Update Your Kid’s Bedroom When They Go to College

After all, they’re going to need a place to stay when they come home from school, even if it’s only for the occasional weekend, holiday, or summer break. But here are 3 quick and easy ways that you can take advantage of the extra space while they’re off building their new life.

   CLEAN AND STORE

Even if you’re not ready to turn your child’s former bedroom into your new Yoga or Craft studio once they’ve headed off to college, it’s easy to simply declutter the space to allow for additional functions. For example, it could be a guest room. Or a place you can go and read when you want some time to yourself. However, don’t surprise them with this activity… make sure they know well in advance so that they can put away any treasured keepsakes from their youth (and hide things that you probably don’t want to see anyway).

And try not to throw too much out.  Store things away where they can go through them later, perhaps when they’re unpacking them into their very first post-college apartment….

A well designed storage cabinet can allow for the perfect compromise, letting you put things away (out of sight, out of mind), but also making sure they are kept safe and available for the days when they return home.

Image: Hammary Hidden Treasures Door Cabinet

   UPDATE THE ARTWORK

Remember that your child will still need a place to stay when they return for vacations or summer break, so it’s important – for now – to maintain the functionality of the room as a bedroom.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t update some of the look and feel aspects of the room to help “nudge” your child onward towards maturity.  New paint, new bedding, new decor accessories and some new wall decor could be just the trick.

There is absolutely no reason for you to keep the bedroom as a shrine to their childhood.  Take the space back and make it your own (mostly).

These are things that can be useful for the newer, more grown-up versions of themselves when they return home.

    CREATE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS

If the room is large enough, create a secondary function within the room using multi-purpose furniture. That way, you can turn the spare room into something that you can enjoy while your child is away or that they can use upon their return.  A good reading area, small office area or even a TV section in the room will allow them to remain more independent when they come home, but also provide you with some additional, usable space in the home while they’re gone.

Image Source: Working at Home Can Be Beautiful with the Right Home Office Furniture & Decor

In all of the above, however, it is important to remember that your child has moved on, but not “out”.  In many ways, they will continue to view that particular corner of the house as “Their Room”, so tread carefully and don’t rush to do what can’t easily be undone.

In the end, try to find a balance between a room that you will enjoy for the time when you are alone in the house and a room that they will enjoy and feel comfortable in when they return.