The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/879797
The Press-Dispatch Fall Home Improvement Wednesday, September 27, 2017 E-5 Rooms can serve DOUBLE DUTY Many homes do not have space for guest rooms, kids' play areas and home theater lounges that are possible in homes with sub- stantial square footage. But they may not be missing out at all. While large homes remain popular, many people are embracing the benefits of small- er residences. Small homes help homeown- ers save money, require less maintenance, have smaller environmental impact, and re- duce the temptation to accumulate "stuff." Owners of small homes or apartments can still enjoy the benefits of larger spaces, they just need to equip rooms to perform double duty. Living room/guest room Entertaining guests is easier when there's a dedicated space where visitors can feel at home. When furnishing a living room, keep the guest room in mind. A sofa that opens up to a bed or a convertible sectional can be a comfortable place for guests to lay their heads. Side tables provide guests with plac- es to store their belongings, and an empty storage chest can house bed linens or guests' clothing. Den/playroom Children tend to accumulate toys and games. And as kids grow from children to young adults, their list of must-have items — from video gaming systems to other electronics — grows along with them. Stor- age can make a room functional for both adults and children. Devote an entire wall to a closet or drawer system where toys can be stored out of sight when necessary. Stor- age ottomans can be used for extra seating while also providing somewhere for home- owners to stash stuffed animals or games for easy access. When choosing furniture, look for fabrics that are resistant to stains and modular pieces that can be moved around as necessary to create room for playing or entertaining. Bedroom/home office In 2015, 24 percent of employed people in the United States did some or all of their work at home, says the Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics. Bringing work home means men and women will need a space to work. In tight quarters, bedrooms may be the only avail- able area. An armoire-style desk will blend in with the decor and can hide paperwork and electronics behind doors. Otherwise, a makeup vanity can serve the dual purpose of providing a place to get ready for a night out and a ready space to house a laptop dur- ing the day. In smaller homes, homeowners may be forced to turn rooms into dual purpose areas. Corral entryway clutter The entryway to a home is the first thing guests experience when com- ing inside. It also can be the first place residents drop their belongings after long days at school or work. As a result, entryways can quickly be consumed by clutter. Taming such messes takes a mixture of ingenuity and planning. Homeowners hoping to clear their entryways of clutter must first de- cide what they want to get out of the space. Will it simply be a decorative spot with photos and other home de- cor on display? Or is functionality the primary goal? Once that decision has been made, take inventory of which items, such as shoes, keys, umbrellas or coats, need to be in the area, which don't (i.e., old mail). To make things more organized, rearrange the former while removing the latter. Next it is time to assess storage needs and what's already available. User-friendly storage items may need to be purchased to make the room as functional as possible. The following ideas also can help bring order to the space. • Create a command center. Cre- ate a central location where items are neat, orderly and within reach. Use a bulletin board, dry-erase calendar or something that can house schedules and important notices. Hooks can hold keys, chargers and more. • Keep it covered. Covered bins can serve as a seating area and al- so a place to store shoes, hats and scarves. • Create cabinet space. Store items in cabinets so they are orga- nized but out of sight. This way be- longings are not just left on an en- tryway table. • Create another drop zone. If the entryway is too small to serve its purpose, outfit another room or ar- ea that also can do the job. This can be a laundry room or mudroom ar- ea. Install shelves, a bench, cabinets and hooks. Just be sure this space is close enough to the entryway to make it useful. • Go vertical. An easy way to keep things neater is to remove items from the floor and embrace vertical stor- age. Shoe racks, hooks for purses and a cabinet for coats may do the trick. Clutter can accumulate in entry- ways. But some simple adjustments can quickly revamp the space to make it neater and much more func- tional. 3980 S. State Road 257, Velpen 812-354-3280 www.VelpenDisposal.com V elpen R-S TRucking & DiSpoSal co. ReSiDenTial ToTeR SeRVice No Contracts. No Hidden Fees. ReaRloaD WaSTe conTaineRS 2 yd., 4 yd. and 6 yd. Containers No Contracts. No Hidden Fees. Call for Pricing. 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