Double Duty Rooms

Kaila Sawlor-Dion, March 27, 2018 | Posted in Plan; Tagged Design Considerations

Before you build, consider what life will look like in your new home. Do you plan on entertaining often or hosting out-of-town visitors? Do you have a large family that requires kids to share bedrooms or will you need a playroom to keep toys from taking over your house?

Talk to your builder about the flexibility of your home design to ensure it will be able to accommodate your needs and lifestyle. In many cases, rooms can be designed to do double or even triple duty – that is, to serve more than one purpose.

Dining Room/Office

If formal dinners aren’t your usual thing, you might save your dining room for big family get-togethers and use the space in another way on a day-to-day basis.

Built-in shelving works great in this scenario – from a small section of shelves to a full wall of shelving, cupboards and drawers, your builder can incorporate extra space to hide away those files and office supplies you don’t want littering the area when hosting meals.

Guest Room/Playroom/Office

Need a room that does it all? Built-in shelving or a large, easily accessible closet can house toys and bedding, while a modern Murphy bed can provide a sleeping area for the occasional visitor. A separate nook can be turned into a reading or homework area for your littles, and act as office space for you when you have work to be done.

Shared Bedrooms

It’s nice for kids to have their own designated space, even when sharing a bedroom with a sibling. Your builder can work with a layout that’s ideal for shared quarters, whether it’s ensuring there’s enough space for two beds, building a separate sleeping or play space for each child, adding a second closet to a bedroom or developing a large closet with plenty of shelving and storage space to accommodate two kids.

Basement Living Quarters

Maybe you have teens craving some privacy from younger siblings, or envision a space that can bring in extra income from renters. A custom home builder can develop your basement as much or as little as you’d like, from installing egress windows for safety in the bedrooms to building a second kitchen and laundry area, or even a separate basement entrance.

You want a home that will meet all your needs for years to come, so be sure to discuss flexible design options with your builder. Together, you can plan for a home that adapts effortlessly to your family and lifestyle.   

Kaila Sawlor-Dion

Kaila is the Marketing Manager of Sawlor Built Homes. She continuously updates our profile on Facebook, Instagram, Houzz, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest, and is focused on all marketing initiatives.

A third generation family member of Sawlor Built Homes, Kaila joined the company in 2011. She is an active member of the Canadian Home Builder's Association - Nova Scotia Marketing Committee and she continues to update her education and training, intent on becoming an industry leader in new home marketing.