Making Room

Let’s be honest, one of the most discouraging and frustrating things is feeling like you don’t have the room you need in your current home. If you have the ability to pursue a different house, you may become obsessive over finding a new one and constantly aware of your home’s shortcomings. If you don’t have the ability to move, you likely become really frustrated, and maybe you even give up on what you are craving space for, because there’s just no room. Did you know there’s a third option though? Make room.

We’ve had this happen many times over the years. There was the one time, errrr four times, we had a baby. Nothing like adding a human being, and the massive amount of stuff that we think we need for a tiny human, to make you feel like the walls are closing in and you just need one more room. Or there was the time I taught for VIPKid and it was supposed to be quiet while I taught, and I needed all my stuff to stay set up, ha. And every time, we’ve made it work.

For most of the babes we made a cozy corner in our room, or a guest room, until they were ready to join their siblings. E’s room was actually the (large and safe) closet in the big boy’s room for a whole year of his life. You can make just about anything work, you just need a little creativity and a “happy heart”. Speaking of closets, that’s where I taught for VIPKid, from a closet, using an extension cord. Was it ideal? No, not really, but it totally worked! It allowed the room the closet was in to act as a buffer between me and the kids. The one thing I can’t make happen, no matter how hard I try, is a dedicated space to create and store all my craft stuff. Sigh. I’m choosing that happy heart though and I’m just grateful to have a closet to keep my stuff in and a dining room table large enough to use as a work space.

As you might have guessed, we find ourselves in another season of needing to make room, as we are now becoming a homeschool family. I considered just doing it at the kitchen table because I know lots of families that do, and it works great for them. But based on what I know of our family, a designated space to do school will be so good for us. So, in the house we are currently in, I still owe y’all the story of God’s kind provision to us, we have a “bonus room” off the main living space. It has already had three different layouts since we moved in at the beginning of July. What can I say? I love rethinking spaces!! The final set up left up with two storage benches, the cube storage, and an arm chair. Thankfully that left room for a small desk. However, I plan to eventually homeschool all the boys, so I knew a larger desk would serve us better. So, after 5 years of providing storage and seating, the storage benches no longer have a space in our home. (I didn’t part with them, though, because they’re so dang practical and still in great shape.) Anyways, once we reconfigured toy storage, and removed the benches, we were left with a large amount of open space. We were thinking of buying or making a desk, but I’ve really been trying to make the most out of what we already have, so decided to bring our DIY Double desk from our apartment’s family room back inside. It’s been on the porch since July, and definitely needed to be sanded again and resealed, but it just fits that space too well to justify going out and buying something. Plus, we didn’t really eat out on the porch like we’d envisioned we would. It’s just too much work with kids. So, how did we get to this point of having the room we need for creating a designated homeschool area? Let’s break it down by looking at the following questions.

Is there a room in your home you aren’t using the way you thought you would?

Maybe you made one room an office, but you usually end up working at the kitchen table or on the couch. Or, maybe one room is a guest bedroom but you only host once or twice a year. When you designate a space in your home for a purpose it’s not really being used for, it’s not stewarding your home well. Now, if you have a large home and just need to come up with an assigned purpose for each space, go for it! But, most of us don’t have that luxury. So, the first thing to do when you are in need of space in your home, is to consider how your current spaces are being used.

Maybe that office you don’t use often is where you end up storing stuff or where the kids do homework. Maybe you have a dining room and a dining room table but you only ever eat at the table in your kitchen. It’s important to really assess how you are using current spaces in your home. If you aren’t using it like you envisioned, change it to a space you will use, or embrace how you are actually using the space. And, if you have a need for additional room, this space might be your answer. We moved our large desk outside as a table when we moved in, envisioning shared meals in that space. I think we ate out there twice in the 6 months we’ve lived here. So, by embracing the fact that we don’t use the space that way, it gave us the freedom to bring the table inside to be used as a desk again. Now, we can add some additional comfy seating to the porch, something we will use a lot more.

Is there a space that could be utilized more if you remove one or two items?

I know it is so tempting to leave a space as is because Aunt Sally gave you that rocking chair or because that’s how it’s always been or maybe no other way makes sense. Y’all, if that item in your home isn’t something you love, use, or need, it’s time to part with it. If you're nervous, you can always temporarily store it somewhere else, like your garage or a friend or family member’s house, to be sure it was the right decision. But likely, you won’t miss it. And you will me amazed at how helpful it is in creating new space. So, just go item by item in the space you are considering and ask yourself if you love it or actually need it. In our family room, I love those storage benches! But, they were taking up a good amount of space, no one ever sat on them, and there were other storage options in the room. Being willing to part with them freed up an entire wall and that space was the perfect place to put our double desk. Remember, an item is rarely worth more than the function of the room.

Is the benefit worth the sacrifice?

While we don’t enjoy making sacrifices, the benefits are almost always worth it. Yes, you may lose a space with a certain function, like a home office, but consider the benefit of what you can do with that space, like use it as a play room or guest room. It’s okay to count the cost and it’s okay to grieve the loss of how you previously used the space. Changing a space can be heavy, like eliminating a baby nursery because you are no longer fostering, or getting rid of your home office because you no longer have that job or the freedom to work from home. But, changing a space can also be super fun and rewarding. I just paused from writing to take baby girl out to the living area and all three boys were sitting at the desk working (which we just moved in last night). Cue the warm fuzzy feelings. If you are in need of a new space in your home, it is almost always worth sacrificing a previously used, or unused, space.

Can you shop your home?

Y’all, I’m so addicted to this. When it comes to designing a space, there is nothing more fun that taking something you already own and moving it some where else. It’s completely guilt free, because it didn’t cost you a dime, and it usually renews your appreciation for the item. Also, talk about a hassle free return if it doesn’t work out. Also, when you are in need of space, unless something functional needs replacing, it’s better to avoid adding more stuff to take up more space. Always start by considering if you can use something you already have.

Let me know what you’re able to make room for by walking through this process! And remember, if you get stuck, I’m happy to help.

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