Jessica's Household Hints #1

Homeschooling moms are strange creatures.  While other moms might like gifts of diamonds and designer purses, we covet enough shelves to put all our books on.  Understandably, new shelves can make a homeschooling mom salivate.  Before I actually had a library, my books were all over the house.  Science books were in Jason’s room, history books were in Jordan’s room, and art and music books were in Rhett’s room.  Funny….that is the strength of each kid???  Imagine that. Where most women had numerous shoes or purses on their closet shelves, I had all the biographies.

But often times, moms cannot figure out where in the world to put more shelving feeling that every wall is already taken.  I would like to offer a few suggestions of how to work in more shelving.

·        Shelves can be put on any wall and then furniture can be placed in front of the shelves as if the shelves were a regular wall.  True, you might have to pull the couch out to get to the art books, but that is better than having the art books in a stack on the floor…. and with careful arrangement, less used books can be placed on more difficult to reach shelves.

·        What is wrong with turning your dining room into a library/dining?  That is very British indeed.  I often serve meals in my library, and it is a wonderful atmosphere.

·        Or, how about 6-8 inch deep shelves built-in down a wide hallway?

·        Wade, my resourceful husband, has built shelves completely around and over doorways before.  Remember, shelves do not have to be any deeper than your deepest book which may be between 6-7 inches.

·        Shelves can also be covered or hidden inexpensively by a curtain hung on a rod in front of them.  Cheap, unlined, curtains can be made from denim which comes in all colors.

·        Shelves can also be hidden as a piece of furniture.  A low set of shelves with a larger piece of wood nailed to the top of the shelf unit and then covered with a fabric tablecloth, can serve as a buffet piece in the dining room.  All the while it is actually hiding all your art supplies underneath it!!