There comes a time when kids must leave the nest. When the time arrives, parents are called upon to recognize and accept the fact that their children are all grown up. Although it is usually a significantly important event for parents in general, the experience is almost always tinged with a hint of sadness. On the bright side, you will have one or more rooms available when your child leaves the nest, and you can turn the space into something you can enjoy. For the sake of necessity, you probably had to store some of your personal effects in different rooms when your kids were still living at home. However, you can take over the empty rooms now that your children have left and turn them into spaces specifically tailored to suit you and your significant other. To help you achieve this goal, here are some creative ideas and transformations you should consider implementing.
Craft center
From knitting sweaters to painting ceramic products, you may find creating things with your hands quite enjoyable, a trait shared by many people. Setting aside a room for the different types of craft projects you enjoy provides you with an organized and undisturbed working environment. You can create a functional and pragmatic feel to the room by filling the walls with shelves, storage containers, and bulletin boards. Apart from allowing the integration of comfortable sitting chairs, you can spread your work out with ease if you have a large task table installed. Since craft centers are susceptible to unintentional but potentially harmful spills, sticking with an easy to clean flooring material is the best option. Make tile or wood your first choice.
A home office
A home office might be exactly what you need, especially if you have been trying to work from home despite the level of noise coming from the kitchen or living room, or you’ve been doing your bills at the kitchen table. If the empty room happens to be large enough, you can make it a work center for both you and your significant other by placing two desks face to face. Adding a work area that features a suitably positioned desk allows you to move the computer from the family room into a more private space. You will, therefore, enjoy more privacy when online. You can make your home office more of a gender-neutral space by applying neutral paint colors.
A sports room
If you’re a sports enthusiast, you’d probably want to set aside some space devoted to your sports related memorabilia such as trophy collections, collector cards, and any other cherished sporting items. It is easy to make such a spot the perfect place to watch your games undisturbed. You only need to add a big-screen TV and a sofa or recliner.
A private bedroom
Although matters related to the bedroom are almost always kept hush-hush, especially among family and friends, many would like to have their own private bedroom in the future. If you have often retreated from the master bedroom because you and your spouse are on opposite time schedules or your significant other snores a little bit too much or too loud, then you probably need some personal space for your needs. The chances of successfully creating personal space are that much higher when you have separate bedrooms. Separate bedrooms allow you to put in whatever amenities you desire without having to worry about your partner. In fact, you should encourage your partner to revamp the other bedroom based on his or her desires.
A fully-equipped home library
For some, ultimate joy comes from being able to curl up with a book in a quiet environment. If you are one, you can turn an empty room into a quiet and relaxing space complete with a decorative reading lamp, luxuriously comfortable seating arrangements, and bookshelves. Aside from filling your home library with a collection of your favorite books and decorations, you can also incorporate a side table if you are hoping for a cup of coffee or tea while reading. Make sure you include bookshelves that take up as little space as possible without compromising functionality.
Extra storage space
Despite the number of closets or cabinets you have, you probably have a shortage of space, especially if your home has no basement or attic. However, you can put that small empty bedroom to good use if you transform it into a cedar closet. You simply need to line the walls with cedar panels or planks, which you can purchase at your local home improvement store for less than $200. The work involved might take as little as a weekend to finish, and upon completion, you’ll have a safe and practical storage space. To create a great look, you can position the planks vertically, horizontally, or even diagonally. The benefits go beyond visual appeal since red cedar planks have a natural resistance to insect infestations and emit a pleasing smell.
Make sure you get extra planks so that you can trim every wall in the room. This additional space is perfect for storing seasonal outdoor equipment that can otherwise occupy a lot of space in the garage.
A retreat for your guests
When staying over at the home of a loved one, guests are often forced to spend the night on sleeper sofas or pull-out beds. Now that your child has left the coop, you have an extra bedroom available, which means family members and friends can sleep in comfort when staying over at your house. Investing in hotel-quality linens enhances the level of comfort and exudes a feeling of absolute luxury while decorating the room in neutral colors makes it gender-neutral.
In spite of what you are feeling now that your child has left the nest, redecorating and repurposing the emptied rooms into new functional spaces could add a positive spin to the sudden emptiness. But whatever you do with the extra space, make sure it complements the rest of the house.
