One room, many functions

Dace and Benjamin met about 7 years ago in USA and were brought together by a music project. Since moving to Latvia they have bought an apartment in Ogre and styled it the best they could but would like some change. In this apartment, IKEA interior designer Elīna will face the challenge of fitting many functions in one small room, as it is used for working, resting, playing and storing.

The centre of daily life
As the apartment the family shares is quite small, a lot of functions have to find place in one room. The big wardrobe in the living room holds many of the things needed daily and many that have to be on hand, like medicine supplies. Right beside there is a corner for children's toys, all crammed in a rather small space.

The essence of storing
A combination of shelves and cabinets is another solution for storing stuff, even if it sometimes lacks structure. There are seasonal decorations, hiking gear, some of the children's things and even clothing. A typical phenomenon for small space living – furniture just for hiding away clutter and not as a help in organising.

Workspace ergonomy?
While working, Benjamin uses a big exercise ball for sitting. He says it helps to stay active during a working day spent in front of a computer as he works from home. In the new interior, a solution for a comfortable workspace is a must.

Playing with colours and with areas
Designer Elīna has chosen a rather untraditional approach to painting the walls. The light yellow colour adds to the brightness of the space and fulfils Benjamin's wish for a room that wouldn't look gloomy even in the middle of the winter when it is dark outside. A playful element is the contour of a house on one wall, creating a visual division for the children's corner.

Comfort and efficiency
Which is the most important piece of furniture for a work station? Of course, a desk. The importance of choosing of the right desk should not be underestimated. Take your time to choose. As Benjamin likes a more active sitting position, this desk and chair combination is adjustable and allows both sitting and standing position. The seat tilts, adjusting to the position.

An invitation to play
The new play area invites to play and promotes free play as most toys are in open shelves – both visible and reachable for the small girls. The things that are not that often used, are hidden in the clever little boxes that double as poufs if extra seating is needed.

Multifunctionality is the key
In play areas, it is always a good idea to use furniture with several functions. This small yellow cube offers more than it may seem. Bright colour, nice seat and a storage solution in one!

When storage is essential
Choosing a sofa is no light task, especially in a limited space. For this apartment, the interior designer has chosen a sofa that can be transformed in a comfortable bed for two and has additional storage space beneath the chaise longue.

Everything at hand
A spacious modular storage combination takes up most of one wall. Taking into account the size of this combination, it is important to think about the fronts, so it wouldn't be too boring. Here, the monotony of white is broken up by light colour of wood.

Combine for your needs
For storage, it is good to combine both cabinets and drawers. Inside the cabinets, it is possible to put some pull-out wire baskets that are especially good for clothing, as everything is visible. Shelves in cabinets can be organised with boxes that are easy to take out and put back in. Things that should not be accessible for children, can be protected by using safety door stops that prevent opening the door.

Take care of your things
When a lot of different things have to be stored together, good organisation is essential. Different interior organisers are a great solution for finding a place for everything. Good order also helps to store things with care so they last longer.