Ideas for that spare room once your children have flown the nest
So now that the kids are grown and have left the nest so to speak, you have extra time and extra space! Woo hoo!
We understand, it’s not always so easy letting go and welcoming this new chapter, as many parents suffer from empty nest syndrome. It’s normal to experience feelings of sadness and loneliness, but what better way to tackle those emotions with a home project. The spare bedroom that once was your son or daughter’s room can be transformed into literally anything you put your mind to. If you need a home office or even a small gym, here are a few ideas to put your ideas in motion.
The Home Office
If you have a large home or spare room to begin with, you may already have a home office set up in your house. If you don’t, this is the perfect opportunity to create one. This will help you compartmentalise your home and your mind. The home office is a great space to focus on all things related to the home, keeping track of health records, taxes, even a space to get started on that family scandal novel you always planned on writing. And it doesn’t have to cost a whole lot either, once you clear out the bed and tear down the teenage posters or emoji decals from the wall, throwing a fresh coat of paint on will rejuvenate the room and bring peace, simplicity and order in the room. The perfect environment to get work done. You might be thinking, what about if I have a guest over, I may want to keep the bed. Not to worry, a murphy bed, pull out couch or futon would fit perfectly in your home office/guest room.
Meditation Room
If your life is filled with stress and you need a place to retreat, a meditation or yoga room is the perfect escape. The great thing about creating this room is that it doesn’t require much furniture. Once you clear out the room, fill the space with soft comforting fabrics, serene & tranquil pictures, soothing scents and dim lighting for evening relaxation. Make sure to add plants for a release of fresh oxygen and a big comfy pillow both for sitting on or resting your head after a long day’s work. You may be lacking decorative inspiration when getting started on these projects, so Pinterest is a great way to get your creative juices flowing.
Home gym/studio
If you want the complete opposite of relaxation but a way to release your energy and get fit in the process, try your hand at designing your own home guy or studio. Now this will depend on the amount of space you are working with, but if your spare room is on the smaller side, make room for the basics such as a yoga mat or an exercise padded mat, free weight, resistance bands and kettlebells. This type of equipment won’t take up a lot of space but would still allow for both low and high impact workouts.
With the array of workout videos available on YouTube and the likes, there is no shortage of videos to choose a program and no excuse for that matter!