Tips for when your child moves away from home

Did the child move away from home? Six ideas for making the most of an empty room
Did your child fly from home to study abroad? Have the tears been wiped from your cheeks?
American blogger Gary Sprague wisely points out that there are two ways to deal with a room left empty by a teenager: either leave it as a shrine to the child who lived there, or put it to good use.
The latter is probably preferable. If you want to preserve memories of your child's early years, keep them in a separate storage room. Then you can make the most of the empty room and its storage space.
It's worth spending some thought energy on what to put in an empty room. On Vauva.fi, parents have dreamed of using an empty room to build an ironing room, wine room or spa, for example.
There are more practical ideas.
The following ideas from an American website will work in Finland too:
1. Luxury guest room
Transform your room into a charming guest room for friends and family. Unleash your creativity and decorate the room with old antique furniture or buy new ones to suit your taste.
2. Adult version of a child's room
Even if the child has moved away from home, he or she will probably still come to visit. Change the room into a more adult version of the old one. You can leave some of the furniture, books or things that were there, but put anything extra in storage. Paint the walls, get rid of the teenage posters and replace them with more grown-up paintings.
3. A quiet reading room or workspace
Have you dreamed of having your own library-like reading space? Now's your chance. With functional furniture, it's also easy to build a home office.
4. Hobby room
With less time for childcare, there's more time for adults' own hobbies. Now you have a place for a sewing machine or a craft - why not a piano? If you like, you can design the whole room to suit your new hobby.
5. Man cave
If you've always dreamed of having your own space, maybe now is the time to make it a reality. You don't necessarily have to decorate the room with dark wood and leather, functionality is more important. A relaxation room could be an entertainment centre or a pool table - for both parents to use, for example.
6. Fitness room
Having your own fitness room saves you money compared to a gym membership, especially if you go to the gym often. You can also convert the room into a yoga room using mirrors and mats.
Bonus tips:
Save cupboard space for the belongings of a child who has moved out. Agree with your child before you get rid of all his or her belongings so you don't lose anything that has a lot of sentimental value. Perhaps the child can help to transform the room for its new use?
Check out Pelican Self Storage's storage solutions.
Are you interested in learning more about storage solutions? Contact us!
Sources: grownandflown.com, rent.com, vauva.fi
FAQ
What do you need when you move away from home?
When you move, there are many things to consider. For example, you will need to notify the Register Office and the Post Office of your move at www.muuttoilmoitus.fi. You should also calculate a budget for your monthly income and expenses. Don't forget your home insurance and accident insurance! Also check what subscriptions you need for electricity, internet and TV, for example.