An empty room without a purpose is usually something we celebrate. After all, who doesn’t want more space in their house? We could use it to build another guest room, a study, a storage room or even a hobby room. However, when that empty room is your child’s old bedroom, it can be hard to muster up the courage to renovate it. It’s part of our memories, and while seeing your child move out is a bittersweet moment, it’s also something that prompts us to take action. So if you’re unsure what to do with those empty bedrooms, here are a couple of tips to help you decide.
Storage area
Calling it a storage area seems generic, but it can be spiced up depending on your needs. For instance, if you have a lot of books around the home then you could turn the unused bedroom into a library. If you need storage space for all of your old vinyl and music equipment, then an empty room is the perfect place to put them. Don’t treat it like an oversized closet and just dump boxes and items around. Buy some shelves, a desk, cupboards, and then get your items organised properly so they’re easier to find in the future. If you use the extra room as a library or music storage area, then you should also have ways to indulge yourself in those collections as well. For instance, get a lovely armchair with a side table so you can read in peace and comfort. If you have a large collection of music, then place your audio playback equipment in the room as well.
Improve on their old room
Sure, your children may have moved out, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never see them again. If you’ve got a knack for style and decor, then why not attempt to improve their old bedroom? For instance, you could replace their old bedding with something new and more comfortable. You can learn all about goose down to prepare a warm and comfortable bed when they return, you could prepare a desk space for their laptop when they need to catch up on work or with their friends, and you can frame and hang their high school and college achievements.
Renovate it into a hobby room
When you retire or feel that creeping empty nest syndrome, it’s normal to take up new hobbies. Instead of letting that room go to waste, why not clear it out and turn it into a hobby room? Depending on what hobby you have, getting the extra space can be a huge boon to your personal interests. For instance, you could install a full-sized sewing machine, you could store all of your instruments inside of it, or you could even turn it into a comfortable working environment. The possibilities are nearly endless and it all depends on what you personally enjoy.
A home gym
As we grow older, our joints start to wear out and we become slower and less mobile. A great way to combat this is to get more regular exercise. We can usually accomplish this by walking around more and being more active outside, but why not consider a home gym as well? It doesn’t need to be full of heavy machinery and weights like you see on television or in professional gyms. It could just be a room lined with a comfortable flooring that’s suitable for low-impact exercise such as yoga. A treadmill or cycling machine could provide and excellent cardio workout, and it will save you a lot of money in the long-run on a gym membership fee.
Keep it maintained
If your child is leaving for good, then they’re still going to eventually come back and use the bedroom. If this is the case, you can use the first idea to improve or upgrade their room, or you could turn it into a general guest room if you plan to have a lot of people visit. Simply store their personal items in a container or box and place it in storage, then renovate the room by painting the walls, getting rid of personal touches and replacing the bedding with something generic. Alternatively, if your child is simply leaving for college or university, then chances are they’re probably going to come back for summer, Christmas and other holidays. If that’s the case, then simply keep the room maintained and ready for them when they return and keep their personal items. Reserve some storage space for when they bring their luggage back and keep the tables clear for their electronics.
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