Small homes and studios

Living zone Flexible Living Zones for Small homes and studios

Let one room support separate activities through furniture placement, lighting and storage cues.

Living room inspiration: media storage beside a glazed divider.

Plan in this order

List the activities that regularly overlap and their equipment.
Give each activity a defined surface or storage point while sharing open floor area.
Use movable lighting or furniture to change the room without blocking circulation.

Worked example

A family uses the same lounge for television, homework and occasional overnight guests.

Group the sofa and screen at one end, then keep a movable table and foldable guest bed zone clear of the main circulation path.

How to test it

Set up two activities at once and see whether each can be started and packed away easily.

Apply it to this space

Layout: Anchor seating on a wall and preserve a central route; use a movable table rather than fixed dividers.
Detail: Choose a sofa with hidden storage and a rug to mark the lounge footprint.
Trade-off: A larger sofa improves comfort but limits hosting and sleeping flexibility.

The Elixir portfolio

Photographs for design inspiration