hat to do
with that Spare Room
W
ith all the everyday obligations that demand your attention, it is no wonder that you just never got around to deciding what to do with that spare room down the hall. Now the designated junk room for unpacked boxes, extra shoes, old furniture, discarded newspaper and craft projects, that unused room is about as effective as an unopened bottle of vitamins. Let us re-think how to better utilise the space and transform that extra room into something productive for the entire family. The trick is to figure out what exactly it is that you need. So formulate a plan before you get started.
Marlon James, V.S. Naipaul, Orlando Patterson, Anthony C. Winkler, Marcus Garvey and Derek Walcott. Music Room. When your children decide that they are going to be the next world-famous drummer, violinist or saxophonist, it is time to give them a space where the strains of the music...or noise will not give everyone sleepless nights. You can soundproof the room and make sure there are plenty of boxes and hooks for storage as well as seating for all night jam sessions. Home theatre. Now if you have a little extra spending money and you really want to treat yourself, why not install something that will impress not only your children and make them think you are ‘super cool’ but also your friends? A home theatre with requisite comfy seating and a popcorn machine is the way to go. Not only will you stand out but the value of your home, with all of the additions, is sure to skyrocket. Playroom. If you have several children who are not yet adolescents, this is a great idea as it allows them to have more room to play without making a mess in the rest of the house. This room of course must be well-ventilated and have adequate lighting. Each child can have their own designated area of the room with shelves and storage containers that they have to keep tidy so as not to lose privileges. Add a fun wall mural of a Disney character or popular cartoon like Sponge Bob and your children are sure to have lots of interactive fun letting their imagination go wild. Guest room. An obvious choice, if you like to entertain and have friends stay overnight. If you are tired of always blowing up the air mattress or hauling out the cushions of the old sofa bed then convert that space into a stylish guest room complete with plush chairs, a few paintings and a flat screen television for the comfort of your guests who can appreciate good Jamaican hospitality.
A Home Office. This is usually the most popular idea as it is convenient for both an adult who takes home work as well as children who have to study as there may be too many distractions in their bedroom like a TV or Xbox games. Walk- in Closet. Every woman dreams of having extra space to properly survey her complete wardrobe. A nice walk-in closet could be a fabulous addition, so that all those extra shoe boxes and garment bags can be discarded and your favourite fashion pieces neatly displayed and organised. Fitness Room. This is a very practical idea, as you may not always be able to get to a gym so why not bring the gym home to you! You can work out at your own leisure and convenience and you do not need all the latest high-tech and expensive machines. Get different size dumb bells, yoga mats, punching bag, skipping rope and a fitness ball and you have a good enough push start to get your metabolism and heart rate moving. Reading Room. In a world preoccupied with gadgetry and technology we all need a place to centre ourselves and just curl up with a good book. Children especially need to fall back in love with books, so go for the old classics like Dickens, Bronte and Dumas and do not forget our Caribbean writers like Lorna Goodison, Kwame Dawes,
Places & Spaces
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