When a child heads off to college, it can be difficult for parents to adjust. Not only will it be strange to see your kid head off into the big, wide world, but it can also leave an empty room in your house. This space can be wasted if it is left untouched, waiting for the return of your child, but it can be utilized to meet the family’s needs.
If you want to adapt your home when your child heads off to college or university, this post can help. It lists three of the best tips to follow when you want to make the empty bedroom serve a purpose in the family home.
Clear Out the Clutter
This first step is best completed while your child is still living at home, as it can be difficult for a parent to decide what exactly is clutter. There will be items that a parent believes are useless and should go in the garbage, but there might be a reason why old tickets or notes have been kept. The child should be included in making these decisions before they leave for college.
Your child can separate items into piles, such as keep, donate, and trash. They should be ruthless with these decisions. If they haven’t worn a particular clothing item in more than a year, it should be donated to a local charity or sold online for some extra cash. The same goes with childhood toys; although these items might hold some sentimentality, you need to be practical to reduce how much space is used up needlessly.
Choose What Goes to Storage
Everyone knows that teenagers and young adults can tend to hoard items, meaning there is a lot to put away when they head off to college. Smaller items can be stored within the house, using cupboard space and other storage solutions, but this can be difficult when you have other children using bedrooms.
Although you might have adequate storage in your home, some of the furniture in your child’s room could go into storage while they are away to college. This is particularly useful if they have large pieces of equipment from their hobbies, such as a drum kit or lots of art supplies. Centron Self Storage offers a range of storage spaces in various sizes, with some being suitable for bedroom items and sporting equipment.
Repurpose the Space
As college students can be away most of the year, it is wise to think of another use for your child’s bedroom while they are gone. This can be a difficult consideration, and sometimes it will trigger emotions parents are not prepared for, but these changes do not have to be permanent. With the right adaptations, the room can be repurposed while they are gone before being changed back to the original layout at the end of the semester.
One of the most popular ways to use an empty bedroom include turning it into a multipurpose space, which can see the room become a spare bedroom with a study space or a home gym, for example. The bed could be kept the same, or even changed for a sofa bed, with other additions in the room to ensure the rest of the family can utilize the space in a practical manner. The repurposing can fit your family’s needs, whether your husband needs a home office or your daughter needs a craft studio.
By following the advice outlined in this post, you will have an easier time utilizing the space your child leaves behind as they head off to college.
