How can I make the space nice for our trip

[RosieDel]

I live very far away overseas. We are coming back to visit my parents in the summer. I love my parents but (without going into detail - you'll have to take my word for it) they are useless in many ways.

Their house is a 3 bed but not huge and me and my two DCs (10 and 7) will be staying there. The house is always half finished, for eg they will spend money on the garden getting a gazebo they don't use, but the top attic bedroom has no curtains, one thin carpet with no underlay and you can hear everything in the bedrooms below. It has no bed in it at the moment.

I have in the past stayed elsewhere but it isn't really practical this time for financial reasons. The top attic room is big enough for all three of us to sleep in.

How can I make the top room nice for me and my DCs to sleep in and maybe try and sound proof it and keep it cool? Any ideas?

Where I live you can hire a sort of external cabin that can be used as a temporary additional bedroom but that doesn't seem to be a thing in the UK. Camping in the garden will be too tiring after such a long journey.

Do you visit home just to see your parents/because they want you to come? Or is seeing them part of a bigger trip? I also live overseas, so I understand that dilemma.

@McSpoot to visit friends and family yes. We do sometimes do a small trip in the middle of it. I do love going as home is very important to me and they want us to visit.

It's annoying that it falls to you, but if you can make the attic a nice place to stay, presumably it will be a nice place to stay on future trips? Your parents are disorganised but not destructive? In which case, annoying as it is to have to do.it yourself, anything you do to the attic room is an investment in your comfort in future trips.

Beds, a thick carpet/rug, blinds or curtains are the basics. Facebook marketplace, eBay, Gumtree (including the freebies section) and freecycle are good for cheap or free items, if you can transport them.

Depending on your idea of 'fun things to do on a quiet day' maybe a tin of B&Q emulsion in a colour of your choice, cover everything with some old sheets and let the kids loose with a paint brush on the walls 😁

https://activeera.com/products/double-size-comfort-air-bed?variant=44704780845343&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=UK%20Shopify%20Feed&utm_content=Double%20Size%20Comfort%20Air%20Bed%20–%20Grey%2FNavy&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC-gGNBb7SbwSbri4IrK-aAiLhuUZ&gclid=CjwKCAiA-ty8BhA_EiwAkyoa35PLUmnMRK9taNikGtehMbiqRbUK-TYqNoLtD-BPb7mo3EIvEr3NnhoCvQ4QAvD_BwE buy these to sleep on - they will be really comfy and it’s £150 for all of you

https://ukcampingandleisure.co.uk/products/outdoor-revolution-camping-campeze-2-seater-double-sofa-thermo-inflatable-sofa?currency=GBP&variant=42720847266046&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=1dc5ee2960fe&cmp_id=20804043497&adg_id=&kwd=&device=m&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADEWyCcCliKKrHz7Vr-dDLopWiYj0&gclid=CjwKCAiA-ty8BhA_EiwAkyoa33Ab6CqNznIskyd7ZLcnQPcf1Ml6iK223k-1pfW9tGSOwhjQ_3i1WhoCJxkQAvD_BwE

get this to sit on

Thank you that’s really a great way of putting it and in a nutshell how it is ❤️

https://amzn.eu/d/dLvxBLp

these for the windows and you’ve sorted it for £350 all in. Get a fan and you’re grand.

What's the window like?
You can buy no drill curtain poles that fit into the inside of a window or blinds that fit into the rubber bit of the windows if you can get measurements or temporary blinds.
Look on Amazon for guest beds and check the ratings. There are lots of styles that are not too expensive.
Don't forget bedding.
Get a fan because the attic will get hot.

DO NOT buy cheap mattresses. We had one once. It was fine on the first night, but thereafter it was increasingly uncomfortable. IME they are not even a short term solution!

Mattresses/beds from IKEA will be fine though!

It sounds like you're now planning on doing it as a permanent base, but if you're still 'camping' magic blackout is good: www.ryman.co.uk/magic-blackout-sheets-a1-10-sheets-1?&utm_campaign=20509317785&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-ty8BhA_EiwAkyoa33TdI8JwF2HtqOk3UFRsJ9IYyFmJ9zmtpSYux8ALCUJ_2VV9Ck2O-RoCN5wQAvD_BwE

(Sorry if PPs have suggested that, I haven't clicked the links!)

I get you OP!

Think how much you'd be spending on alternative accommodation and use that as an investment for the comfort of you and your little family for this, and future trips.
Those stackable IKEA beds look great.
Whilst you're here this summer, use the time to either get a room size rug or get it properly carpeted (large rugs can be very expensive, it may be more cost effective getting carpet laid but do some research)
You can also get temporary blackout blinds which are quite cheap or, again get some proper curtains up.
Portable air con units are available to buy, read reviews for best buys for the room size.

The cost of all of this is probably cheaper than spending £X on 2-3 weeks accommodation in peak season.
But you'll only spend out once and it's done - you won't have the worry of it for the coming years!
Trying to frame it as a positive for you @RosieDel 🙂

Thank you all, that’s why I love this site

I get it and have had similar.
I would ask permission to decorate attic it wil be a long term solution that means its nicer for you in long run.
I've done this wth family. I spent 3k but private accommodation would cost about 2k pa so its a saving.

For the immediate trip if its bright outside...
Have a look on fb market place for babyblackout blinds secondhand (i got 3 x tommy tippee ones for £20)

I'd also start to look for a big rug for the floor - something with a thick pile.

Separately you can keep an eye out for nice bedding in the sales and either have it delivered or bring it woth you.
Get the kids involved too.

Join their local Facebook sites and you can probably find everything you need for very cheap and probably free in some cases. You could even put up an anonymous post asking if anyone has any of the items you need that you can buy.

Are they velux windows? Those paper blinds with sticky strips might work. I bought 2 huge ones for £5 each when we moved here and still have a couple of them up 5 years later! John Lewis and Ikea do them.

Are they planning on getting beds or will that fall on you?
These blow up bed frames from decathlon are very comfortable in my opinion (although I’ve not spent more than a week at a time on one). You’d need 2 for you and one for each child plus one double and 2 single self inflating mattresses. The set up is more comfortable than air beds or cheap bed games with cheap mattresses though in my experience.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-bed-base-camp-bed-air-70-cm-1-person/_/R-p-309887?mc=8595949&c=cappuccino%20beige_teal%20blue

And don't forget to mention to your parents their grandchildren will be able to travel on their own depending on age.

@sashh hadnt thought of that either but it’s something to consider thank you

I’d get at least 3 fans and 3 floor lamps too. Something like this from habitat might be ok although dimmable might be better. https://www.habitat.co.uk/product/7929184?clickPR=plp:3:59
I think I’d go for several smaller rugs rather than one really big one.

Would you be able to use the small bedroom as storage? I think I’d want at-least one chest of drawers or something in the attic and definitely bedside tables too.

New bedding always makes a massive difference. So much more homely than mismatched and outdated leftovers from previous sets!

A chest of drawers would be ideal if it’s only you that stays there really. If you can find secondhand 4 drawers then you can at least have one drawer each to maybe leave basics also like hairbrush, pjs, slippers, basic toiletries. You will also then all have space to unpack basics. Take a picture before you leave each time so you remember what’s there.

basket each with lid next to each bed. For anything else. Keeps smaller bits together and not suitcase living for weeks

Saves you luggage space to actually take home things you can’t get in Australia

Don't underestimate how hot attics get at any sniff of heat. Out bedroom is a loft conversion we have a portable ac unit.