It’s back-to-school season, and for parents of college-age students, that can mean more than buying new school supplies and uniforms. If your child is heading off to college or moving out into their first apartment of their own, you may wonder what to do with all the extra space you now have.
Of course, watching your child start a new chapter in their life is bittersweet for a parent — but there are ways to transform your own living space without sacrificing sentimentality. With these home upgrades, your kids can still feel welcome to visit while you get to utilize more of your space and enjoy your newfound freedom.
Transform unused bedrooms into multipurpose spaces
When your offspring vacate their bedrooms to move into a dorm or their first apartment, you might not want to get rid of everything. Depending on the size of the room, you can leave some things intact so that your child or other guests still have a space of their own when they visit. The key to this revamp is to make the space truly multi-functional.
Swapping out a queen or king-sized bed for something smaller is one way to create space in the room. Downsizing to a full or twin bed is always a good option, but even switching to a chic day bed or sleeper sofa can bring a whole new look to the room.
With the extra floor and closet space you can now use this room as a home gym, office, studio or entertainment center. Utilizing things like convertible furniture, compact exercise equipment and unique storage solutions can turn this from an unused room gathering dust into your new favorite spot in the house. Have an old hobby you’d like to pick up again? Let this be your space to really get creative.
Invest in new furniture and repurpose old pieces
When a home is a stomping ground for growing kids and teenagers, it’s common to choose function over form in your furniture. That spill-proof pullout couch in the basement may have served you well for countless sleepovers, but now is the perfect time to invest in something a little more stylish.
If your kids are moving out into a place of their own, even better! Passing down some of your well-loved but still usable pieces of furniture will give your young adults a head start on furnishing their own place while freeing you up to choose something new and exciting.
You don’t have to break the bank, either. Visit local antique malls, consignment stores and estate sales for both fantastic deals and design inspiration. If you’re interested in furniture flipping and DIY projects, try out some small projects and work your way up from there.
Refresh the kitchen into a hosting haven
As a parent of teenagers and young adults, you’re probably not the only one finding yourself with more time on your hands. Your kitchen which was once the site of pizza and birthday parties could become an excellent spot for entertaining other empty-nesters with just a few tweaks.
Want to expand your palette and hone your cooking skills? Splurge on a fancy appliance or upgrade to some fashionable yet functional new counter space. Convert part of your pantry into a wine cellar or invest in a bar cart complete with all the accessories. Now more than ever, stylish kitchen accessories are on-trend and easy to come by. Take design inspiration from your favorite cooking shows, YouTube chefs and even your favorite restaurants.
Better yet, you may find your once “empty” nest is still a lively place for evening and weekend gatherings. Invite your fellow parents over for a potluck, wine tastings or a cooking class with a private chef. Treat yourself!