C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How To Create a Multipurpose Room In Your Home
When we moved into our Sanibel Island home in 2020, I saw it had a lot of small spaces. Many of the small spaces would be known to many people as not being utilitarian, but I always have a way of turning a small space into something fabulous. Just like my pantry stairwell creation in my previous home in Louisville, Kentucky, I knew something great could be made out of these small rooms.
My pups showing off my art supply cabinets
Any small space in your home can be converted into usable space with a little bit of organization and planning. Read on to learn how to create a multipurpose room in your home.
My well-stocked art supply storage cabinets
A multipurpose room can be anything from a workout room and home office combination to a bedroom library space. It’s generally a highly functional space used for multiple things. The small room that is off our main bedroom and sits under our 10X10’ cupola would have made a great closet, but there was already a walk-in closet in our bedroom. Then I thought it would make a great “getting ready room”, but I was able to design that space to be in our bedroom itself.
Being an artist, I always have a ton of art supplies, and I needed space to store them. This small room made perfect sense for that. I also needed to be able to create in this space. I love using a treadmill to walk daily if it’s too hot or too cold outside. I didn’t have room for one in other rooms of our home, so I wanted to incorporate it into this room too. Thus, the planning to turn this into an art studio/art supply storage/workout room began.
My trifold art supply table
In order to make this a highly functional multipurpose room, we first painted the room, which I would suggest to you. Fresh paint is like giving yourself a blank canvas upon which you can create. Then we started adding storage. We took measurements for some storage cabinets first.
My trifold art supply table and cart
I took a trip to Lowe’s and found a cabinet set on display that I liked the design of and was the perfect size. We put them together and I organized my art supplies, including my sewing machine, photography equipment, paint supplies and more.
My organized treadmill desk area
On top of the cabinets, there was some extra space that I deemed to be perfect for some basket storage. I added baskets I found on sale at Target and some wood crates. I added additional wood crate storage boxes that I already had under the staircase to store workout equipment.
The full look at my multipurpose room
Then we organized the workout area. I wrote up our DIY + a buying guide about how I put that together and you can read it by clicking here. If you want to add a workout space to your multipurpose room, always take lots of measurements before buying workout equipment. Also, make sure it will allow you to move the way you need to move. I only conduct treadmill walking and stationary exercises in this space, then move to our larger bedroom or outside when I need to move more freely.
The stairs leading to the 10’x10” cupola space
I needed a table to create on and found a tri-fold craft table on at Michael’s crafts. It fit under the staircase perfectly, has wheels for easy access and had storage too. After a while, I decided the area wasn’t quite lit up as much as I wanted, so I decided to add a wall sconce. Proper lighting can help brighten a multipurpose room or any room in your room, making it more inviting and suitable for reading, creating and more.
My bird decor in my multipurpose room
Because my multipurpose room is on the second floor of our pilings island home (which I am proud to say still stands despite some damage after being hit by the almost level 5 Hurricane Ian…read our story about that by clicking here), I decorated it and the cupola with many birds, as it definitely has a birds-eye view.
My raven sconce light
I found a white raven sconce light and added it to the room with some chalk-painted vintage wood bird wall art I already had.
The raven light lights up the cupola staircase
I added some flamingos with a neon light and a vintage flamingo print I found in a thrift store years before moving to Sanibel. I painted the frame with a light gray chalk paint to match the light gray natural grass runner.
I love the raven sconce
I replaced a broken chandelier light left by the previous owner with a small gold modern ceiling light that I used in our attic renovation of our previous home. They are simple ceiling lights that add style to any room.
My vintage flamingo art
Overall, my multipurpose room is small, but organized and highly functional. Any time you are wanting to make a room more functional in your home, decide on what you need it for first. Then add new flooring if needed, add fresh paint, measure and add organizational pieces, and décor. It’ll be your new favorite space in no time!
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C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.