So, Your Adult Child Has Moved Out… Now What Do You Do with Their Room?

(A gentle guide for parents who suddenly find themselves with “bonus square footage”)

There comes a moment in every parent’s life when the last box leaves the driveway, the new apartment keys exchange hands, and your adult child drives away toward independence. You wave proudly. You shed a sentimental tear. And then, of course, you turn around slowly, look at their now-vacant bedroom, and think:

“…Sooo… what can I do with this?”

Because let’s be honest: while you’ll always keep a soft spot in your heart (and probably in your phone plan) for your grown kid, the empty room they leave behind is prime real estate. And after years of tripping over sports gear, stepping on chargers, and negotiating closet space, it might be time to… reclaim your territory.

Here are a few ideas—purely hypothetical, of course—that you can casually mention on the phone to your child whenever you’d like them to visit more often:

1. The Sewing/Crafting/“Whatever That Glue Gun Is For” Room

Just imagine: your own crafting sanctuary. A place where no one rolls their eyes at the sheer number of fabric swatches you've collected, and where scissors are always where you left them.

Tell your child, “I’m thinking of installing custom shelving for my yarn collection in your room. ”Watch how fast they start texting: You’re not serious… right? (It doesn’t matter whether you’re serious. The idea is what counts.)

2. The Reading Room / Mini Library / Literary Throne Chamber

Now that no one is gaming at 2 a.m. or leaving half-filled water bottles on every surface, the room is quiet—eerily quiet. Perfect for shelves, a cozy armchair, warm lighting, and that stack of novels you’ve been meaning to read since 2008.

Bonus: If your kid drops by and sees the room full of books, they’ll assume you’re living your best peaceful life and feel appropriately guilty for not visiting more.

3. The Home Gym That May or May Not Ever Get Used

You’ve always said you’d work out more if only you had the space. Well… now you have the space. Whether you actually use it is between you and your yoga mat. But still—a treadmill fits beautifully where their bed used to be.

Add in, “If you stop by next month, I can show you the Pilates tower I installed in your old room.” This tends to provoke a reaction worth its weight in gold!

4. The Glorified Guest Room

This is the “I’m not replacing you… but I am adding nicer bedding than you ever got” option.

Think crisp white linens, tasteful throw pillows, maybe a basket of snacks to welcome visitors—as long as the “visitor” isn’t your child staying for “just a few months” while they “figure things out.”

When they walk in and say, “It looks so different…” you can smile sweetly and say, “Yes, dear. It’s supposed to.”

5. The Hobby Room You Never Allowed Yourself to Have

Painting studio. Board game room. Wine-tasting lounge. Meditation den. Indoor herb garden. A shrine to your favorite band from the 80s. This is your chance to embrace the oddball passion you never had space for.

If you really want a reaction, tell your child, “I’m thinking of turning your old room into a terrarium for carnivorous plants.” The silence on the other end of the phone? Priceless.

A Final Note (Before You Actually Start Painting the Walls)

Of course, all teasing aside, most parents keep a soft corner of the room intact—if not for practicality, then for nostalgia. But gently hinting at a dramatic transformation is a well-known parental pastime, right up there with “We’re eating dinner at 5:30 now” and “I don’t understand your emojis.”

So go ahead—threaten to turn their old room into something new. You might not actually follow through.

…But then again, you’ve always wanted a place for that sewing machine.