more than meets the eye

Living in an apartment... coming from a house... and being a bit OC... makes you have a new respect for space-efficient appliances and things. Shelves are key to maximizing floor area, while keeping things within easy reach, and ready for use.

Another thing I've found is that investing in something that serves more than 1 purpose...more than pays for it's price difference than the multiple items it replaces due to the space it saves.

One of my favorite multi-purpose items (other than my Swiss knife) is the Joseph Joseph Rinse & Chop.

It's a chopping board, colander, and food chute all in one. It stores flat, and looks good enough that I can display it (so this frees up drawer space for items that aren't nice enough to display)

I've found that if you invest in something that not only functions well, but is well designed in it's own way, you don't have to waste storage space to hide it, and you no longer have to spend on decorations as well.

Sofa beds are another efficient way of saving space while being functional in more than one way. Floor pillows can increase lounging space, and store neatly under the sofa or bed so as not to take up valuable floor space when not in use.

A tool I have that I also like is the Magic Trolley. May not be the coolest looking thing, but it doesn't take up a lot of storage space, and it does replace a lot of frequently used tools. Although if you like the whole industrial look, it can function as furniture as well.

What's your favorite multi-purpose appliance/item in your home?