When Jeanne Chan, founder of the lifestyle blog Shop Sweet Things and mother of two daughters, decided to renovate the playroom/laundry room in her San Francisco home, she kept one eye on the future, wanting the option to eventually turn it into her office.

With that in mind, the game plan came together with plenty of flexible storage: a built-in desk for arts and crafts, a large open shelving unit that houses the kids’ books and toys, plus bins and baskets to keep smaller items corralled and a cozy reading nook with pull-out drawers along the bottom. The utility spaces were also closed off to keep laundry items and cleaning supplies hidden out of sight during playtime and, down the road, work time.