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seriously downsizing…need advice
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Thanks, everyone! I’m loving all the ideas. The boys room will be up a small set of stairs. Fortunately, the beds they have can be taken completely apart and use wooden slats instead of a box spring. Hopefully that means we’ll be able to get it upstairs.
We actually won’t have a table to eat on in the house. We’ll have an outside table in the back and, since the kitchen is right at the back door, I’m hoping to eat ourside a lot. Also, we have a large ottoman that goes with the living room furniture that we already have. I’m hoping it will all fit in the new room. If it does, I’m thinking about getting a piece of plexi-glass or something else sturdy that could sit on top of the ottoman. Then we could use it as a table when we want and put the piece of glass behind the sofa when we want it to be an ottoman. Does that make sense? It was a little harder to explain than I expected. Basically we’d gather around the ottoman as a table. Since we like to play board games, I’m hoping this will work.
I ahve been looking around for a set of 5 tv trays but so far am only finding 4’s. I’ll keep thinking about that.
Lindsey, we do have an Ikea and Contiainer Store. We actually have a LOT of furniture from Ikea. I will definitely keep that in mind.
Anyway, again, I love all of the ideas. Thank you all so much! Feel free to keep them coming!
Look at garage sales for the TV trays – I often see them there! And then, even if you can find 4, maybe you’ll get blessed with another at a sale.
If the ottoman & glass top idea doesn’t work (is it a soft ottoman or a harder one?), you might be able to find an old trunk or something at yard sales. That could double as storage and a table for games/eating. It could even be slid up against a wall when not in use, depending on what you need the space for in the room. Just a thought.
great idea, Sara B. We actually have a trunk thing in my daughter’s room that I had bought at a thrift store planning to redo. She put it in her room and we never re-finished it. That could work wonderfully. The ottoman is pretty firm, so it would probably work, but the trunk is a great idea and I have a place in mind that it might fit!
Also, Evergreen, I didn’t even think of looking for tv trays at a garage sale. The truth is, I don’t even care if they match. I’m just surprised at how expensive they are new. A garage sale could be the perfect thing.
A way to save room in the school supplies department is to use 12″x18″ marker boards made from shower/tile board. We’ve saved a ton this way by not using paper unless something really needs to be written on paper. It works for math facts practice/timed tests, spelling word practice/tests (even studied dictation,) phone messages, grocery lists, you get the idea. practicing written narrations (child dictates to mom-then copies on another board (or paper) is fun this way, too. We just keep them under the stack of books that sits on the table we use for schoolwork.
Oh, and those stray socks? Marker board erasers. ;0)
Becca<><
We have always lived in around 1200 and I can see that compared to friends who live in larger houses, I just buy less stuff. When I see a cool book on sale or neat-o educational kit, I think “can I afford this, and can I find space to store it if we won’t use it for a year or more.” Often times I don’t buy things just because we can’t store them. Voila! Less clutter!
I, also like Sara B. Couldn’t get a mattress threw my upstairs window if it was folded in half and stuffing taken out. 🙂 I have older windows in my house and forbid if I have to replace them because the newer ones are actually smaller. However, my kids mattresses could go up that curve on the steps. Sara and I must have had the same designer! Tehe he… 🙂
I agree with finding the tv trays at a garage sale. I also had a friend that was moving to a small apt and there wasnt a place for the table so they bought a table that mounted to the wall. It could be folded down when not in use. I thought it was quite clever… I would love to have a bed that folds into the wall. Think of all the floor space the kids could play on. 🙂 This would be so much easier for clean up too. 🙂 The kids can’t hide things under their bed. 🙂 We also have buck beds in the boys room. 🙂 collect all for everything. 🙂
If you have space on a wall you might want to try the wall table though. 🙂 I still think the tv tray idea is better for idividual work though. There are times I wish I had a few around. I think I will pick some up at the next rummage sale. This way when one of the kids is in a mood I can just send him to another room with a tray.. 🙂
sometimes sanity is better if the perpetrator is in another room. 🙂
Blessings!
Our house isnt much bigger than yours, and we’ve really tried to get creative. Here are a few thoughts….
For small wall spaces, we put in sturdy shelves up to the ceiling.
You can buy bed risers – gives you about 6-8 inches under your whole bed.
Loft/bunk beds – check Craigslist, etc
And this might be my favorite….I admit to getting it off the crazy coupon show when I started couponing. Buy shoe organizers that hang on the doors!! They have about 20 pouches and are amazingly sturdy. You can stuff all kinds of stuff in there, it will stay organized, and will free up other space. Put them on the backs of closet doors and room doors. I guess you could even hang them on the wall. In fact I’m now thinking I need to get a couple more!!
I’ll see if I can think of anything else
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