While an piece of furniture might have a primary purpose, it doesn’t mean it’s destined for one room and one room only. Getting creative with your furniture arrangements and how you use them gives your spaces multiple purposes and makes your investment in these pieces even more worthwhile.
We spoke with three designers who told us all about their go-to multifunctional furniture pieces; you’ll have plenty of ideas to try in your own living space that make the most of the furniture you buy.
Upholstered Benches
Upholstered benches have so much life to give to any room, whether it’s a living room, bedroom, or entryway.
“The piece that moves around most in my home is a humble little upholstered bench,” says furniture expert Victoria Lott. “Not only does it have a little extra storage in the seat, it mainly lives at the end of my bed—a great place on which to perch when putting on shoes, and I won’t lie—it often has a pile of clothes on it.”
Its uses don’t end there, however. Lott also notes that these benches work wonders as extra seats for dinner parties or for movie nights. They’re also handy for entryways or if you need an extra step up for reaching cabinets, cupboards, or high-up shelves in closets.
Designer Tyka Pryde Edwards adds that you can also place a bench at the end of a bed as an accent or use a larger version with a tray on top to serve as a coffee table.
Accent Chairs
Don’t let the “accent” in “accent chair” fool you into thinking this style of seating is only good for adding flair to a room. Edwards notes that they’re one of the most versatile furniture pieces around.
“It’s functional art that can live in a living room as a statement seat, in a bedroom as a dressing chair, in an entryway to create a moment of form and texture, or even in a bathroom next to a soaking tub for a touch of luxury,” says Edwards.
These chairs can also be added at the ends of dining room tables if you need more seats or you can pop one inside a nook or hallway for more functionality.
Credenza
“Credenzas can function as a TV console, dining room buffet, a storage piece in a bedroom, or storage in a library/sitting room,” says designer Sarah Hart. “This kind of piece is so versatile. Bonus points if it’s vintage—then it will truly stand the test of time!”
She adds that she’d always recommend investing money in a piece like this, opting for a larger size for versatility alone (she says six to seven feet wide is great for most spaces).
You can also incorporate a credenza as storage space for your library or reading nooks, or use it as a TV console in media rooms or guest bedrooms. Larger entryways and dining rooms are also suitable spaces for credenzas and similar larger units; they give you ample tabletop surface area and have plenty of storage inside.
Vintage Dining Chairs and Tables
As a self-proclaimed chair collector, Hart emphasizes just how much vintage chairs can offer to spaces all around your home, not just the dining room.
“They can be used as an office chair, accent seating, dining seating, and additional seating if you have guests—much better and much more elevated than folding chairs,” she says.
On top of their functional uses, a unique chair you spot in a vintage shop can also easily become a statement piece in your home, livening up a bare corner or serving as a little extra bit of storage for your bedroom. Their dining table counterparts are also furniture chameleons.
“A vintage dining table can stand the test of time and be used as an actual dining table, sit in the center of a kitchen as a working island-meets-table, or function as a desk in an office,” she says.
Side Tables and Stools
Two other furniture items you’ll get endless possibilities from are a side table and its cousin, the stool. You can move these around to just about any room in your home and get use out of them, whether it’s to hold decorative objects or store items.
“A marble or wood pedestal can hold a drink, a plant, or a stack of books,” Edwards says. “They can float anywhere beside a sofa, next to the tub, or in a hallway to ground a vignette.”
At the end of the day, most furniture pieces can be repurposed in various settings as long as they stand up design-wise.
“The key to versatility is simplicity of form and honesty in materials. When something is beautiful and well made, it belongs anywhere,” Edwards says.