Match your house to your new needs

They say that the only thing that is inconsistent about life is its inconsistencies, and hence fighting change is like fighting the wind — totally futile. This rings true even in our homes.

Like its owners, a home never stays the same, it grows not physically but in terms of the functionality it provides. Unfortunately, many homeowners are often slow to adapt to these changes and thus the house becomes a difficult space to live in as clutter grows.

The obvious answer to such a predicament is to re-assess the new ways the house is being used and redecorate the home for these purposes. This is easier said than done, so here are a few ways to decorate your house as your needs change.

Little ones

On the arrival of children, a house needs to become child friendly and this requires keeping any potential hazards away from child.

Furniture with sharp edges, and hazardous substances like alcohol and cleaning products should either be put away or placed beyond their reach.

Get rid of small home accessories such as figurines that can pose a choking hazard to children. Aside from baby proofing the home, the space must also be made to accommodate the needs of its new pint sized occupants.

In the living room for instance, it is a good idea to have an upholstered fabric box that can double up as a stool and storage for toys.

In the bathroom, a slip proof step stool would go a long way in helping toddlers reach the sink without adult assistance. The balcony, or external areas is also another space that can be changed to allow for play, a small swing set or good old wooden rocking horse would add a bit of charm and fun all at the same time.

The older ones

Sometimes a home has to change because of the arrival of an elderly person or a convalescent. Often, this requires that one prepares a room for the duration of the stay. It should be one that is closest to the bathroom and on the ground floor if living in a two-storey house.

 In the bathroom, it would be a good idea to add a safety bar on the side of the shower to act as support, on the bathroom floor, it is important to get a slip proof bathroom rug to eliminate the risk of falls. Be sure to add a personal touch to the elderly person’s space by adding some of the things they love —flowers, books, whatever you can do to give it a personalised touch.

Business as usual

Entrepreneurship is no longer the new buzzword, but the order of the day for many.

Naturally some of the easiest businesses to set up are the a home based business.

For a desk, you could add a slim console table behind one of your sofas in your living room to create a simple and understated desk, keep some paper boxes underneath the table for your printing supplies.

If you need to store some stock, you can add some open shelves in your laundry area or pantry to create some extra storage.

Perfect host

It may be that you begin to find yourself playing host more frequently than before; a good way to adapt to this is to add hidden seating options like foldable chairs or inexpensive stackable chairs.

Also add a few trays to your kitchen “collection”, to add a different touch, have one of your favourite photos enlarged and laminated to place on the base of the trays.

Last but not least get an extendable dining table that can increase in length upon demand to accommodate larger parties.