Converting Your Attic To Living Space

Converting Your Attic To Living Space

Linda is a seasoned writer and bedrooms authority. She loves sharing design trends, decor ideas, and useful tips with her readers.

A while back I penned an article about design secrets for small apartments. Since many of us are downsizing these days, I thought the subject warranted a second look. Actually, there are many ways to make the most of your cramped quarters.

Some of these ideas will involve getting your landlord's permission, if you are a renter. If you position these changes as property improvements, your landlord may be happily agree. Just be aware that some of your nifty changes may have to stay with the apartment when you move. The other ideas involve changing your perceptions about space usage, using different types of furnishings, and being efficient with furniture placement.

A small space doesn't have to be a negative. In fact, there are a number of pluses to living small. First and foremost, it takes less time to clean a small dwelling. You are also forced to become more organized, and that's a good thing. It also costs less to heat and cool fewer rooms.

In This Article

1. Hallway Dining Room
2. Multipurpose Kitchen Table
3. Simple Bedroom Furniture
4. Multipurpose Office
5. Countertop Vanity
6. Use the "Dead" Space Under the Stairs
7. Plan the Space
8. Layer Colors
9. Take Cues From Hotel Bathrooms
10. Create Book Nooks
11. Go Vertical
12. Clear Tables
13. Murphy Beds
14. Bunk Beds
15. Armless Seating

From Hallway to Dining Room

kowaleski, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

From Hallway to Dining Room

The photo above is the perfect example of changing your perception of how a space is used. You'll notice the pass through to this kitchen has mirrored closets along one wall. This creative tenant wisely converted the space into valuable square footage by outfitting it with a small, drop leaf dinette set. Now it is perfect for a candlelight dinner, a spot to do homework, or a part-time home office, rather than simply using the long, narrow space as a pass through from one room to another.

Multi-Purpose Kitchen Table

audinou, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Multi-Purpose Kitchen Table

If you are lucky enough to have an eat-in kitchen, why not let the table pull double duty as an additional work surface. This picnic-type table can be called upon for food prep if counter space is limited. And, as in our hallway example above, can be used for non-kitchen-related activities, such as tackling household finances or crafting with family.

Keep It Simple

PRINSOTEL HOTELS, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Keep It Simple

Resist the temptation to overfill a small bedroom with furniture. An uncluttered space is more calming and conducive to rest and relaxation. Our example room has a low dresser and nightstands. A large mirror leaning against the wall gives the illusion of more space. A headboard outfitted with light fixtures eliminates the need for bedside lamps. A floor lamp provides additional ambient light without taking up space. A wall-mounted flat screen television would complete the minimalistic vibe in this small bedroom.

A Room for All Reasons

Better Homes and Gardens

A Room for All Reasons

At first glance, this cheerful room appears to be a home office. Upon closer inspection, you'll note a small sofa or loveseat, an ottoman, and reading lamps. Sure, space is at a premium, but it is being used to its full potential. If you have a home-based business, this room will serve as command central during the day. At night you can cozy up with a good book, soft music, and a glass of wine, and unwind from your hectic day.

The office setup is pretty easy to accomplish. Your home improvement center has tracks, brackets, and laminate shelves to convert an empty wall into storage for office and miscellaneous household items. The "desk" is probably no more than a folding metal work table dressed with a gathered skirt attached with velcro. Place a piece of custom-cut glass on the table top, for an easily cleanable work surface. Tuck a file cabinet or two under the table skirt for hidden document storage.

Instant Vanity

seamus_walsh, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Instant Vanity

If you're dealing with a tiny bathroom and have extra space in the bedroom or hallway, why not install a countertop to use as a vanity area. In this photo, a pre-made section of countertop was positioned between a side wall and wardrobe unit. To provide maximum support, install using French cleats along the back wall and at least one side. As with most of these ideas, the vanity can also be used as a desk to catch up on personal correspondence.

Solution for "Dead" Space

Better Homes and Gardens

Solution for "Dead" Space

The wasted "dead" space under stairs offers a great place to carve out additional storage when you're living small. This particular idea expands kitchen storage—use it for kitchenware overflow, pantry items, pet supplies, or as a wine closet. Using the cleat system, install an upper shelf as a countertop. To keep the need for carpentry to a minimum, purchase tracks, brackets, and shelves for the lower portion. Leave the shelves open or gather two rod pocket curtain panels on a tension rod placed just below the top shelf.

This idea creates extra storage no matter where your staircase is located. It makes a cute mini-library for books, or a place to tuck away toys, DVDs and other household clutter. To organize smaller items, place them in labeled plastic bins. That way, you'll always be able to find what you need!

Space Planning at Its Best

Paris Sharing, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Read More From Dengarden

Space Planning at Its Best

Who says you can't get everything you need in a small room? This living/dining room is the perfect example of proper furniture choices and placement. You have a couch, sizable coffee table and chair to anchor the room. A wall-mounted television frees up surface space. A low credenza under the TV gives you a lovely place to display accessories and store things below. The bookcase give you more display and storage. The contemporary table and chairs are a great place for an intimate dinner for two or a spot to finish up paperwork at the end of the day.

The Ultimate in Space Planning!

Layers of Color

Apartment Therapy

Layers of Color

Add depth to a diminutive space by layering colors. The first layer consists of the kitchen backsplash, which is a chocolate stone or brick. The lower kitchen cabinet, visible to the rest of the space, is a sunny yellow. The wall partially enclosing the kitchen is a rich pumpkin orange. The partial wall creating the front entry, is painted in bright, springtime green. Your eye takes in the different layers of colors on vertical surfaces and your brain processes it as added depth and space.

Hotel Bathroom Tricks

Theme Park Mom, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Hotel Bathroom Tricks

We've all been in smallish hotel bathrooms and have marveled at the clever use of space, vowing to try some of those tricks at home. In our above bathroom example, several ideas come to mind. To increase space in a tub/shower combination, install a curved shower curtain rod. It's amazing how a few inches of extra space makes the shower area feel twice as big! Open shelving below the sink is another trick that gives the illusion of extra space in the bathroom. If you lack towel rod space on the walls, install rods directly to the front surface of your sink vanity.

Nook for Books

Colleen Duffley, Metropolitan Home

Nook for Books

Here's another fabulous way to convert an awkward area into much needed storage. Often, small, older apartments and homes have weird little nooks that serve no useful purpose. Choose the type of shelving that works best with your décor and make the most of that funky indentation. Chunky, dark wood shelves turns this architectural afterthought into a beautiful display area for special keepsakes and books. A matching dark ceiling and recessed light really make these shelves a design statement.

Go Vertical

Better Homes and Gardens

Go Vertical

Here's a solution for those of us with a single pedestal sink in a small bathroom. While this type of sink adds vintage character, it gives us no place for storage. Flanking the sink with two vertical cabinets takes up little space (providing you have room for them!) and adds needed height to a tight room. Cabinet sides are also the perfect place to install towel hooks. Just make sure the materials will hold up to humid bathroom conditions. Glues used in particleboard and veneer construction may separate when exposed to excessive moisture.

Seeing Clearly

jo-h, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Seeing Clearly

If your search for the perfect coffee table has left you feeling claustrophobic, consider one with a clear top. A coffee table topped with glass or acrylic is virtually invisible in the room. It gives the impression of space in the center of a seating group. This choice may not be best if you have little ones running around the house. This drawback aside, clear coffee tables open up a room and add a touch of sophistication to your small living room.

Murphy's Law

Associated Fabrication, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Murphy's Law

A Murphy bed is one of the oldest space savers in the book. According to the Murphy Bed Company, the first of these beds were made in 1918 in San Francisco. This proves that living small is far from a new concept.

Murphy beds are a genius solution for homeowners short on space, but long on creativity. They are a great way to utilize every inch of a studio apartment. Plus they're much more comfortable than a convertible sofa bed and allow you to keep the bed made up even when it is in the wall. Most modern Murphy bed systems come in a cabinet unit with finishes that compliment your furnishings. You can also choose coordinating desk units, cabinets and bookcases to create a work/sleep configuration.

New Twist on Bunks

Home-Designing

New Twist on Bunks

Kids love bunk beds, but traditional bunk beds are bulky. Enter the fold up bunk bed! These bunk beds fold lengthwise into a wall system to give the kids room to play or study during the day. The Lollipop system above features an integrated ladder that doubles as bed support and optional folding headboards. The company offers closets, work stations and wall storage units to completely outfit your child's room without taking up too much space.

Disarming Charm

Better Homes and Gardens

Disarming Charm

For super close rooms, select armless sofas, sectionals and chairs. Arms eat into traffic patterns and become obstacles in a tiny room. Armless seating looks sleek and lightweight, giving your living room an airy feeling, which translates into spaciousness (at least in the mind's eye!)

Questions & Answers

Question: What are the trendy designs for a living room?

Answer: Trendy living rooms today are designed with modern lines and simple furnishings. Neutral tones and wood keep things clean while the pops of color and metallics make a big statement in terms of non-traditional living rooms. It gives an artsy feel that arises from its combination of modern, bohemian and Scandinavian that gives it a contemporary feel.

© 2012 Linda Chechar

What Do You Think About These Ideas for Living Small?

Marina Sark on July 08, 2020:

perfect ideas

Dcode Interiors from Kochi on November 14, 2018:

Thank You for share valuable information. We are the most famous interior designers company in Kochi, Kerala. More details about our company please visit... https://dcodeinteriors.com/

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on June 10, 2015:

You are welcome, EstherHDS. I remember those days! I hope this will help you make the most of your small space!

Esther from Amsterdam on June 10, 2015:

Thank you for your great ideas! As a student with a tiny room, I can really use it:)

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on March 06, 2015:

Thank you for reading, Kristen! A small end table sounds like a good addition in the bedroom--it's always nice to have a spot for a table lamp and a couple of small accessories.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on March 06, 2015:

Great and clever ideas, Linda. My new apartment bedroom have a bed, dresser and one painting. I might fit a small end table there real soon--I'm using my drying rack there for the moment. Voted up!

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on February 07, 2015:

You're welcome, Jacobb920! Don't forget to read my companion Hub, Design Secrets for Small Apartments https://dengarden.com/interior-design/Design-Secre...

Jacobb9205 on February 07, 2015:

Great ideas, thank you! :)

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on November 07, 2014:

Medicadavline, I'm so glad you enjoyed this Hub. Give it a go and see if some of these ideas will work in your home!

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on November 07, 2014:

Arco Hess Designs, thanks for checking out this Hub. I agree, some people try to overdo even the smallest of spaces. In this case, less is more. And yes, mirrors do create the illusion of more space. Perfect for small apartments!

Medica Ery Davline from United States on November 07, 2014:

Hai Lindacee..

I enjoy this article because it is very detail. I really love the nook for books. I hope I can make it in my home. Thanks.... :)

Arco Hess from Kansas City, Kansas on November 07, 2014:

You have some fantastic tips. A lot of people seem to love putting a million things in a small place. It is definitely best to go with the bare necessities and keep things minimal so that a place seems bigger than it is. Also, mirrors!

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on April 30, 2014:

And erorantes, I thank you for reading this Hub and your kind comment. :)

Ana Maria Orantes from Miami Florida on April 30, 2014:

Hello miss lindacee. I like your article on Living Small : More Desing Ideas For Small Spaces. You have nice ideas for small places. My favorite is the bed that rest on the wall. I like the nook and the bathroom décor. Thank you for your hub.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on June 01, 2012:

Tamara, any piece of furniture taking up valuable space in a small environment. Like tables and chairs that limit traffic patterns. Instead of having a grouping of chairs around a coffee table, opt for a integrated coffee table with ottomans that tuck neatly underneath when not in use. Ditch the traditional dining table for a wall-mounted fold down version. And, of course, a bed eats up space that could be used for other purposes during the day. As I mentioned, the Murphy bed is an old invention that solves modern space planning issues. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Tamara Wilhite from Fort Worth, Texas on June 01, 2012:

What bulky items do most people have that you think can be done without?

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on March 28, 2012:

Prairieprincess, thank you! So happy my Hub gave you a few new ideas. Living small can be a challenge, but it really helps us get those creative juices flowing!

Sharilee Swaity from Canada on March 28, 2012:

I enjoyed reading this. My home is pretty small, so I am always on the lookout for new ways to add space and functionality. I liked the ideas that involved making use of small little corners. It makes me want to re-examine some of my rooms, too. Thanks for this! Very useful.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on March 28, 2012:

Thanks alocsin! Yeah, the bathroom is pretty important. Sharing one with two other apartments doesn't work for me! Glad you enjoyed my Hub! Cheers

Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on March 28, 2012:

Just goes to show that you don't need a lot of space to live comfortably. But that 78-square foot apartment is bizarre to me because it doesn't have a bathroom. I really need a bathroom. Voting this Up and Interesting.

Converting Your Attic To Living Space

Source: https://dengarden.com/interior-design/Living-Small-Design-Ideas-for-Small-Spaces

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Black Leather Sofa Living Room Decor

Black Leather Sofa Living Room Decor

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

It's the centrepiece of the living room and gets a lot of use, so choosing a sofa that looks good and feels cosy is important. But don't underestimate the potential that styling can bring – a sofa will look bare without accessories and over cluttered with too many.

It's all about finding the perfect balance, and it goes beyond throws and cushions, although these accessories are good places to start. To achieve a cohesive look, think about the surrounding area, such as plants, floor lamps and a rug, for example. Here are 9 ways to style your sofa like a pro.

Adding a throw or blanket on your sofa is not only handy for cosy evenings, but it can add a pop of colour to your scheme, or if it's neutral, can soften the overall design. During spring/summer, choose patterned thin throws to energise a room, and swap for a chunky wool throw in autumn/winter.

'You can either drape it around the top of the sofa or on the arms to create a cosy feel,' says interior designer Vanessa Arbuthnott. 'It is a great way to bring in an added texture and perfect for snuggling up on winter nights,'

You could also place your throw over the seat cushions – this can help to preserve the cushion fabric as well as providing protection from dogs, cats and children.

• Shop throws right now •

Dos Recycled Cotton Throw - Coral Pink

Wool Waffle Throw - Grey

House Beautiful Homebase

£50.00

Plain Wool Throw - Mustard

John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com

£80.00

'You can transform your sofa by layering in new cushions –it's the ultimate easy update,' says Sarah Keady, House Beautiful's Style Director. 'Mix different texture and fabrics together with accessories to add interest to your sofa and keep it all super tactile.'

If you opt for patterned cushions, then cluster together groups of geometric pillows, for example. Place each one on each sofa cushion for a look that is well thought out, suggests Vanessa. Place some colour block pillows in between to really brighten up the room.

Darcy sofa in Aqua from the House Beautiful collection at DFS. Photographer: Polly Wreford | Stylist: Jen Haslam | Production: Sarah Keady.

Also, different cushion shapes can trick the eye, it all depends on how you place them. 'Use a rectangular cushion in front of two square cushions as this gives the illusion of different height levels,' says Vanessa.

• Shop cushions right now •

Kili Set of 2 Fringed Velvet Cushions

Printed Foil Cushion

marksandspencer.com

£15.00

Velvet Linen Cushion

House Beautiful Homebase

£18.00

Adding a medium or large plant to the side of the sofa balances your space and creates a natural and light ambience. 'Try and opt for a vibrant all green plant as it soothes the eye and provides a modern yet balanced look,' suggests Vanessa.

To really frame your space, invest in a tall indoor plant. We especially love these low maintenance varieties: Swiss Cheese Plant, Kentia Palm and Areca Palm.

'Introduce a tall plant for height and spread, like a Kentia Palm or a Fiddle Leaf Fig which sit so well behind a sofa or in a corner with the right light. To make more of a feature, add a collection of different plants in varying heights – plants like Philodendrons and Monsteras love growing alongside one another, so experiment placing them together,' explain the plant experts at Leaf Envy.

• Shop plants right now •

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant

80cm Kentia Palm - Howea Forsteriana

Areca Palm - Dypsis lutescens

A lighting feature on the other side of your sofa will frame the look and help you create an inviting lighting scheme. Look for a floor lamp to add height and choose warm bulbs to add a cosy feeling. If your sofa is more on the neutral side, then invest in a brightly coloured lampshade.

'Lighting is so important in living rooms – use task lights to create a cosy corner as the evening draws in, ideal for a reading nook,' says Sarah.

GUBI 9602 Floor Lamp, Nest

Nest

• Shop floor lamps right now •

Like you would with a bedside table in your bedroom, bookend your sofa with an end table or side table. 'A side table next to your sofa is great to keep everything within arms reach whilst you relax,' says Sarah. 'It doesn't need to be big, just enough for the essentials like a cuppa and the remote control.'

Caesar Side Table from By Boo, Cuckooland

Cuckooland

• Shop side tables right now •

Brass Top Side Table

marksandspencer.com

£99.00

Bertsch Side Table

Wrought Studio wayfair.co.uk

£127.99

Madison Square Side Table

A coffee table is a living room essential and is often centred, placed directly in front of the sofa. They're brilliant places to stack books and show off flowers, and ideal for the remote control, newspapers and magazines. If you're also working with a side table, ensure the space isn't too cluttered.

• Shop coffee tables right now •

Simmonds Coffee Table, Brass & White Marble

swooneditions.com

£349.00

Halo Wood Coffee Table

House Beautiful Homebase

£79.00

Jimi Vintage Two-Tier Coffee Table

Rugs are a great way to add some texture or pattern in your space and bring all of your furniture together. You might prefer to have a soft and sumptuous rug directly in front of your sofa; perfect for sinking your feet into at the end of a long day! If possible, avoid 'the floating rug' look – this is where you have a small rug in the middle of the room touching no furniture. Instead, choose a large rug which enables you to place it underneath the sofa, or at least for the sofa feet to sit on the perimeter of the rug.

• Shop rugs right now •

Footstools, pouffes and ottomans perfectly complement a sofa (especially if it's a matching set) and some, dependent on its size, work great for seating extra guests. Some footstools come with storage features so are perfect for stowing away magazines, throws, blankets, and the like.

• Shop footstools right now •

Plymouth ottoman

swooneditions.com

£299.00

Velvet Pouffe

grahamandgreen.co.uk

£195.00

If you have space above your sofa ensure you optimise it, as this is your focal point which pulls people's gaze towards the sofa. This could be your favourite artwork or a cluster of family photos. 'It can be a nice touch to fill some wooden frames with a few bold colours which mirror your sofa colours and coordinate with your theme,' says Vanessa.

'The sofa is often the investment piece of your living room so give it the love it deserves by framing it with your favourite prints,' adds Sarah.

Whatever you choose, go for an arrangement which is symmetrical and visually appealing. 'It may sound obvious, but how you frame, mount or display your artwork can change how you see it. A smaller artwork or photograph can instantly be made twice the size simply by getting it reframed with a mount and a new contemporary frame,' says Elinor Olisa Barikor, seasoned art expert and co-founder of DegreeArt.com, an online gallery which has just partnered with sofa.com to launch an exclusive collection of limited-edition wall art.

'Another trick is to try painting a square or rectangle directly on the wall (a sample pot from a DIY store should be enough) and hanging your artwork over a colour block to make it truly pop.'

• Shop wall art right now •

Textured Blue Abstract - Print Set Of 3

Home abstracthouse.com

£194.00

Autumn Leaves Framed Print

Allison Pearce johnlewis.com

£140.00

Scallop Shell Duo Print Set

Sister Deux notonthehighstreet.com

US$45.00

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Black Leather Sofa Living Room Decor

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/decorate/living-room/a35617684/how-to-style-sofa/

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Black Living Room Set Ideas

Black Living Room Set Ideas

Living Room Decorating Ideas

iStock

The living room is one of the most important areas in your house for a great hosting experience. It's likely you and your guests will spend countless hours in this room, discussing and entertaining.

Decorating your living room properly will deliver deeply satisfying living for your leisure time. To get there, however, you must pay attention to all of the following areas:

1. the colors that you select

2. material and quality of seats and furniture

3. wall decorations and art

4. lighting and light fixtures

Below we show you some great ideas for decorating your living room.

The Best Colors for Your Living Room

One area that will have a disproportionate impact on the mood of your living room is the color you choose for the walls. While you can install wallpaper to change the look of certain walls, there are areas that wallpaper cannot cover. Getting the wall color right, therefore, gives you the best shot at creating a remarkable effect.

Some of the best color palettes for living rooms include:

1. White - White walls add a touch of class. They are the perfect backdrop for decorating with upscale furniture.

2. Turquoise - This color is great for creating an informal but refined feel. Your kids and family will love the refreshing mood this color creates.

3. Cream - Striking a balance between formal and informal, cream-colored walls create a quiet, soothing effect.

Furniture Choices

With your wall color selection made, you should select furniture that pairs well with the colors you've already chosen. For example, combining white couches with white walls will create resonance in your room design.

Make sure to provide ample seating to avoid crowding. Add multiple sofas, easy chairs and other seats that can accommodate a complete roomful of people, depending on the size of the room.

Furniture like TV stands and tables should generally blend in with the colors of the room and ceiling. There are some natural materials, however, that can work regardless of the colors on the walls. For example, wooden table surfaces look good whether your walls are white, blue or another color.

Lighting Ideas

You can greatly improve the aesthetics of a living room with bright lighting and impressive light fixtures.

To start, you can consider a beautiful chandelier in the center to provide light around the whole room. This central masterpiece ensures adequate lighting throughout the living room while adding an air of elegance.

You can then add to the light sources in the living room with individual lights on tables and around the walls in areas where people will not knock them down.

Carpeting

Consider adding carpeting to your living room to create a comfortable walking area. Carpeting lets you and your guests go barefoot if you choose. The living room almost demands this since you will want to take off your shoes and kick back on occasion. Warm plush carpets provide a good, comfortable surface for this. There are many choices when it comes to carpet size.

If your living room is very large, you can opt for wall-to-wall carpeting. On the other hand, if it's smaller, you can add just an area rug in the place where you will sit. For example, you can have a rug around the sitting and TV area where your kids will play.

The advantage of area rugs over wall to wall carpeting is, mainly, lower costs and ease of replacement. You can completely change the area rug and create a new aesthetic in a fraction of the time it would take to begin installing new wall-to-wall carpeting.

Art Ideas for Your Living Room

Many homeowners like to have some wall art in their living room. If your living room is spacious, it can accommodate a good-sized piece of art mounted alongside one wall. In some instances, you can consider multiple art pieces. Invariably, tasteful art adds to the sophistication of a living room. It adds an interesting item that sparks many conversations from impressed guests.

Selecting art is an opportunity to express your unique personality. If you are fairly conservative, you can select some classical type pieces that portray a quiet life. If you are more adventurous, you can experiment with a post-modern impressionist piece that others might consider risky. It's your space, and so feel free to decorate it to express who you are.

Black Living Room Set Ideas

Source: https://www.life123.com/home-garden/decor/living-room-decorating-ideas?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740009%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

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The Living Room Il

The Living Room Il

The Living Room Alcove at Turning Point, Skokie, Illinois

The Living Room at Turning Point, Skokie, Illinois

A person with a mental health emergency will tell you that going to an emergency room of a hospital is to be avoided at all costs unless you have already undertaken a violent action like attempting suicide. Being bloody, vomiting, or violently striking out – then most likely you will be in the clutches of the police -- will get you immediate help. Otherwise if you look reasonably rational, you sit and stew for hours until finally called to begin emergency room routines of filling out the paper work before the standard procedures of temperature, pulse, EKG, and perhaps even blood collecting are imposed. After this you have a long wait for the results in the institutional environment of many chairs in rows or facing each other under the attentive eye of a security guard. Finally you get to meet an ER doctor or a nurse, who will begin the questioning. ER personnel are trained to deal with triage. They often appear bored, since the mental health patient may not look like an emergency -- no bleeding, no peculiarly bent appendages, no gasping for breath.

These medical emergency practitioners are usually not trained for mental health emergencies and the questions they ask can border on the inane. "What brings you here tonight?" the nurse asks while flipping through your new chart. "Is what you are feeling really an emergency?" Her tone might be suspicious of your intent. "Well, I was feeling extremely depressed." "Are you anxious about something? Can you name it?" "No! I just feel life is not worth living?" "And why is that? Are you afraid of something?" "Well I was in my apartment alone in the dark." "Ah, do shadows bother you?" "No, but I didn't want to turn on the lights. I just wanted the world to disappear." "Does the Emergency Room scare you?" "Yeah a little, but my girlfriend thought you could help me out." "Are you hearing voices?" "No, but I am thinking about death." "Are you actively planning to kill yourself or someone else?" "No, but the thought crosses my mind I would be better off dead."

The questions are myriad and different from facility to facility, but they never fail to make person questioned diminished. Up against the institution of a hospital, the mental patient feels as if his or her problem isn't grand enough to gain the attention of the staff. Each person experiencing this kind of treatment feels a little less human and a little less important. If the questions don't lead to a person admitting he or she is planning to kill himself or herself or someone else, which is the ticket to the mental ward, a person seeking mental health help will often be dismissed from the hospital. Perhaps if he or she is lucky, there might be a prescription to get through this moment of trouble, along with the "there, there pat" that everything will be all right.

The whole process is inefficient and extremely costly because a mental health emergency is treated like any other emergency, initiating tests and procedures, which are unnecessary. If the patient is poor then the cost is born by the state. It doesn't have to be this way, and progressive mental health providers like Skokie, Illinois' Turning Point, a behavioral health center serving the North Side of Chicago, have done something about it. They have started a program and dedicated a space to a program they call "The Living Room." Here a person suffering a mental health emergency can come and find a safe and caring haven. The space looks like a living room with couches, chairs, tables, and lamps in a residential style. One can come and get help or can just "cool out." There is no pressure. There is an intake person, who signs someone in and gets the basic information on what is troubling them. There is a psychologist available if the person wants to talk and a nurse, otherwise the walk-in is left alone unless unruly in behavior. The police in Skokie and surrounding town now bring the mental health cases to Turning Point instead of going to emergency rooms.

The Living Room at Turning Point opened in September2011. The Living Room offers people experiencing psychiatric emergencies a welcoming, comfortable, and non-clinical space. Unfortunately, because of budget limitations the Living Room is not open five days a week nor on weekends. Despite this, the Living Room handled 228 visits, which resulted in only 15 emergency room referrals. According to Ann Raney, CEO of Turning Point, this is a deflection rate of 93% that saved the state of Illinois an estimated $500,000 in Medicaid health care costs.

In December 2011, Turning Point received a $1.2 million grant from the North Suburban Healthcare Foundation in Chicago. The grant has allowed Turning Point to purchase a neighboring building to expand its facility and house other mental health organizations. It is hoped that some of this money will be used to expand the hours of operation of the Living Room.

The Living Room model is an idea that should be embraced across the country by many mental health providers. This kind of compassionate and caring space provides those in psychiatric crisis a place to take refuge, take stock of their situation, and find the appropriate help without the formality and impersonality of the Emergency Room. As Turning Point has already demonstrated this idea is not only appropriate, it is cost effective. In a time of dwindling mental health care dollars, channeling funds to organizations with facilities like the Living Room make fiscal sense. Let the politicians know we need more mental health Living Rooms.

The Living Room Il

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-bipolar-coaster/201306/the-living-room-turning-point-skokie-illinois

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