Earlier this month we took the whole family (dog included) up to Brooklyn for a few days to install the room we’ve been designing for this year’s Real Simple Idea House. After months of remote planning, packing, and shipping, we finally got to set everything in place and see the space come together in person.
Real Simple hosts an Idea House each year, assigning rooms to different designers, bloggers, and designers from TV and print. This will appear in their October issue. We were thrilled and surprised to be invited to participate and were assigned the multipurpose room: a guest room centered on a single/twin bed that also includes a small kids’ area. It was a perfect brief for us because we love rooms that serve more than one purpose and balance adult needs with child-friendly elements.
Since March we worked remotely with the Real Simple editors: they sent photos, measurements, and floor plans; we returned design plans, mood boards, and product suggestions. Every selection went through editorial approval so the rooms felt cohesive across the house and avoided duplicating items or ideas. It was a fun, editorial puzzle to solve from afar.
When our ordered items finally arrived, we spent a marathon day installing and troubleshooting last-minute issues. Not everything was finished—our long white curtains were back-ordered and will be hung later—but the room was about 95% complete in these photos. The Real Simple team will finish the final details before their photographer arrives.
We made this a family trip so our kids could see the process. They helped test the beanbag and rug and even sketched ideas on a small magnetic drawing tablet. Their enthusiasm and input made the day feel like a true “bring your kids to work” adventure, and they doubled as our quality control team.
Multipurpose rooms can lean more heavily toward one function or another—a playroom with a rarely used futon is mostly playroom, for example. For this brief, Real Simple wanted a space that reads mostly as a guest room but still offers a small, functional kids’ area. We landed on a roughly 75% guest room / 25% playroom split, creating a comfortable place an adult would want to sleep while keeping toys and kid-friendly elements neat and accessible.
The daybed was the launch point for the entire design. Daybeds are perfect in dual-purpose rooms because they function as both a comfortable bed for guests and a sofa for playtime. We balanced guest needs with practical storage for kids: a large side table and reading lamp for guests, and big lidded baskets on the opposite side of the bed for toys and supplies.
Wallpaper selection was an editorial discussion. My original playful, tone-on-tone pick might have skewed the room too childlike, so we chose a more neutral palm print that reads grown-up while still feeling fun for kids. Both choices would work depending on whether you want a bolder kids’ focus or a more adult-leaning multifunctional space.
Small, tactile touches made the room sing: a large print that appeals to both kids and adults, a floppy bolster pillow (temporarily stuffed with towels for styling), and a plush octopus that the children adored. Those kinds of details make the room feel warm and inviting.
For the kids’ activity area we prioritized a compact table that can serve as a craft, art, or game surface. A round, drop-leaf table with movable chairs gives flexibility and can be made smaller when needed. Flexible furniture is always a win in tight spaces.
The room has two matching closets beside the window. That was ideal: one closet is dedicated to guests—organized professionally by the Real Simple team—while the other became an open, attractive kids’ storage nook. We removed the sliding doors to create a visible, functional storage area that looks intentional and encourages kids to put things away. A stenciled dresser hides less attractive items while open shelves and baskets display toys and books.
Shelving caused our biggest hiccup: the original colorful shelves were backordered. Being in the room made it obvious that warm wood tones were needed to balance the daybed and other wood finishes, so the delay turned into a happy accident. We sourced in-stock wood shelves nearby and installed them the same day, which ended up improving the room’s overall look.
We styled the shelves quickly—about nine minutes—to create a playful, loosely color-coded display of books, toys, and blocks. Open shelves should be approachable, not museum-perfect: mix things up, let the display evolve as kids play, and use closed storage for items you prefer to keep hidden. This balance keeps the space functional and easy to maintain.
We also added several closed-storage solutions such as a chest of drawers and large floor baskets so toys and supplies aren’t always on display. Those hidden spots make quick cleanups simple and help the room stay presentable for guests without eliminating the playful elements that make it inviting for kids.
We had a wonderful time meeting other designers and spending time with friends on this trip. After the magazine photos are taken, the Idea House is sold and furnishings are auctioned for charity, so everything benefits a good cause rather than going to waste. We love that the finished rooms help others while showcasing thoughtful, livable design.
Thanks to the Real Simple team for trusting us with this room—it was a real joy to design and install it. We can’t wait to see the professional photos in the October issue and to share the final reveal once the curtains and last touches are in place.
P.S. If you’d like to see other rooms we’ve designed for a cause, we’ve previously worked on several local makeovers, including a family bedroom, a teacher’s lounge, and multiple kids’ bedroom projects.
*This post contains affiliate links