2011-08-160landing.jpg

The landing is an often forgotten part of the house but don't overlook its potential. The third floor of our row home in D.C. has a large, light-filled landing that the previous owners left empty. We've been no better, leaving it empty or using it as a laundry staging area from time to time.

But I've decided to take advantage of the natural light and the extra square footage by creating a small reading and writing area for my children. If you're lucky enough to have a nice landing area, consider furnishing it with a chair, a nice painting, or a small bookcase of books. A small landing is a great place for a reading nook. A larger landing can even be turned into a bedroom like the charming bedroom we found when touring Meredith's Historic Farmhouse Dream.

(Image: Leah Moss)