Many people who have moved to a smaller home or a townhouse usually did so for the same reason, it made financial sense. Stretching your dollar as far as it can go was a primary concern when buying your property, and by using multifunctional furniture, you can save money, as well as time and space too.
Innovation in the furniture industry has come a long way in the last 30 years. Stores such as IKEA and Target now sell items from some of the worlds best designers. Not only are the designs sleeker, but the internal working mechanisms have been refined using computer technology to make them smaller, stronger and more lightweight. William L. Murphy patented his first fold away bed in San Francisco in 1900, and over the years this convertible concept has been applied to so much more that just beds. Coffee table tops now extend upward to become TV-trays, couches flip open to become bunk beds, ottomans convert into beds, and now there are even Dining room tables with a piano built in and armoires that contain a complete functional kitchen with all appliances including the kitchen sink!
Typical space saving designs will be a little more costly, but it is usually necessary if you are downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one. In the long run, paying extra for specialty furniture is much more cost efficient than maintaining a large family home that sits mostly empty. Futons aren’t what they used to be and blow-up mattresses are becoming extinct. Today, convertible sofas, day-beds, and even single chair-beds make it possible for overnight guests to comfortably stay in your smaller home. You can usually expect a convertible furniture piece to be one third to one half of the price more than its non-converting style. If cost is a factor, look for deals and specials in your area depending on when seasonal dorm room and studio apartment rentals are hot.
Even the furniture accessories market has become quite ingenious with their products. Shelves with coat hooks underneath of them, expandable drying racks, shower curtains with pockets, fold-away ironing boards, wall art pieces that fold into chairs, collapsible cooking tools and so much more! With the aid of computer design and improved materials the old idea of multifunctional furniture has never been easier to adapt to today’s smaller homes.