explore, read The Top Home Design Trends for 2022.
Is multi-functional furniture right for me?

Well, to sum it all up, multi-functional furniture may not be the best choice for you if:

You don't want to compromise on quality

You have a lot of space in your home

The rooms in your home serve very distinct purposes

And it's a great option if:

You want to save space

You need flexibility from your furniture

You prefer a minimalist design

And, speaking of saving space, another situation where multi-purpose furniture would come in handy is if you're downsizing your home. When you downsize, you'll likely have to do away with quite a few pieces and, in turn, ask a lot more out of the furniture you're keeping. 

For more guidance on that, check out Downsizing: 6 Tips for Finding Out What Furniture to Take to Your Smaller Home.

And if you're ready to get the most out of your furniture, schedule a visit to McElheran's! Our Design Guides would love to point you in a direction that will make the most sense for your home and satisfy the requirements of your space