So the kids have finally moved out. Hooray! The house is yours again! No more smelly gym shoes in the living room or basketball trophies cluttering up the study, or messy rooms with clothing spilling out the doorway into the passageway (the trials of being a parent can be vast). So much space is now yours.
But what to do with it? Now that you can do what you want! When you’ve fantasised about having your own space again for just you (and perhaps your other half – do they count with home decisions?) what did you see? You COULD just create three guestrooms from those three kids rooms…but to be honest, just how often do you think you’ll be putting up Aunt Marge and her brood of three? Do you even WANT to host guests (yes, you’re allowed to say no).
Be wild! Be crazy! Create that room your 20-something year old self always wanted. Here are some of the most awesome ideas for putting your personality on your newly freed rooms.
1. Rad Rec Room
Get your game on and equip your space with all the things you and your friends love to compete at. How about a foosball table? Pool table? Personally I rule at air hockey, I’d love to have one of those. PS3, TV and sound system, check. Chuck in a bunch of board games and maybe a darts board and you’re looking at a damn good time.
2. Break out the Bar
Yes yes and so much yes again. Haven’t you always dreamed of having your own bar? (Or is that just me…I swear I don’t have a problem!) With a small fridge, sink and a main island you’re ready to entertain with a bang. But maybe don’t mix it with the dart board.
3. Show your arty side in a Studio
Are you arty? Personal hobbies can easily drop by the wayside when juggling school and activities for children. But now is your chance; clear the furniture, hoist up some canvases and turn that spare room into your very own studio.
4. Yoga/Meditation Retreat
With some yoga mats, a fan, a large mirror and maybe some calming décor changes you have your very own piece of zen paradise. Now you can finally shut the door and reach for real inner peace.
5. Geek Out Room
Nerd alert – this is your time to create your geeky kingdom. Why not turn your room into your very own Millennium Falcon with some Star Wars decor, proudly display all your figurines and hang your signed posters with pride of place. Chuck in a table for D&D games and a TV for marathon StarGate viewings and you have yourself a little bit of nerd paradise.
6. A little piece of Hollywood
Hardly original but super awesome. I really want one of these. Create your own bit of Hollywood with a super screen, comfy seating, adjustable lighting and a mini fridge/freezer for all those glorious choc tops that are totally mandatory for any movie viewing.
7. There's no excuse with your own Gym/Dance Studio
Personally I hate the ‘g’ word, but if you’re a fitness fanatic (or you know, just moderately fit, unlike me) this is your chance to get rid of those fees and finally wear whatever daggy gym clothes you want. With some snazzy equipment, mats, a large mirror, TV and sound system for motivation and most importantly some excellent air con, you’re in business to be fit and fantastic.
8. Get jamming in your Music Room
If you’re a musician this just might be your jam. Being properly equipped for some serious jamming takes up quite a bit of space, and chances are you’ve just been making do for the last 20 years. With some amplifiers, speakers, instruments stands and plenty of space for sheet music you’ve finally got the creative space you need. You can even add a mini stage for entertaining or just because you really want to feel like the next Bon Jovi.
9. Read and relax in your very own Library
I don’t know about you but all those years ago when I first watched Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, all I wanted was that enormous personal library. How cool would that be? Take your books out of storage and finally put them away in book cases where they belong, and throw in some comfy chairs to relax with a cuppa and an awesome read.
These are just the start – there are so many ways to bring out your personality after so long of having limited shared space. What would you do?
-Em from the Look Local WA team
