I just did that when I moved into my new Indiana apartment a couple of weeks ago. I use some antique family dining room furniture for my rulers and the table for sewing. The living room is big enough for me to put two leaves into the table. The china cabinet still has china in it, but I can easily move things off the table and have folks to dinner if I want! I use the separate dining room as a study -- futon, bookshelves, books, stereo, little TV. I do have a second bedroom, but it already has the sewing embroidery machine, serger, and knitting frame. My computer is also in the living room/quilting studio. Now that's handy! there is also this 8x15 "den" area, just an extension of the apartment building's upstairs hallway, that I am setting up as my stash room.