Design Question
What can I do to make my townhouse extra comfy for my 12 year old niece coming over in the summer? She is from England and it’s just me, my dad, and my cat. I have never met her and neither has my dad. She is coming alone I think. I don’t know how long she is coming for.
It’s a 2 bedroom so she is going to have to sleep in the living room. I was going to buy a sectional couch and put the sections together to form a bed. (I don’t have a couch so I was going to buy one anyways).
What little touches can I do to my house to make it extra comfy for her? Thanks
Design Answer
There are ways to make a guest comfortable when you don’t have a guest room. A sectional is a good choice, as long as you select one that includes a pop-up trundle unit or a sleeper sofa (also called a sofa bed). A sectional with a trundle will convert the available sleeping area from twin size to full size. More room equals more comfort.
Since you intend on purchasing a couch anyway, there are other dual-purposes sofa/bed options worth considering. A futon is designed to be used as a sofa by day and a bed at night. Sofa beds have a pull-out bed that is part of the sofa; it can be unfolded from inside the couch and then retracted when not being used as a bed. A convertible sofa is like a futon in that it can be used as both a couch and a bed, but you don’t have to purchase a separate mattress for it as you would for a futon sofa.
If either you or your dad is in the habit of watching late night television, put a small TV in one or both of your rooms. This will give your niece the freedom to turn in when she wants.
Especially since you don’t know how long she’ll be staying, when visiting someplace you’ve never been before, there’s nothing worse than having to live out of a suitcase. If possible, rearrange the closet closest to the living room as “her” space. Make room for her clothes; add a small dresser or chest of drawers in the closet so that she can conveniently store her things. If there’s room, include a hamper for her laundry.
Are there two bathrooms in your townhouse? If possible to share one with your dad, give her the other one. If not, clear out a drawer and/or part of a cabinet that she can use to store her shampoo and other beauty products.
In the event that you also need to buy end tables, select ones with a combination of drawers and at least one shelf. End tables that can function as nightstands will make the living room feel more like a guest room. It will also allow your guest to keep the things she uses the most close to hand. If there are bookshelves in the living room, place baskets or storage trays in a section of the bookcase or shelving unit to give your niece a handy place to tidy away articles of clothing, souvenirs and her camera or other electronic devices.
I’m sure you’ve already done so, but check to see that your niece is not allergic to your cat. If she is, plan on vacuuming the living room on a daily basis and keeping the cat off of the sofa.
Since she will be sleeping in a “communal” area, anything that you can think of that will create the illusion of her own room, will make her feel all that more welcome and comfortable.
Have a great visit with your niece!
Keep sending me your design questions, and especially if you’re asking for advice regarding wall color, tips on rearranging a specific room etc., include pictures if you can.
