A few months ago I told you all about my new Sauder sewing and craft cart. After using it for some time, I’ve realized that it’s so much more than just a crafting area! Sauder furniture is designed with functionality in mind, and this piece is definitely functional.
I’m not a super crafty person so you won’t see me digging wood pallets and such out of the trash and making beautiful furniture out of it. It’s just not my thing. This is why it’s so important for me to find furniture like this, that serves multiple functions, so when I can’t use it any more in one room I can easily rework it a little bit and have it serve another purpose. It’s like shopping in my own home!
While, yes, the cart does fit my sewing machine perfectly and serves as a good-looking craft table, it’s also:
A desk for me. I use a laptop – so I can work just about anywhere – but having a space I can call an ‘office’ is nice. The adjustable shelves allow me to adapt it to my needs. A perfect spot for my laptop on the top shelf, bills in the middle, books and folders on the bottom, and lots of room for pens and small office supplies with the built-in storage bins. I can hide my computer when I have guests over, and the cart just looks like a decorative console.
A homework station for my daughters. The drop-leaf gives them an extra work surface so they can both sit there together. No more doing homework at the kitchen table!
A buffet table for when we have dinner parties. This was my husband’s idea, and it works well! The melamine top surface is heat, stain, and scratch-resistant and very easy to clean, and when I open up the leaf it really does give us a big surface to use, allowing me to keep the kitchen counters free of clutter. I can easily remove the storage bins for a cleaner look. Once our formal dining room is finished, I’ll be able to roll the table over there as needed.
Even when it’s all closed and folded down, the Sauder sewing and craft cart is just a beautiful piece of furniture that looks lovely in our family room! Not to mention wonderfully durable, considering it’s been used quite a bit and is located in a high traffic area.
If you’re looking to buy multi-functional furniture for your home, you just have to get a little creative! Choosing pieces that work as both furniture AND storage is key. Here are three questions to ask yourself:
Does the room serve multiple purposes? Maybe your guest bedroom is also your office, or your family room is your craft area (as in my case). Choose furniture that works in both rooms. A futon can serve as a sofa and a bed, for instance.
How much space do you have? Look for items that are small, but practical. For instance, a storage ottoman has a small footprint and can be used as a spot to rest your feet, a place to store extra blankets, a table for drinks and snacks, and even extra seating.
Will you be able to use the piece in a different way in the future? When my kids no longer need their toy box, for example, I plan on turning it into a filing cabinet. It’s the perfect size! And when I was putting together my daughter’s room years ago, instead of buying a dedicated changing table, I just bought a dresser and put a changing pad on top, and she still uses it to this day. The dresser, not the changing pad. 😉
For more inspiration, be sure to check out the Pinterest board I created about how to use furniture in multiple ways. Lots of great ideas there, many using Sauder furniture as well. On that note, I also have a Sauder utility cart and a storage ottoman and love both!
The Sauder utility cart serves as a handy place to store all our dogs treats and grooming supplies within reach, as well as an area to put my gardening tools and even a plant or two. I can easily move the cart to a sunny area as needed. The white oak finish blends in well with our kitchen cabinets, too.
The large Sauder storage ottoman was so easy to put together – it literally took me a whole minute. Opening the package was harder than actually assembling it! I like this piece because it serves as a spot to rest our feet, a convenient place to set down a drink, and has lots of storage space inside.
Right now it’s filled with board games, but I bet come winter I’ll have lots of extra blankets in there! Because of it’s size, it’s easy to push the ottoman aside when the girls want to dance around or play on the Xbox.
YOUR TURN!
Do you own any furniture that serves multiple purposes?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sauder. The opinions and text are all mine.
