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What To Do With That Extra Bedroom

Anthony Cuomo • Nov 24, 2014

If you have a senior in high school graduating this year, or a child about to be married this spring, you may be dreaming about what you will do with that extra bedroom. It’s possible that you’ve had plans for this room since it started to become a reality that your child would be moving. It’s also possible that you haven’t given it any thought at all! While your college student will likely come home for holidays and maybe for the summer, they might not live at home full-time again, so you don’t need to keep the room exactly as it is right now.

Here are some ideas for making what you want out of that extra bedroom:

Consider where a returning child can sleep
To alleviate any guilt on your part or concern on your child’s part, think first about where they can sleep when they do want to come home. It wouldn’t be very welcoming for them to sleep on the sofa while your sewing machine and craft items take up her bedroom, so this does deserve some consideration. If you can, keep their bed set up in the extra bedroom. If not, consider investing in a Murphy bed, or a wall bed. This type of bed functions as a storage unit most of the time, but pulls down into a large, comfortable bed when you have overnight guests, so it would be perfect if your child has gotten married and is planning to come for visits with their spouse in tow! Another option is to invest in a high-quality inflatable bed. These are much nicer and more comfortable than your typical air mattress; read reviews and price-shop before you pick one out.

Make the most out of that closet
This storage space has long been occupied by your teenager’s clothing, shoes and other belongings. Now that they've taken most of that with them to their new home, you can use the space for whatever you’d like. Have custom closets installed, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can store. Your custom closet professional will be able to look at the space available and give you suggestions at how to best make room for everything you’d like to store, including items that once belonged to your child, or those that he’ll be coming back for at some point.

Finally build yourself that home office you’ve been wanting
When you bring work home, do you do it at the kitchen table or in the den while your spouse is watching television? This can be distracting and may prevent you from completing your work efficiently. While you have your custom closet expert in your home looking at the closet, he can also tell you about custom home offices. This is actually an ideal location to have your desk and file cabinets along with that Murphy bed, allowing the room to do double duty.

When you find yourself with an extra bedroom because a child has moved away, it’s natural to feel sad and nostalgic for a while. After those feelings pass, however, remaking the room into something that will bring you joy every day is a great way to embrace this next phase of your life.

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