Dual purpose design
Dear Debbie;
We are empty nesters and have decided to take in a student for the academic year, as we live close to the college and have the room. Any tips on planning a comfortable and welcoming space? Thanks for your ideas.
~ Marianne
Dear Marianne;
This is a great idea. Renting out student digs is a good way to stay connected to the young adult generation, and rooms are always in demand for students who move away from home to continue their education. Supply well thought-out necessities and allow the student to add a few personal touches to make it feel like home. The furnishings shown here are set up to serve more than one purpose, which is a practical space saver for any small room.
The bed gets lots of use, doing double duty for sleeping and as a lounge and often homework sta- tion, so select a good mattress. Futons are popular, but it’s more practical to have the bed raised from the floor so that baskets for clothes and supplies can slip underneath. Choose a table or desk with ample surface space for a computer, books and reference material. Set up the desk strategically beside the bed so that a good desk lamp will also work for reading in bed.
To save space, invest in a vertical storage system such as a metal storage locker as seen in this vignette from homesense. com. This stackable solution allows for separate compartments to hold sports equipment, notes, school supplies and clothing. Finally an ottoman that holds stuff offers triple service and is easy to move around.
Dear Debbie;
Our son is off to college and we are madly packing up the essentials for surviving away from home. Our lists are very different — I’m thinking cooking and studying, he’s all about the best computer, social media links and music. I know you have been through this