5 creative uses for your college kid’s empty room
By Lucas on Sep 06, 2016
Now that September is here, your kids are back in school and the house is finally quiet again. If your little ones are still in elementary or high school, your peace and quiet will only last from 9 am to 3 pm. If you have a child that went off to college or university, then you have one empty room in your house to decorate and put to good use!
There are a lot of sentimental parents out there that like to keep these vacant rooms untouched so that when their kids return, they have a familiar place to stay. This post isn’t for them.
You should embrace the extra square footage! But not in a boring way. Do you really need another office? And don’t just turn it into a guest room because the floor plan deems it a bedroom.
Here are five creative ways to take advantage of your college kid’s empty room:
1) Get fit
Hey, it’s never too late to get in shape. You probably have 100 square feet or more, which is plenty of room to fit a multi-exercise machine, some free weights, and a yoga mat. You can also put a chin-up bar in the door frame. If you really want to go all out, cover one of the walls in mirrors to create a true gym atmosphere. Mount a flatscreen TV, turn on Netflix, and you’re ready to start burning calories and building muscle. 2) Learn an instrument
If you already know how to play an instrument or two, turn the space into a music room! There are plenty of cost efficient and beautiful ways to soundproof a room, so noise shouldn’t be an issue; plus, who would you be bothering? If you don’t play an instrument, don’t let that stop you. If you have a room dedicated to a new skill, you’re more likely to practise and not let your investment in the space go to waste. 3) Take up painting
Transform that space into an art studio. All you really need to do is paint the walls white, get rid of all the furniture, maybe tear up the carpet and put down laminate flooring. Use one of the walls as a giant mood board where you pin up inspiration; you know, what everyone used to do before Pinterest became a thing. Whether you’re painting, drawing, designing clay pottery, or practising photography, this space can be devoted to it. If the room is connected to a bathroom, an art studio makes the most sense! 4) Create your own spa
Why can’t you have a spa in your home? Think of it as a relaxation or meditation room. Get yourself a nebulizer and some sweet smelling essential oils. Paint the walls a soothing colour like green. Buy one of those fancy massage chairs, but also leave floor space for when you hire a professional masseuse/masseur to make a housecall. Try to limit the amount of electronics in this room. No TV, no computer or tablet. You should even make it a cell phone free zone. There should be soft lighting; no overheads, just a couple lamps. If you do need to listen to music to relax, why not invest in a turntable and some vinyl to avoid looking at any sort of glowing screen. 5) Start a plant sanctuary
If you’re not the type to relax in a spa-like environment, not artistically inclined, tone deaf, or have no interest in getting in shape, then maybe you have a green thumb. If the empty bedroom has large windows and gets a lot of sun, then you’re halfway there. Okay, not exactly halfway because it takes quite a bit of work to grow a room full of plants, but it’s totally worth it. Do you know anyone with a room in their house dedicated to growing plants? It’s not just a place where you would tend to plants, it’s like a different sort of relaxation room. We recommend starting with low maintenance plants like succulents and cacti; plants that require low light and weekly watering. There are also indoor fruit trees that can do pretty well if you have a sunny spot for them. Imagine growing lemons, grapefruit, or even kumquats right in your home!We hope these five creative uses for your college kid’s empty room encourage you to ask them to sleep on the couch when they return for the holidays. And if your kids have left for good, it's time to start looking for a new smaller home!
