As lifestyles shifted due to the coronavirus pandemic, our homes had to adapt to new activities and routines. Dining rooms and closets became home offices, kids’ bedrooms served as home-school spaces, and guest rooms were outfitted with workout equipment.
These multipurpose rooms were born out of necessity, but even as we look toward a post-pandemic future, homeowners are increasingly using “flex spaces” as a versatile solution for previously underused areas. “The trend has found staying power as people realize they can more efficiently use their spaces in sustainable ways,” says Cameron Johnson, founder and CEO of Nickson, an apartment-furnishing service.
Flex spaces are intended to help your home better accommodate your day-to-day life. Guest bedrooms, for example, can often be reimagined for more frequent and flexible use. “People are realizing that an entire room in their home dedicated to an occasional houseguest may not be the best use of space — a commodity that has become decidedly more precious over the past year,” says Los Angeles designer Stefani Stein. To maximize function within your home’s existing floor plan, follow these tips for creating a flex space that works with your lifestyle….