3 ideas for your new college student’s old room

They grow up so fast, right? It’s tough to say goodbye to your teen when they go off to college. While you’ll always have the memories and mementos, you’ll also have an empty bedroom that would be a shame to let gather dust all year.

Whether your teen will be moving home for the summer or is flying the coop permanently, here are three things you can do with their old room:

Hobby room

If you’re at a loss for ideas, build a room around your favourite pastime. A yoga studio, weight room/gym, craft/sewing room or workshop will help keep you busy in your teen’s absence. If they’ll be moving back for the summer, transfer their furniture into storage until then. But by that time, you might not be as willing to give up your new personal haven.

Guest room

Move any personal items into another room or into storage, and transform your teen’s old nest into a resting place for guests. You can easily adapt their furniture by updating the bedding, cushions, and wall hangings to something more neutral. Opt for clean and simple decor so any guest can feel at home, and enjoy having friends and family stay over more often (including your teen when they come to visit).

Storage room

With the sudden increase in available square footage at home, it’s tempting to use the room for storage. And that’s definitely an option, but it should be the last one. If you have a lot of stuff to stow, install cabinets and shelves, using labelled bins to keep things organized.

But if you don’t need to access those stored items regularly, save that spare room for guests or activities. You can still easily access extra items you keep in an off-site locker, and don’t have to give up space at home.

So if your teen has recently taken flight and is off to start a new chapter of their life, this is your perfect opportunity to check some things off your to-do list while turning that spare room into something you’re going to enjoy throughout the year.

Need an off-site storage unit for childhood mementos or furniture? Check out available locker sizes here.