How Empty Nesters Can Refresh Their Kids’ Old Bedrooms

Ashley Clark is the founder and principal designer of Skout Interior Design, with decades of experience and dozens of homes to prove it. But there’s one project she’s not quite ready to tackle: her son Cade’s room. He just left for college, marking her second child to leave the nest she’s curated in Newport Beach, California.

“I never want our kids to feel like they no longer have a place to come home to,” she says. “If I update it, my goal will be to make it feel elevated and useful while still keeping enough of him in the room that he is excited and comfortable coming home.”

Below, Clark and Lucy Condolora of Miller James and Mary share how you can update your children’s spaces—without erasing their history.

Allow the Room to Grow Up

Just as your child aged out of their room, Clark implores us to think about minor updates that’ll mature your home. “Start with fresh paint, updated bedding, new lighting, and more sophisticated window treatments,” she recommends. “Then incorporate something you will genuinely use, such as a reading corner, writing desk, workout area, or space for a creative hobby.”

Design by Skout Interior Design; Photo by Ryan Garvin

Part of that process includes their preserving keepsakes. Editing and organizing is a must, but try to set aside a few meaningful photographs, books, or personal objects of your loved one. “The goal is for it to feel refreshed and intentional—not like your child has been evicted!” Clark adds.

Choose Multipurpose Furniture

This technically open room in your home could give you the opportunity to take on a new hobby, host more overnight guests, or squeeze in a quick workout. That’s where multipurpose furniture such as a daybed, sleeper sofa, or Murphy bed can come in. “These can preserve valuable floor space, while a desk can double as a nightstand or vanity when guests visit,” Clark says, adding that closed storage is another must for tucking away office supplies, workout equipment, or hobby materials so the room can feel calm and welcoming for a guest.

Or Go Luxe with Custom Pieces

Condolora has a hot take on multipurpose furniture: “Commercially available pull-out couches can be dowdy,” she says. That’s why she’s notorious for asking clients, “Should we make this sofa into a king pull out bed?” “A custom furniture maker can convert a custom couch into a pull out,” she says. “It’s such a sneaky way to have a function room with seating, and a bedroom for occasional guests. With lovely linens and bedside tables, your pullout couch will be far from an afterthought.”

Design by Skout Interior Design; Photo by Ryan Garvin

Take Your Time Reinventing This Space

Clark knows all too well that parents need time before approaching such a project, whether or not your child’s recently moved out. “It is so fresh!” she says, speaking to her personal experience. “But I don’t think there needs to be a rush to reinvent the room the moment a child moves out. Let the transition happen naturally, and think about what your home and your family actually needs in this new season.”