Multifunctional living

Why?

Who?

What?

Where?

Garages/DIY workshops/ craft rooms

Small home (families)

Caravans/motor homes

Flats

Transformation furniture

Fold away furniture

Canopy levels

Sofa beds

Coffee table into dining room table

Desk into bench

Desk that folds into the wall- perhaps could look like a picture frame when folded- aesthetics

beds that can fold together- perhaps into a picture frame

Canopy levels above a room- sleeping area/bed

reading area

living area

Fold away worktops

Caravans are very tight for space- not enough room for large amounts of furniture/worktops

kitchen worktops fold outside- caravan doors are open and you can fold your whole kitchen worktop outside onto the surrounding environment, the worktop can then be folded back inside onto the caravan wall- great for BBQs and hot weather- saves them having a big kitchen worktop, taking up lots of room, this space can now be used more purposely

What if it rains?- Could be a tent/shelter what protects the whole thing from the wet

Hidden storage

Storage boxes under the bed

Lift up seats filled with storage space

Underneath the stairs

Usage of maximum space

Widow seats

Corner furniture

Things on walls e.g. shelving or fold down furniture

shelving

Things hanging on the wall- bikes/tools (e.g. Saws)

Over head storage

Cabinets for storage/worktop- reused from a kitchen?

Garage owners

Flat owners

Caravaners

Flats- usually in cities a lot of city workers, work in an office- (office room at home?)

They need to have different areas for all the essentials e.g. cooking, sleeping, relaxing. (hard as most flats are limited to 1 or 2 rooms)

Need space to entertain?

Need space for hobbies e.g. craft room/ reading area

Need enough storage space, but not enough room for big wardrobes (reducing mess/ clutter- scientifically proven to lead to stress/ anxiety)

If they have a family- most likely they will be living in very close proximity (sleeping in the same room)- Need personal space/ leisure areas

Lack of storage- no room for big wardrobes

Not enough room for big pieces of furniture- (multi purpose/ transformation furniture?)

Need enough space for all the essentials (kitchen, beds, relaxation area etc.)

Must conserve space- not much of it in a caravan

Need room for storing all their supplies e.g. drills

Large storage areas for supplies such as wood

Storage for things that cannot go inside the house e.g. Christmas decorations or bikes (take up a lot of floor room)

Also need worktops

Storage for equipment that cannot be left in a box e.g. Saws (must have hanging storage)

If there are children, is it safe to have saws hanging from the wall?- must be stored above reach

Garden tools? e.g. Forks (again unsafe around children)

Lack of storage in small areas

Find solutions to ensure that clutter is not left around the house, due to nowhere to put it

Scientifically proven that clutter leads
anger, stress and anxiety

Storage solutions that don't take up half of a room (wardrobes/cupboards)

Easily accessible (don't have to
go somewhere else to access your
storage e.g. basement or garage)

Budget friendly, not storage solutions
that costs lots to install
e.g. over head storage

Aesthetically pleasing- ensure that it suits the
clients design preferences (colours, designs, materials, finishes etc.)

Ensure that the design is functional (big enough to store
things, easily accessible, easy to use)

Lack of room for large
pieces of furniture

Design a piece of furniture,
that fits in small spaces (fold away furniture?
multi purpose furniture?)

Must be budget friendly- Sofa
beds can be very expensive

Think about the effects it has on the environment

Perhaps use sustainable materials e.g. could use recycled
plastics, if am using fabrics could use recycled
tee shirts?- Is the sustainability of the product one of the
clients wants/values

What does the client want?- patterns, designs, colour schemes, materials, where is the product for? what function do they want it to have? It is compulsory to consider the wants and needs of the client to ensure it fits their brief/wants for the product. Must be aesthetically pleasing

The idea of
"multifunctional living,"
encourages people to live
smaller houses/flats,
rather than large homes,
this dramatically decreases the
amount of energy you use. 1,800 kWh
of energy is used in a flat compared to
4,300 kWh in a larger house, so living in
smaller home, saves you money and is
better
for the environment

Most small homes,
struggle with lack of storage,
theirfore most of their belongings
are just left around the house (clutter)
it is scientifically proven that clutter,
makes people angry, stressed and
anxious. So ultimately having better
storage solutions (multifunctional living)
can lead to a better mental health

Multifunctional living helps people to conserve space, which might be scarce and precious in their homes

By conserving space this leads to:

More room for leisure activities e.g. craft rooms

More room to entertain

Ensures you have enough space for all the essential areas e.g. kitchen, bed room