So you’ve moved into a small but darling loft in D.C. — or just purchased a sweet little Colonial in Old Town Alexandria. Now the problem is space. Delightful as your new home is, it doesn’t leave you much room with which to work. And the loft presents a design challenge as well. You may have windows and lots of light but what do you do when your kitchen, living room, office and bedroom are all in one room? Not to worry. Convertible furniture …can help you maximize floor space, expand your storage and instantly switch the character of a room.

The classic example of convertible furniture is the Murphy bed: a drop-down bed that tips up into a cabinet to give you floor space in daytime hours. Murphy beds can be ideal for cramped spaces, especially where living space isn’t separate from sleeping space (like in a studio apartment).