By Mi-Ling Stone Poole –

DEAR MI-LING: We are holding Bible study in our home once a week. I have a long and narrow room that I need to turn into a study room for about 16 people. We have two long couches in that space now, but I need to add more tables and chairs which can be easily removed and put back the following week.Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how I can make this work?

Linda

DEAR LINDA: Turning your home into a classroom can be a little exhausting. You need to pick a design plan that is easy to put up and break down weekly. I prefer using products that I can dismantle myself. I don’t like to depend on other people to help me put items away.

To avoid that scenario and the frustration that follows, buy lightweight pieces that you can put away by yourself.

Try placing both of your couches in the middle of the room facing one another and running the length of the room. Place a long coffee table between the couches. At each end of the room, place one 8-foot banquet table with 10 chairs.

This plan should accommodate at least 20 people comfortably, and you can use your couches for overflow. It will allow your guests to have a writing surface.

Plastic resin-styled tables are a lighter weight than traditional folding tables and they hold up quite well. You can find this type of table at most Sam’s Club stores for around $135.

This should make your life a little easier once a week when Bible study rolls around. You should be able to store the tables in your garage, or place them in the back yard and cover them with plastic.

Another option would be to purchase folding chairs and a couple of sets of TV trays. During football season you can usually find sets of wooden trays in packages of four for around $30 dollars. TV trays are easy to store and they usually come with their own storage unit.

Share your tips on creating a space for a meeting in your space!