One room, many lives

What Makes a Space Flexible?

At its simplest, flexibility is about creating interiors that evolve with their users. Jannat describes it as designing “spaces that evolve,” with movable furniture, fluid partitions and layouts that anticipate change. Aayushi and Harihar look at it as freedom—the chance for a room to keep pace with shifting needs instead of locking into one role. The common thread is that flexibility doesn’t mean restlessness. Instead, it’s about building homes and workplaces that stay relevant as life moves forward.

Multi-functionality as a Starting Point

Designing a multi-functional room is about intentionally creating zones that serve different purposes but remain visually and functionally cohesive. It is a thoughtful mix of design strategies—lighting, materials and furniture all play a role. “We begin by observing patterns of living—the rituals, movements, and quiet pauses that define how a space is truly used,” shares Jannat, “I layer in custom-designed furniture, space saving solutions and partitions that shift like art installations while keeping the flow intuitive.”

Designers are finding that multi-functionality works best when it’s not forced, but flows naturally from how people live. Jannat often begins by observing rituals—the pauses, the gatherings, the quiet routines, before shaping zones that can flex. In one project, she split a large living area into four—a formal living room, dining, kitchen and TV room that doubles as a guest bedroom. A wall bed disguised as a sofa made that possible, while the dining table anchored tied the zones together and acted as a segregation between the living area and kitchen.

When Technology Supports Design

While remote work pushed the idea of flexible living, technology has made it practical. H+A Studio calls it a “quiet collaborator,” something that blends in but changes how a room functions. A wall can become a screen, lights can set the mood or acoustics can shift to create privacy.

Jannat highlights details like concealed charging ports, motorised curtains and modular screens that make transitions happen smoothly. In her view, smart features shouldn’t dominate the design—they should simply allow spaces to move effortlessly between work, rest and leisure. In many ways, technology acts like an invisible layer that holds flexibility together.

Designing for the Way We Actually Live

Speaking with both practices made one thing clear, flexibility isn’t a single trick or product. It’s a way of thinking. Designers are no longer just styling rooms; they’re building in possibilities. It's about noticing how people actually live—the little habits, the daily routines, the unexpected ways a room gets used. A dining table that hosts both meals and work calls, a partition that divides yet connects, or a wall that doubles as a library, these are the quiet shifts that make spaces feel in the present. When done right, flexibility integrates into the design to make a room feel alive and personal, not staged or forced.