Beyond the wooden banister and between the children’s bedrooms, there’s a space in the longtime home of designer Carrie Griffin’s client that had potential but needed a little love.

The small landing area could easily have been a wasted space—neither big enough for a full living room nor small enough to feel complete with just a console table or cabinet. But with careful attention to scale and layout, the McMillin Interiors designer transformed the area into a soft place for the entire family to land.

“After we figure out the scale and layout, we look at what we have here, because people want it fast. But we also want it to be custom,” Griffin says. “We pull from what you already have and what we already have, and it’s truly a trial and error process.”

She began the color and texture selection with the rug, opting to anchor the space with muted shades of blush and blue. “I knew the client liked blues and greens, and then we kind of pushed out of our comfort zone with those clay-like colors,” Griffin says.

After adding in throw pillows and filling the bookshelves with photos, vases and books, the room radiated coziness. As a shared space between kids, dogs and guests, the ultimate goal was to balance beauty and functionality.

“I think what the world wants right now is cozy and collected,” Griffin says. “So we want to give them a sense of history in their spaces too.”

Whether napping, reading or catching up with an out-of-town guest, an inviting space, no matter the size, is a luxurious addition to any home.