Incredible Makeover | Reclaim the Girls’ Space
This family of five share a 400-square-foot public housing unit. How can the members, each with different priorities and needs, get some precious personal space? The Ma family have been living here since 2004. The eldest daughter is now a full-time worker working shifts, and the other two teenage sisters have different personalities. The girls would love to have some private space, but the parents cannot afford a bigger home, and they felt guilty about it. How did the IKEA team help them tackle the challenges?
Challenges
(1) The sofa in the living room was not big enough and did not match the style of their home; (2) the dining table was taken up by random objects, so the family had to use a foldable table and sit on the sofa and foldable chairs; (3) the space was occupied materials to be recycled, daddy’s belongings for work, the daughters’ musical instruments, books and other items; (4) the second daughter did not have her own bed or desk
| A simple solution to create the ideal home and transform the layout for the Ma family, so that they can eat together around the table, sit on the sofa to watch TV, and enjoy quality family time. |
| A simple solution to create the ideal home and transform the layout for the Ma family, so that they can eat together around the table, sit on the sofa to watch TV, and enjoy quality family time. |
A harmonious living room
Mixing light tone furniture with textiles to create an idyllic, harmonious style. The bookcase with double storage space can hold two rows of books on each shelf.
Dining room with smart storage
Matching bookcase and wardrobe from the same series create a more consistent look while providing ample storage space. The space-saving drop-leaf table can offer extra space when needed.
An organised and handy hallway
The shelves keep essentials like face masks and power banks well organised, while other items can be found underneath. Foldable chairs by the dining table will come in handy during mealtime, and a shoe rack close to the door offers space for their favourite shoes. The sorting bags with handles also make recycling easier.
Private spaces in a shared room
Now every girl has her own bed. The older sister who has to work shifts has a loft bed with a blackout curtain to keep out the light. Her younger sisters also have their desks for study.
Walls and narrow spaces now serve as storage spots. For example, seasonal items are stored under the beds, wall cabinets above the upper deck keep everything in order, and the narrow space between the desk and the wall is now home to suitcases, music instruments and other big items, taking storage to the next level.
An airy space for the parents
The parents' room now feels more spacious as many items are stored under the ottoman bed, and the father's collection is kept in the hanging cabinets. As the large frames are matched with smaller doors, the hanging cabinets can combine storage and display.
