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| #5, July 5, 2001 |
| · Living in Crowded Conditions |
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 Q: Please
send me some suggestions on my living room and bedroom. They are both small with
very little furniture. There are two women and two male children living here.
Sincerely,
Single Mom
A: I was a single mom too, with three boys in a small
apartment. Bedroom space was very limited, so here is what I did:
I had three single futons for the boy's beds. I covered the foam mattresses in
an envelope of soft fabric in different colors. I would then stack the futons
to create play space during the day. You can accomplish this same look by using
large pieces of foam. Simply cover the foam with a large piece of fabric. Besides
the bed issue, we also had to deal with the problem of too much stuff and too
little storage space. I used bookshelves to divide up the room, and put baskets
on the shelves for small toys and other knickknacks. Not only did this allow for
some privacy for each child, but also in giving each their own set of shelves,
they had extra storage space for their toys and clothes. This helped eliminate
the clutter in the one, small closet.
If the two adults use the living room as a bedroom, you will need to have the
same type of multi-purpose furniture. Here is one idea for fashionable couches
by day, comfy beds by night:
- Start with two twin beds, removing the legs from the frame.
- Cover both the box spring and mattress in a fabric pattern that you like. You
don't have to sew, just tape the fabric to the underside with duct tape. When
it is necessary to clean the fabric, you will simply wash and reuse---you will
only need new tape!
- Covering your bed pillows in the same fabric will allow for a finished look.
Remember to leave one end open on your pillows, like a pillowcase, so that you
can wash the fabric.
Next, you will need to accessorize.
- Get an old trunk from a thrift store and paint it to coordinate with your current
color scheme. This will be used as a coffee table that stores your bedding during
the day.
- Make end tables out of old leather luggage staked on top of one another. Or,
stack two or three milk cartons and top with a rounded piece of wood or plastic.
Cover with a tablecloth that hangs to the floor for hidden storage and good looks.
- If your budget allows, you might want to invest in 2 room dividers/privacy
screens and some plants.
- As always, a can of paint is the quickest way to create a new look---just make
sure to get the landlord's permission first.
I wish all of you a happy home. |
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