Expert Guest Room Makeover Tips -- Just in Time for the Holidays
Paige Hemmis of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" offers simple & affordable ways to prepare for house guests this holiday season.
(PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- The guest room in any home can often be mistaken for a storage closet. Throughout the year it's most likely the only room that becomes a catch all for everything from skis and piñatas to linens and exercise equipment. Shutting the door and ignoring the problem may work for short visits, but with the holidays just around the corner, overnight guests are a sure thing. Paige Hemmis of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and author of "The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home Improvement" (available November 28) offers the following expert tips to easily and quickly get any home guest-friendly without breaking the bank.
* Create storage with multifunctional furniture. A chest or trunk doubles as storage space and a nightstand, which is a great way to stylishly disguise linens or extra pillows. Discount stores offer a variety of chests starting at only $50.00.
* Use room dividers to conceal boxes and equipment. Room dividers come in many colors and styles to match any room theme. They can quickly conceal exercise equipment, storage boxes and anything else that needs hiding. Prices start at around $180.00.
* Clean out the guest room closet. Donate clothing and coats to the Salvation Army or a local church and sell items such as rollerblades, sports equipment and board games on eBay for extra holiday cash.
* Utilize wall space with cubbies and shelves. This is a quick and simple solution to store books, CDs, DVDs, etc. It's also added space for personal touches like small plants and candles. Shop online discount stores for shelves starting at $15.00.
* Opt for a sofa bed or futon to increase floor space. Does the guest room double as an office? Ditch the full or queen bed for a space-saving sofa bed or futon. Futons are available in several styles and colors for around $200.00.
* Shoe racks are great for shoes too! Door-hanging shoe racks are ideal for storing accessories such as belts, ties, costume jewelry, and socks. Attach it to the back of a guest room door for added small item storage. Try this in the bath too for easy to reach sundries. Check specialty stores for a variety of styles starting around $20.00.
* Prepare clean linens. Wash all spare sheets and towels and store them somewhere handy, such as the trunk/nightstand. Avoid searching for matching sheets and towels at the last minute. Provide a hamper for guests to dispose of used linens.
* Check batteries for remotes, smoke alarms and check light bulbs. Replacing batteries in smoke alarms is something that should be done regularly to keep the entire household safe. Walk through the room to ensure that the TV remote control works, the clock is correct and the light bulbs are fresh. This is not only considerate; but it keeps guests from searching in messy closets and cupboards during the night.
* Increase under the bed storage with bed lifters. These remarkable items actually lift the bed up several inches to create great storage space. Use canvas storage totes or organizers to make the most of the area. Great for linens, electronics, air mattresses, overnight bags and anything else that lies flat. Find bed lifters at bed and bath stores for around $30 for a set of four.
* Install over the door hooks for hanging clothes. These are very inexpensive and great for hanging robes, towels or jackets. Door hooks come in many sizes and are available at home improvement, discount and bed and bath stores.
* Purchase a soft-sided wardrobe closet to store bulky items. Portable wardrobe closets are ideal for larger items such as ski clothes, winter coats, and costumes. Some include cedar inserts to help protect garments. Place in basement or garage for convenient extra storage all year long. These are affordably priced and available at discount and specialty stores.
* Give guests the four-star treatment. Make visitors feel special by filling the guest bathroom with travel size sundries collected from previous travels. Place in a basket with cotton swabs and potpourri. Travel size products can also be purchased at drug, discount and specialty stores for around $2.00 each.
Houseguests are a fact of life during the holidays, whether planned or not. By using Paige Hemmis' tips, now last minute cleanups can be avoided and visits from friends and family will be welcomed and much more enjoyable.
Paige Hemmis is a carpenter / designer on the ABC top-rated show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Sundays at 8p/7p. Paige is a self-taught carpenter, real estate entrepreneur and author of "The Tuff Chix Guide To Easy Home Improvement" (Plume.) For more information about Paige Hemmis and her Tuff Chix line of work wear for women, please visit: www.tuffchix.com
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