What to do with empty student bedroom
In many households this month, parents are still grieving that their first child has gone off to college. The sense of loss can be overwhelming. The good news is that these sad feelings don't last long, and the better news is that you actually come to the point where you can't wait for your college student to go back to school! It takes a few years, and it may take a few kids under your belt, to feel that joy.
For a parent who lives in a smaller home, this transition means that soon you will have extra space up for grabs. You can repurpose the bedroom, even though the experts advise that you keep the room the same so that your child doesn't feel that they've lost their home. A few years back, there was a hysterical TV commercial with parents sadly waving goodbye as their college student left. The minute the car turned the corner, they raced back inside and began demolition! Those parents couldn't wait to capture that precious space for their long-desired alternative use. Think of this common transition as an opportunity to finally stretch the use of your kid's bedroom. With clever changes, you might be able to combine purposes such as a guest room that doubles as a home office, den or sewing room.
It could be inspiring to make use of one of the available giant photomurals on the market. This one is made by a major wallpaper manufacturer and is approximately 6 by 10 feet. Without spending more than $300 and you can be magically transported! Choose motifs from famous cities to stunning natural wonders; in black and white or stunning color. Without taking up one inch, you can create a serene get-a-way for yourself that covers the entire wall. In addition, you might check into online sources for large images that peel off the wall. Great Big Canvas offers amazing photos of lakes and oceans, National Geographic images and nature close-ups that are guaranteed to make any room capable of transporting you far away.
Nothing is as inexpensive a gallon of paint to change the character of a room, but if you add in a mural you will create an entirely new ambiance that is affordable. Check out the Eazywallz website for a huge array of self-adhesive images from world famous cities to classic artwork by Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Cezanne. The appeal is that this product is easy to remove and reposition so that if your child really does come back home to stay, you can restore the room to the original with little trouble.
Remember that dual-purpose furniture holds the key to coaxing great function from a single room. You want to make sure that if you incorporate a bench that it opens up to hold bedding. Consider that a bed doesn't just occupy floor space, but easily could sit over storage drawers that really work! Take extra pains to be sure that you are using every square inch well; a bookshelf reaches the ceiling for maximum efficiency or a nightstand is as wide as you can fit into the room. Don't be afraid to buy a nightstand that is a little taller than typical so that it might double as a useful dresser. Study your options in order to be certain when you purchase that you have bought the best in terms of function. Don't forget to make the closet a hardworking one and remember over-the-door storage devices as a way to extend storage for even the tiniest closet. Investigate the many well-designed office armoires that cleverly include file storage, computer space, pencil drawers and book storage. Measure out the exact amount of space that a hobby will take and don't forget to build in a way to quickly put away anything that creates an unsightly mess.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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