Make it a Guest Room
The first choice for an empty nest is turning your child’s old room into a guest bedroom. After taking out all the posters, trophies, and sports memorabilia, your guest room will become a tranquil, inviting living space where everyone feels welcome--even your children when they come back to visit. If you have more than one empty room, transform the one farthest from the master bedroom to provide privacy for the guests and the hosts.
Home Office
Whether you work remotely or need a space to stay organized when you bring your work home, having an office space is vital. For those empty nesters, you may be transitioning to part-time work or telecommuting more often, so an office space offers more comfort and stability than posting up at the kitchen counter. You have more room to be proactive when you incorporate a personal work setting to call your own.
Craft/Sewing Room
Creativity flourishes like never before once the children are out of the house. Having time for hobbies and activities you previously put on the back burner can lead to DIY business opportunities and much more enjoyment during your daily routine. If you like to sew, quilt, paint, or make jewelry, you can finally have the space to bring your creations to life. Make sure to have a comfortable table setting and proper lighting to make your crafts with little strain on your eyes or back.
Home Gym
It’s hard to get motivated for the gym when you’re busy raising a family, but if you have the room for a home gym, it helps encourage all of us to be more active. When you can see your treadmill from your kitchen, it’s hard to find an excuse not to walk down the hallway for a quick workout. Your home gym can be as advanced or as simple as you choose to make it.
Yoga Room
When the house is quiet and empty it’s easy to say namaste in bed today--but a few minutes of meditation or yoga each day offers tremendous physical and mental benefits. Especially if you're missing your kids while they’re away at college, having a peaceful space to meditate can get your mind off of them. Lifting weights and sweating isn’t for everyone, so a calming, soothing area to think and relax will help everyone live an improved life. To give your room an even more comforting touch, look for fluffy floor pillows and relaxing lighting or dimmer switches to really find your zen. Wrap yourself in a blanket and listen to your favorite songs to decompress and relax the way you want, when you want.
Library
Your college student shouldn’t be the only one buried in books--when you don’t have midterms, reading is actually enjoyable. The nice part for you book-lovers, is that a home library doesn’t have to take up all your living space. If you have a spare room, add shelving to one or two walls and fill with your favorite books to provide reading material for your visitors or your own enjoyment. It doesn’t have to be all books, feel free to add family photos, artwork, vacation souvenirs and anything else to create a warm, personal ambiance for your guests.
Nursery
Before too long, your empty nest will turn into grandma and grandpa’s house, so you’ll want to have your own unique children’s room to welcome your grandkids. There’s no better feeling for parents than knowing their children have a safe, inviting place to play without disrupting the rest of the home. The room doesn’t need to look like a daycare, but a few baskets of toys and a portable crib are plenty to make a comfortable children’s space.
Man Cave
The execution of a man cave has become a bit over-saturated over the years, but the reality of having a unique space for playing darts and watching the big game is something every man thinks about. Whether the man of the house is envisioning cruising down the highway in his ‘76 Firebird listening to his favorite rock and roll tunes, or melting into the couch during football season, having a place to call his own does wonders for him and his significant other. An empty nest offers lots of opportunities to spend time together--a little alone time could do some good.
Diva Den
Who said men are the only ones who deserve a little alone time? Women can join in the fun all the same. If you have the space and extra funds saved up, why not pamper yourself every day with a spa-like master bathroom? Use one of the empty rooms or upgrade your bathroom to create your diva den complete with full-length vanity, jacuzzi bathtub, heated floors, steam shower, TV and anything else you would need for complete relaxation.
The Extreme Closet
The nest may be empty, but that doesn’t mean you can’t refill it with new clothes. If you’ve been living with a cramped closet, creating a walk-in closet is a practical way to make use of a spare bedroom. The luxury and convenience of having the room to lay out your clothes, move around while you’re getting dressed, and see all of your favorite clothes instead of losing them in your drawers is an efficient way to use empty bedroom space. Don’t forget a small table with a comfortable chair and good lighting to make putting on jewelry, shoes, and makeup a breeze.
There you have it -- 10 ways to transform your empty bedroom space. Before you create the room of your dreams, make sure your kids move all their stuff out first. If you need help redecorating your empty nest, be sure to stop by our store for all your furniture needs!