For three summers in a row–2017 to 2019–I had a roommate named Margo. And, yes, I do mean roommate–Margo and I were co-workers at a “Wilderness Lodge” (otherwise known as a hotel) in Alaska and we had a small, shared space in the employee housing facilities.
It’s common for companies in rural Alaska to provide dormitories for employees, especially during the busy summer tourist season. In fact, the state’s entire tourism industry relies on employees like Margo and me, who travel up from their homes in the “Lower 48” for four- or five-month long work contracts. The year-round population of Alaska is only about 737,000 people, hardly enough to support the 2.5 million tourists that visit the state every year between May and September.
Shoe Organizer
Margo had a shoe organizer she had purchased off of Amazon for less than 10 dollars, and it was perhaps the most-used item in our dorm room. Not only did it easily fold up and fit into her suitcase, once unfurled and hanging in the room it was easy to move around according to our needs. It could hang on the back of the room door, on either side of the closet door, or over the side of a bunk bed. We used the organizer’s mesh pockets for storing small items besides shoes–a hairbrush, a bottle of lotion, cans of soda, pairs of socks, sunglasses, etc.
During our third summer rooming together, Margo and I were assigned a tiny room. It felt like it was half the size of the rooms we’d had the previous two summers. At one point, eager for some extra space, Margo hung her shoe organizer on the outside of our door–in the hallway. We were already in the practice of taking off our shoes when we came inside the room, so we simply took off our shoes in the hallway and placed them in the organizer before entering the room. Many of the other girls on our hall complimented the shoe organizer and thought it was a genius idea.
Creative Storage Solutions
I myself was always interested to see what products and/or ingenuity my co-workers had utilized, on the occasions that I got to peek into their rooms. Some examples that come to mind (and that I spotted in more than one room) were small fans that clipped onto a bedframe (to provide white noise and air flow), nightlights and lamps (to provide an alternative to the harsh fluorescent overhead light), a small hot water kettle (to make tea, instant coffee, and simple food like oatmeal or ramen noodles.
I also still chuckle when I think of our co-worker Mike, who used the cardboard packaging left over from a six-pack of beer to tote his shampoo, body wash, toothpaste and brush back and forth from the men’s bathroom.
I don’t tell these anecdotes to recommend living in a dorm in the middle of Alaska (though, overall I had a great time and made lifelong friends) or to order a bunch of items on Amazon.com. The point I am trying to make is that less-than-ideal spaces–which can often mean small, shared spaces–can be an opportunity for creative solutions.
The Allure of Tiny Houses
Think of all of those “tiny house” shows on HGTV.
Why do people enjoy seeing tiny homes when so few of us will ever actually live in one? I think we enjoy seeing the innovation that goes into configuring a small living space: a lofted bed, or a “murphy bed” that folds into and out of a wall, a desk doubles as a breakfast table, stairs that double as storage compartments.
A sailboat or RV are other examples of uniquely-configured spaces. A tiny closet that doubles as a shower and toilet, a table that doubles as a bed, storage below bunk mattresses, nets and latching cabinets that allow items to be stored without sliding around in with every wave or bump in the road.
Small spaces are limits, and creativity often thrives within limits – think of the constraints of a poem’s form or a musical structure. It seems counterintuitive, but having fewer options can force us to think “outside the box” about the options we do have.
Getting Creative
Once I began to think more broadly about “shared housing as creativity,” I thought of other ways that, over the years, I’ve re-framed inconveniences as opportunities for creative solutions. Even something as simple as sharing a bathroom, can present a challenge if one of my housemates and I need to get ready for work at the same time. How can we tweak our respective schedules, in a way that is comfortable and not too inconvenient for either person? Can someone use the kitchen sink to brush their teeth while the other showers?
Obviously, this is an example of a less-than-ideal situation which wouldn’t work longterm, but occasionally you may run into schedule overlaps when you live with another person, or people.
In a shared house, economizing on space can especially come in handy in the kitchen and any shared bathrooms. There are only so many built-in shelves and cabinets for storage, and it may be difficult to divide the existing space evenly among every person’s personal items. Simple additions such as under-cabinet hooks for hanging coffee mugs can help make use of the space that is already there.
Getting Ideas
The good news is that there are thousands of products on the market that can make your life easier. Renovating your home is always an option (and you’ll find examples of homeowners augmenting their homes here on the Sharing Housing website), but short of a full-on re-configuration, how can you maximize the space in your home?
Now is a good time of year to get some ideas. As college kids head back to school, advertisements for “Dorm Room Essentials” abound. Extension cords with extra outlets, metal towel hooks that hang over a door, shelves that easily hang in the shower, sturdy plastic bed risers that allow for some extra underneath space…et cetera.
Even something as simple as moving furniture around can be a way to make a home more inviting to all household members. Maybe an armchair placed behind a tall shelf can make for a semi-private reading nook in the large open living area. Specifically designed room dividers can also come in handy.
What about you, Shared Housing readers? Have you come up with any innovative solutions in your past or current living spaces? Let us know in the comments.
Leave a Reply