AN EMPTY NEST, A NEW BEGINNING:
REPURPOSING ROOMS WHEN CHILDREN MOVE OUT
September is a time for fresh starts, and it’s the month when our children are most likely to move out. Whether heading off to university, embarking on a new career, taking their first steps on the housing ladder or travelling the world, they leave you with an empty nest.
For every parent, this is a significant milestone in life. Whether you’ve been dreading your children moving out or relishing the idea, it is a period of change. I encourage you to see this as a new beginning for you, as much as it is for them.
An empty nest presents the opportunity to rediscover your identity, readjust your daily routine and repurpose rooms to fit your changing needs. As an interior designer, I’m keen to share some thoughts to help you optimise the potential of what were your children’s rooms.
A Process of Letting Go
When our children grow, we have to let go. Our role is to prepare them to live independently, so we should be celebrating our success when they move out. However, it can leave a void and may take time to adjust.
Personally, I feel that keeping your child’s room exactly as they left it hinders the process of letting go. If they have moved out, this space can serve a valuable new purpose that opens up new opportunities for you. With space at a premium, let’s make the most of it!
Declutter & Refresh
Hopefully, your children have taken the vast majority of their possessions with them. However, there are likely to be various items left behind. My tip is to assemble the number of boxes that you can reasonably store in the attic or garage.
Then get sorting! Place items to keep in the boxes, items to donate or sell in bags and have a bin bag at hand for rubbish. If possible, involve your children in the final decision. If they want to keep more than you are willing to store, encourage them to take it or pay for a storage unit.
Repurposing Rooms to Match Your Lifestyle
With the children gone, your lifestyle will change. So, what will make your life easier or more fulfilling? Get ready to transform this empty room into:
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Your work-from-home environment
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A creative hub for crafting and hobbies
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A home gym or yoga retreat
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Your walk-in wardrobe with shoe storage and a vanity table
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An entertaining games room or home cinema
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Your library and quiet reading nook
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A guest room for short-term Airbnb rentals to boost your income
It’s about whatever fills you with excitement. And, with an idea in mind, you can start to map out the interior design. What colours, features and furniture work for you?
If you are unsure where to start, my room design service inspires a layout and scheme that is desirable, functional and customised to you. The resulting moodboard will reflect your vision, requirements and budget, with creative ways to optimise the space, light and flow.
What Happens When Our Children Visit?
Your children may want to come and stay sometimes. So, how do you factor this into your interior redesign plans?
Firstly, you don’t need to retain their room as it was for them to be welcome and accommodated. There are flexible furniture options that can be incorporated into your home to accommodate your children or other guests. These include sofa beds and desks that transform into beds.
Secondly, good storage systems will help to keep the space free of clutter, making it easy to tidy items away for visitors. You might simply need to shift a few furnishings to provide a bedside table with a reading lamp and have hooks on the back of the door to hang clothes.
A New Chapter for You & Your Home
Life is always evolving, and we feel more at home when our interiors develop to reflect our lifestyle. An empty nest is a new chapter for you and your home. It is a chance to update the décor, rethink the layout and embrace the extra space that we all desire. The key is to make it work for you.