Two of our Two Hands families have high school seniors this year. It has us thinking about all the changes on the horizon and all the choices to make this year. While we are focused on college applications, tours and enjoying all that senior year offers, it has us thinking about the day we will be in a home with “extra” bedrooms. Do we need all of these bedrooms once the kids have flown the nest or what other uses could these bedrooms have?
As Kathy Quaid and Maureen Rooney of Quaid and Rooney Real Estate Group in Glen Ellyn note in their latest newsletter, “Once the kids have launched, your home can feel empty. When you have gotten over that, get to work deciding how you can best utilize your home for a new lifestyle. Repurposing their old room might even act as a deterrent for them to move back in! There are many options for extra rooms so get creative and dream. Just keep in mind that one day you may have to turn the space back into a bedroom for resale purposes.”
Kathy Quaid and Maureen Rooney share four ideas for great alternative uses of “extra” bedrooms:
1. Home Office
We’ve all come to know and appreciate the value of a dedicated home office. The room could still accommodate guests with a convertible sofa or even a Murphy bed, but can be designed to be primarily used as a home office with a desk, a bookcase, a zoom background and a place to land with a lap top consistently.
2. An Expanded Closet SpaceAs Kathy and Maureen shared, “If you can use more closet space, why not create a walk-in wardrobe? With a few storage accessories, you can turn the spare room into a fabulous new dressing room.” This could also be a great space to store off-season wardrobe pieces, bedding or just provide the room for an unlimited shoe collection. Think through what you will be storing or displaying and back into the additional furniture needed to accommodate those items.
3. Library or Craft Room What hobby or past time do you wish you had more space for? Would a room full of cherished books with a cozy spot to land draw you in to the room - especially once there are fewer carpools to run? As Kathy and Maureen shared, “If you don't have the square footage for a traditional library, the spare bedroom is the next best thing.” You could also set up a large table in a room to use for any variety of crafting - wrapping presents, sewing, quilting - anything your heart desires.
4. Home Gym
Kathy and Maureen point out, “Whether you practice yoga, run, or do strength training, you'll be more motivated and more excited about your workouts if you establish a dedicated exercise space.” With a treadmill, Peloton, yoga mat and storage for bands, weights or other accessories, any space could be outfitted as a private fitness studio. Be mindful of the lighting, flooring and where the room is located in relation to other bedrooms. While morning yoga may not disrupt anyone home and looking to sleep in, a run on the treadmill could be noisy.
Keep in mind that the spaces can be re-staged back as bedrooms if the time ever comes to sell your home. The Quaid and Rooney Real Estate Group offers expert home staging advice and their team of stagers can discuss what they can do to help with any home sale preparation.
To connect with the Quaid and Rooney group, visit their website HERE.