Why Versatility is Something to Prize in the Home
Monday, July 11, 2016
Versatility sometimes gets short shrift from people, and it's
really unfair when it does. Think of phrases like "Jack of all trades, master of
none". There are others, usually a little bit ruder than that, which underline
that, while we way prize our versatility, others do not. The knock goes that
being competent at a range of things covers for the fact that we're not great at
anything.
The best response to this is, of course, Leonardo da Vinci. He
could paint a bit, and he was also an incredible sculptor. Oh, and he was a designer and an
engineer too. He was each of these things to a higher level of competence
than most of his contemporaries were at any of them. So the next time someone
calls you versatile in an attempt to damn you with faint praise, give them your
best Mona Lisa smile.
Furniture that is versatile also comes in for this kind of
snobbery. The thinking behind that seems to come from the idea that, unless it
is bespoke for a specific purpose, it's a mishmash. But here are some reasons
why that's balderdash.
The Sofa Bed
All of the best social occasions go on that little bit beyond
when it's practical to go home. As such, sometimes your evening's visitors will
become overnight visitors. Now, they could just sleep on the sofa or the floor,
but only if they want to spend the next day wincing every time they turn around. A sofa bed that folds out
quickly and easily means a good night's sleep can follow a good night.
The Futon
A word of warning: While the word itself and the concept come
from Japan, most of what you'll find for sale elsewhere isn't in the strictest
sense a futon. A typical Japanese futon actually consists of a mattress and a
duvet. What you'll find at Love The Sign and other retailers, featuring a wooden bed
frame, is certainly portable and comfortable. They fold up into a low chair
which is perfect for lounging on a lazy day.
Storage Furniture
Versatility doesn't need to mean that you have things that are
neither one thing nor the other. If you get yourself something that can do both,
then you've got more room for the extra touches that make a house a home. You
don't need to sacrifice quality to get this benefit, and if some people are
snobbish about it, so what? They're completely missing the point.
Every house should have at least one item within it that gives
the benefit of having more than one use. Space is so important in this modern
age that relies so much on having quick access to everything. So make the most
of the space you have.
0 kommentarer