Guess who’s coming to dinner? And possibly staying for breakfast and lunch, too? Life can unexpectedly deliver relatives to your doorstep, requiring both new accommodations and living arrangements. Experts in household organizing offer strategies to prepare your home for unexpected arrivals.
DECLUTTER
No matter who is showing up, whether a boomerang child, an aging parent or a child with offspring of his or her own, you need to make extra room.
Gayle Chillious, owner of Caring Transitions in Beachwood, recommends starting with the spare bedroom where things tend to accumulate. Set aside three large bags and fill them with trash, donation items or giveaways to other family members or friends. Start with closets, then dressers, then extra bathrooms. The clutter culprits most often are clothes, books, old TVs and CDs. Then try to tackle the kitchen and the basement. One tip: use a deadline to stay focused.
KID SPACE AND RULES
The arrival of an adult child and a young grandchild or two through events such as divorce or other life-altering circumstances quickly can turn a household upside down.
Jill Fiore and her husband, John Galloway, of North Olmsted, faced this situation and worked through solutions. Eleven years ago, their daughter Christy, now 38, moved into their house with her daughter Tori, now 14. Jill and John had just downsized to their child-free home when the new arrivals appeared. “It quickly became a struggle and the clutter came to a head,” Fiore says.
Clutter, a lack of space, and varying schedules are common issues when two or more generations suddenly find themselves sharing housing. It’s important to set ground rules at the outset, says Muffy Kaesburg, a professional organizer at Organizing 4 U.
“For example, after homework is completed at the kitchen table, everything must be removed so meal space is not disturbed,” she says, adding that family members of all ages must try to keep common spaces clean and avoid spreading their things everywhere.
Fiore says in their household (with Kaesburg’s help) they managed to take what were “points of conflict,” and transform them into “points of clarity.”
“The key was to have everyone follow the same rules, some of them strictly enforced by the youngest, Tori, who drafted and posted them where all could see,” she says.
STORAGE COUNTS
Saundra Wright, owner of Organized Wright in Canton, has storage secrets to share no matter who shows up. “If you are looking in a closet and can see a wall, you are not using the closet to its fullest potential.” Backs of closet doors should be adorned with hanging pockets, not just for shoes but also for mittens, flashlights and other random items.
If the family member arriving is a college graduate, Wright suggests moving their bedroom to the basement to minimize the disruption, especially if late night arrivals become an issue. She also notes that if the child is living is rent-free, they can offer assistance in other ways by doing chores or errands.
Re-making living space is a common theme when accommodating additional family members. With aging parents, a dining room can become a living room or a home office. Seniors often have a lot of paperwork.
“They don’t pay bills online,” Wright says. “Provide filing cabinets with hanging folders to help stay organized.”
Some folks also may have learned to keep things rather than to throw anything away. To motivate them to downsize and to purge some of their possessions, Wright recommends making donations to organizations that are near and dear to their heart. “They’ll be more receptive to letting things go.”
SAFETY FOR ALL
Safety issues are important for all ages. For older adults, Chillious recommends removing throw rugs because they may pose a tripping risk. Also, consider adding grab bars in bathrooms.
When it comes to having aging loved ones in the home, Kaesburg recommends home improvements such as widening doorways for wheelchairs. Adding ramps for easier access also may be required. Consult with a professional who tailors homes for seniors.
Kitchen counters may become messier with the accumulation of medications and other items used on a daily basis. Accept it and make room for the extra clutter.
“It’s a new reality,” Kaesburg adds. To maximize storage and to accommodate the extra items, use vertical space strategically. Incorporate high shelving and cupboards to store things that are used infrequently.
Storage strategies, clear rules and cooperation can help families like Jill Fiore and John Galloway’s and anyone else accommodating new household members.
“In my day, things were more autocratic where my dad’s rules were what we followed, and they weren’t applicable to everyone equally,” Fiore says. “Now, there is more equity among the generations. There are different norms.”
