Comfy Chair Transforms Small Space

The Belle Writer's Studio Before. The chair is now in the far left corner where the futon was.

One of the things we did right in designing The Belle Writer’s Studio is making sure I had enough room for both office space and sitting space, in case I wanted to relax while reading for research or even work from my laptop in a more comfortable chair.

Until now, we only had the futon in the studio. I’ve felt for a long time that it was missing a nice, comfy chair, but I hadn’t found one that wasn’t both small and comfortable.

That was, until a couple of years ago when we visited the lake home of a friend of ours in Kansas.

They had a smaller brown chair that as vinyl, was functional for a lake style home (it just needs to be wiped down and if someone sits on it while wet, it really doesn’t hurt anything) and didn’t overpower their small space.

I fell in love with the chair at first sit, but they couldn’t remember where they had gotten it.

The futon is now extended out from the wall, facing the window, which creates more of a defined sitting area

A couple of months ago, they began their downsized retirement to their lake home and called to tell me they had to get rid of the chair to make room for some other furniture they wanted to take with them.

When we went to KC for a visit a month ago, we picked it up. It is not only lightweight, but we were right about nothing harming it, the chair rode all the way down to Arkansas in the back of our pick up, bumped along our rough road and the only thing I had to do was wipe it off.

I rearranged the studio to accommodate the chair in the corner, which does give me a great place to sit and read or curl up with research.

It has made all of the difference in my office, which makes it feel so much more inviting. I even want to spend quiet time here when I’m not working.

I’m not big on rearranging furniture, but I do like the flexibility of being able to make a space warmer or more inviting. It’s a luxury we don’t have in Our Little House, which will only accommodate the futon sofa one way due to the placement of the wood stove.

If you’re thinking of building a small home, have you given thought to how you want your furniture placed, what you would like to keep and will it be big enough to change if you want?