interior design

Creating Comfort in Temporary Living Situations
By John C. Franke
The Art Institute of Pittsburg

In light of recent natural occurrences, many people are temporarily living with friends and family who have opened up their homes, even if there isn’t much space to spare.  While this can leave little or no comfort for residents and guests, here are a few tips to help make the most of the space available in any home for impromptu visits when situations arise:

BED AND BATH

Most bedrooms will normally fit between one to three people depending on the bed types.  When the need to sleep extra people arises, first remove occasional chairs and other non-necessities to make space.  Create drawer space by removing seasonal clothes; take accessories and mementos away from dresser tops and bedside tables to allow for guests’ storage needs.  Remove mattresses and place them on the floor, using the box springs as a place for sleeping bags.  This instantly doubles the amount of sleeping space in a bedroom.  For added comfort, pad the box springs with additional comforters. 

Three small children can easily fit horizontally, as opposed to vertically, on a mattress.  Add small pillows and colors to make the space feel fun and warm, like a family camping experience.

Gather up baskets, buckets and or any container that can be converted into a bathroom caddy and place a cute tag or fun identification on the container. It will help create easier, faster bathroom transitions with a sense of personal belonging.  Also, make sure to keep an eye on the towels, making sure they stay fresh and constant.  Kids are great are doing a towel run.

DINING

Convert the dining room by removing chairs and pushing the main table to the outside wall which will leave the table open for buffet-style serving.  With the extra space, card tables and chairs can be set up to create a more intimate setting for a few families to eat together and will feel more like home.  Organize activities to keep the kids busy like creating centerpieces and decorations to spruce up the scene.

THE LIVING ROOM

Since traffic flow will be greatly increased, utilize good space planning by clearing out unneeded tables and lamps.  Floor space will be at a premium when your home is open to a significantly increased number of people.  The porch, basement and garage space can all be transferred into mini-living rooms by setting up seating groups.  An enclosed porch or a garage converted to a comfortable living space with outdoor furniture can give guests a private location.

Instead of removing furniture, figure out a positive way to use it.  Even a corner chair can be placed thoughtfully for a place to sit and think or make a phone call.  However, remove delicate items, breakable objects or valuables that can be temporarily stored away in the trunk of a car or a basement area that can be off-limits to guests in this temporary situation.  Aunt Minnie’s nineteenth century china dish need not end up in the dishwasher by a well-meaning guest.

FOR ADDED COMFORT

It’s extremely important to create some quiet zones, which can be done by disconnecting excess televisions.  Your guests will need to get away from the constant coverage of the situation, and although a news access area is necessary, it does not need to be the focus of every room in the home.

Don’t underestimate the power of a few personal touches.  Even though space is at a premium, a vase of fresh flowers and a nice basket of snacks will provide a welcome, private feeling.

Temporarily stow your own family photos and put out anything your guests have brought with them.  Give the kids a digital camera or Polaroid to start creating a memory book of the new people they meet. Disposable Kodak cameras are a perfect gift for guests of any age.

WHEN SPACE IS AN ISSUE

A CHECKLIST FOR CLEANING
Time management eases the overwhelming burden of spring cleaning. A huge, daunting job can be much more doable if spread out over two weeks worth of 30-minute cleaning projects. Set the mood by creating a task list over coffee, careful to break the jobs into things that can be done in short periods before or after work, or during weekend mornings. The last thing you want is to devote entire weekends of your glorious spring to cleaning. Remember to delegate specific jobs to other members of the household.

THE SCENT OF SPRING
Even though it might take some planning, don’t underestimate the power of scent. Think about the cleaning products you plan to use before cleaning day. Too many powerful, contrasting scents like bleach, ammonia and heavily-perfumed products will clash with your personal comfort. Try citrus-scented products such as orange, lemon or other fruit scents can create a comfortable, fresh feeling. If a heavier product is needed, consider fragrance-free alternatives.

INVENTORY THE PRODUCTS
Before spring cleaning, inventory your cleaning products and separate them into bright, colorful buckets with supplies separated according to the type of task. This way, you’ll know what you need to get started and you’ll save time in the long run.

RELAX, READ AND CLEAN AT THE SAME TIME
Swing by your local library and select a few thrillers, romance novels or biographies of books on tape. Pop them into your stereo, turn up the volume and start cleaning. Time will fly and your home will radiate comfort and cleanliness.

PACK AWAY! THROW AWAY! GIVE AWAY!
Before beginning spring cleaning, strategically place three large bins for collecting items. One is for saving. One is for tossing. One is for donations to charity. This will reduce your excess clutter and confusion by two-thirds with very little effort.

John C. Franke
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh