With flexible furnishings and a little imagination, an extra bedroom shows how to finesse a floor plan, boost square footage, and create a versatile room that's as handsome as it is hardworking. 

By Allison Maze

Adaptable storage and handmade charm transform this spare room into a single do it all space for family and guests. A DIY daybed dressed with throw pillows converts to a bed when guests come knocking. Crate-style cabinets stocked with extra linens pull double duty as nightstands holding an alarm clock, a lamp, books, and decor.

Hairpin legs lend midcentury flair to the bed's custom built platform. The legs create the perfect amount of clearance to tuck away suitcases and extra office items under the bed.

Multiuse rooms are chameleons, able to modify function to fill different needs and often at the drop of a hat. Double duty furniture and a mix of crafty amenities fill this all in one space with purpose, style, and comfort.

To optimize multiuse spaces, focus on incorporating furniture that's both practical and versatile. Moveable pieces such as wheeled bins and carts encourage you to repurpose or simply roll into a corner when floor space is at a premium. Here, a clear acrylic end table wheels up as an extra work surface and neatly tucks away when not in use.

Plush, easy sew accent pillows made from wool felt dress up the DIY daybed and add a layer of comfort in keeping with the room's woodland theme.

A collection of message boards framed with white molding transforms a blank wall into a communication station for guests and family members. A handmade wood and concrete bench anchors the arrangement and provides space for display items. Woven baskets stow reading materials beneath the bench.

A stealthy charging station fashioned from a vintage toolbox keeps phones, music players, and cameras fully charged and cords tangle free. Within the box, a board cut with cord holes covers a power strip. Simply close the box's lid to cover electronic devices and showcase its patinaed charm.

Small, smart touches amplify function throughout the office area. Refinished vintage desk accessories and clever paper management tools make the work area pretty, practical, and productive. Adding a pullout shelf to the cabinet near the computer desk creates an easy to access spot for a printer and paper supplies when they’re needed.

The room’s standard 6 foot wide closet was converted into a hobby station that can be quickly masked behind canvas curtains. A pegboard, paper files, and ribbon dispensers put the wall to work.

Inside the closet, a metal pegboard provides sleek, efficient access to crafts tools and supplies. A wall mount ribbon holder makes gift wrapping a snap. Small buckets of colored pencils stay organized and accessible on a desktop turntable.

Keeping hobby supplies in check is easy with smart storage. Acrylic drawer dividers corral tiny crafts accessories, such as buttons, brads, and stickers. Clear jars identify precut ribbon by color. A container resembling a lunch box serves as a sewing kit with needles, scissors, and thread.

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These beautiful Easter-inspired centerpieces and table settings are perfect for any spring get-together. Mix-and-match our creative ideas for your Easter table or use them as inspiration to create your own display.

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A trip to the homeowner's closet provided the design inspiration for this small modern apartment.The statement making patterns, timeless silhouettes, and fun accessories found in the wardrobe were translated into this home design for a look that mixes classic with modern, and sophisticated with fun.

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 By bringing inside style outside, they prepared a pretty porch perfect for warm weather get togethers.

Fresh paint, bold fabrics, soft rugs, and furniture that's easy to arrange and rearrange make this L-shape porch a great space for parties and family gatherings. For flexibility, select lightweight furnishings that would work just as well inside the house.

A fabric that contained a touch of the house's brick hue along with citrus green, gray, pink, and terra-cotta inspired the porch's color palette. Gray served as the dominant color for the floor and curtains, with citrus-green accents. The fresh palette splashes dashes of fun onto throw pillows.

Create a look-at-me door with oversize zinc house numbers bold enough to be seen from the street. Window film featuring bold circles adds privacy to the door and obscures a direct view into the living and dining rooms. A coat of spunky citrus-green paint freshens the entry.

A narrow desk on casters rests against one wall and is used as a sideboard on most days. Painted citrus green, this desk adds personality and functionality to the porch. Roll it in front of the bench and it offers fine dining for two. Pull up the chairs and stools spread around the porch, and it's party time.

Sections of tree trunk serve as handy side tables or stools and add a rustic touch to the outside room. Four swivel casters on the bottom of each log make them easy to move. Add cushions for seating comfort.

Add a swinging bench to the side area of the porch for a more private gathering space. For durability, use exterior primers and paints on furniture -- porch-and-floor enamel is a dependable option. Make curtains and pillows from indoor/outdoor fabrics to prevent wear and weathering.

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See how a design savvy couple repurposed an old shed on their upstate New York vacation property into a relaxing porch space perfect for escaping the city and for entertaining friends.

With some DIY and design smarts, a crumbling early 1900s shed was converted into an airy living space to entertain guests. The roof of the shed was raised to give the 22x13-foot structure a bit of breathing room and was then re-covered with leftover shingles. Sustainable solutions were used, such as reusing furniture already in their collection and repainting vintage shutters.

These adorable outside shutters added a personal touch that also perked up the facade.

The bright colors and patterns in the design create a room full of whimsy while still being in-line with the traditional New England summer cottage look of the main building.

Revamped yard sale finds create a citrus sorbet color palette of seating. To create a perfectly smooth powder coating on used metal furniture, take it to a local auto body shop.

Curtains add privacy to a screened-in area so those inside don't feel like they're on display. A playful multicolor print using hand block stamps from India and fabric paint is simple and inexpensive on these white drapery panels.

Space for napping was a must-have for the homeowners, so a daybed coated in outdoor paint was added to the space. A cute pair of chairs and a table make an ideal spot for morning coffee rituals.

The throw pillow collection was approached like a garden plot. There are no rules against planting alliums alongside zinnias, so why shy away from mixing patterns in a summer porch? Tons of color brightened up the space.

The decision not to insulate the structure left the summertime retreat with exposed studwork that's put to good use displaying books and collectibles. Sturdy studs become built-in shelving and a pretty collection transforms an otherwise rustic finish into a focal point.

Decor is more dramatic repeated by the dozen. Bargain lanterns were used to create special mood lighting and to add color. The lighting gives off a magical glow at night.

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