A functional home doesn’t mean a lack of beautiful details. While being selective with your finish choices creates a high-end home, a functional space is also a hallmark of a luxury home. Increase the functionality of your home while keeping aesthetics in mind by considering the below essential home features.

Bathroom
If you have little ones who need a boost for the sink, skip the clunky step stools in exchange for a built-in stool. A pull-out step stool can be built directly into the vanity, so it appears as a drawer. Once the stool is pulled out, a hinged top can provide additional storage.

Bathrooms can also house a mess of tangled cords from hairdryers, curling irons, electric toothbrushes and more. Upgrading a vanity drawer to a grooming drawer can alleviate the chaos caused by accumulated appliances, as well as countertop clutter. In addition, grooming drawers have canisters for heat appliances and include in-drawer outlets and metal inserts to put the appliance back when it is still warm.

Living Areas
False walls serve as a functional asset and also offer intrigue to a space. For example, a set of false walls are excellent to conceal a cocktail area during the day, and once 5 p.m. rolls around, the walls can open to reveal a whole bar space. If you have beautifully detailed moulding but need additional storage, you can add a doorway and conceal it, carrying the moulding pattern over the door.

Kitchen
In a kitchen, function reigns supreme. It’s also a place to have fun, unexpected features. The ability to customize kitchen cabinets is endless. From refrigerator drawers, warming drawers, in-island freezers, appliance drawers and more, basic kitchen functionality can be seamlessly integrated into a kitchen’s design, so you can focus on its beautiful appearance while knowing your kitchen is highly functional.

Also, consider cabinet hardware the jewelry of your space. Cabinet handles and pulls are necessary for a functional kitchen, so select a style that makes a statement and makes you happy every time you open a cabinet.

Upgrade Utilitarian Features
Upgrading standard heat registers and air vents to a pattern or metal finish that complements the rest of your space instantly elevates a room. Whether you select cast iron, brass, nickel or match the floors, such as a marble or wood-stained air vent, there is a designer upgrade for almost every utilitarian home feature. 

Light switch covers are another functional feature that you can easily overlook. Whether you select a decorative plate cover, a push-button switch or wallpaper over the cover, there is always an opportunity to upgrade any builder light switch covers that may still be lingering in your home.

Mudroom or Laundry Room
As the workhorses of the home, both your mudroom and laundry room need to be highly functional. But this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with the design. In the laundry room, conceal the clothes you have hang-drying to create a cohesive space. Install mesh cabinet fronts to allow airflow to the items air drying while still making a visual impact. You can do the same technique in the mudroom to conceal wet coats or other items that need airing out.

Durable flooring is essential in both rooms. Pattern and color options in durable materials such as luxury vinyl flooring or porcelain tile options can be endless. For example, consider a faux brick floor in your mudroom or a black and white marble checkerboard floor in the laundry room made out of porcelain tile.