Still Living With Your Parents? Make Your Bedroom Feel Like Home
If you are, like so many of us, still living at home with your parents, here are some ways to make the most of your personal space
For some people, home consists of several bedrooms, a beautiful living space, a balcony for entertaining, a walk-in robe and a killer kitchen. For others, however, home is confined to the four walls of one bedroom. I am one of those people. A combination of saving for the elusive ‘first-home deposit’ and helping others with the odd house-sit has seen me staying at home with my parents for a lot longer than expected. I’m not alone, though. As it becomes more and more difficult to purchase property, more of us are choosing to stay at home that little bit longer to boost our savings. But just because your personal space is limited to a bedroom, that’s no reason for it can’t brim over with style. Make the most of your ‘temporary’ living situation with these tips and tricks.
Go easy on artwork
You have one room in the house and you want everyone to know it’s yours, so you assert yourself by placing artwork, photos or posters all over the walls. While the imagery may reflect your interests and create a sense of self, it also closes up what will already seem like a small space. Choose a couple of pieces and stick to these alone. I chose a couple of special vintage prints and hung them in identical frames to keep the look simple and uncluttered. The rest of my prints and artwork from travels around the world are safely flat packed for when I have a house with many walls to hang them on.
You have one room in the house and you want everyone to know it’s yours, so you assert yourself by placing artwork, photos or posters all over the walls. While the imagery may reflect your interests and create a sense of self, it also closes up what will already seem like a small space. Choose a couple of pieces and stick to these alone. I chose a couple of special vintage prints and hung them in identical frames to keep the look simple and uncluttered. The rest of my prints and artwork from travels around the world are safely flat packed for when I have a house with many walls to hang them on.
De-clutter and organise
If you’re living in the family home, chances are that your life’s worth of memories are spilling out from under the bed and taking up valuable wardrobe space. Your artwork from Year 2, special toys you can’t bear to part with and movie stubs from first dates are stockpiled around your bedroom because you can’t bear the idea of throwing them away. But if you want to create a space that’s for more than just sleeping, make sure there’s room to move about and breathe. Be discerning – how vital is the object you’re holding onto, and does it need to be stored in that room? If it’s broken, throw it out. If there are doubles, choose one. If you were to move, would you take it with you? It’s amazing what you can happily live without.
If you’re living in the family home, chances are that your life’s worth of memories are spilling out from under the bed and taking up valuable wardrobe space. Your artwork from Year 2, special toys you can’t bear to part with and movie stubs from first dates are stockpiled around your bedroom because you can’t bear the idea of throwing them away. But if you want to create a space that’s for more than just sleeping, make sure there’s room to move about and breathe. Be discerning – how vital is the object you’re holding onto, and does it need to be stored in that room? If it’s broken, throw it out. If there are doubles, choose one. If you were to move, would you take it with you? It’s amazing what you can happily live without.
Find storage solutions that make sense
The next step is organising what you’ve decided to keep in a way that prioritises what you need for practical purposes and what you’re saving for the future. Photo albums, school memorabilia and trophies can take the back seat. Bring seasonal clothes to the front of your wardrobe, shelve books that aren’t likely to be read and push the boxes of keepsakes deep under the bed so they don’t get in the way of items you need on a regular basis. Try to store these items in boxes or bags with similar objects or materials so they’re easy to locate without causing a mess.
More: 14 Savvy Ways to Boost Your Bedroom Storage
The next step is organising what you’ve decided to keep in a way that prioritises what you need for practical purposes and what you’re saving for the future. Photo albums, school memorabilia and trophies can take the back seat. Bring seasonal clothes to the front of your wardrobe, shelve books that aren’t likely to be read and push the boxes of keepsakes deep under the bed so they don’t get in the way of items you need on a regular basis. Try to store these items in boxes or bags with similar objects or materials so they’re easy to locate without causing a mess.
More: 14 Savvy Ways to Boost Your Bedroom Storage
Select functional furniture
If you’re confined to one room you’ll want to ensure that every piece of furniture in the room serves a functional purpose, and that purpose is usually storage. Like my antique dresser (described above), choose items that prove why they’re taking up precious cubic metres in your only space. If you have a chair, ensure it’s uncluttered enough to sit on, and that your desk is an inviting place to be. Try not to fall into the habit (as I have regularly done) of using these items not so much to store things in, but to drape things over and pile papers on. It’s a guaranteed way to transform your room into what could be mistaken for a flea market.
If you’re confined to one room you’ll want to ensure that every piece of furniture in the room serves a functional purpose, and that purpose is usually storage. Like my antique dresser (described above), choose items that prove why they’re taking up precious cubic metres in your only space. If you have a chair, ensure it’s uncluttered enough to sit on, and that your desk is an inviting place to be. Try not to fall into the habit (as I have regularly done) of using these items not so much to store things in, but to drape things over and pile papers on. It’s a guaranteed way to transform your room into what could be mistaken for a flea market.
Light it up
You may be blessed with a big, beautiful window in your room, but not everyone is so lucky. Nothing quashes the spirit more than a dimly lit room. Without adequate lighting, rooms can feel confined, untidy and depressing. The simple solution to lightening your spirits is to brighten the room. If you can’t change the lighting fixtures, consider adding a standard lamp or bedside light to bring a warm glow to the room. And be sure to open any windows to bring in the fresh air and sunshine, or cool breeze of an evening.
You may be blessed with a big, beautiful window in your room, but not everyone is so lucky. Nothing quashes the spirit more than a dimly lit room. Without adequate lighting, rooms can feel confined, untidy and depressing. The simple solution to lightening your spirits is to brighten the room. If you can’t change the lighting fixtures, consider adding a standard lamp or bedside light to bring a warm glow to the room. And be sure to open any windows to bring in the fresh air and sunshine, or cool breeze of an evening.
Add a splash of colour
A simple way to create a sense of homeliness and style within your room is to add colour by way of linen or paint. If the room is smaller in size and you’re interested in a bold colour, consider making this your feature wall as dark colours can often close up a room. Choose soft pastel colours or a matt grey to bring a sense of tranquility and relaxation to your room.
A simple way to create a sense of homeliness and style within your room is to add colour by way of linen or paint. If the room is smaller in size and you’re interested in a bold colour, consider making this your feature wall as dark colours can often close up a room. Choose soft pastel colours or a matt grey to bring a sense of tranquility and relaxation to your room.
Store reading materials close by
If you’re anything like me, one of your storage problems may be book-related. While you may have boxed up some of the books you’ve already read, keep a good supply of books and magazines close at hand. As Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero said: “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Bedrooms are sanctuaries for those living at home or in share houses, so why not make it somewhere to explore ideas and to dream up new ones by losing yourself in books?
More: Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11 One-of-a-Kind Ideas
If you’re anything like me, one of your storage problems may be book-related. While you may have boxed up some of the books you’ve already read, keep a good supply of books and magazines close at hand. As Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero said: “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Bedrooms are sanctuaries for those living at home or in share houses, so why not make it somewhere to explore ideas and to dream up new ones by losing yourself in books?
More: Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11 One-of-a-Kind Ideas
Keep it clean
Yes, I did say to make it more than a bedroom but that doesn’t mean it should become your dining room and garbage dump. It’s easy within the confines of a boudoir to leave the stray cup of tea, dirty laundry or pile of papers to worry about later on (or is that just me?), but the truth is that later on it will be so much more effort to set right. Unusual smells and strange bacterial growth aside, if you want a room that doubles as a comfortable, clutter-free sanctuary, it just isn’t possible when it’s strewn with the remnants of what you couldn’t be bothered to move or clean. Keeping your space tidy as an investment in your mental (and physical) health.
Yes, I did say to make it more than a bedroom but that doesn’t mean it should become your dining room and garbage dump. It’s easy within the confines of a boudoir to leave the stray cup of tea, dirty laundry or pile of papers to worry about later on (or is that just me?), but the truth is that later on it will be so much more effort to set right. Unusual smells and strange bacterial growth aside, if you want a room that doubles as a comfortable, clutter-free sanctuary, it just isn’t possible when it’s strewn with the remnants of what you couldn’t be bothered to move or clean. Keeping your space tidy as an investment in your mental (and physical) health.
Inspire yourself
Pinning pictures of your goal to a mirror or dresser is a great way to remind yourself why you’re living in a room rather than a whole house or apartment. What are you saving for or paying off? Be it an exotic holiday, your dream home or your wedding, keep a visual reminder of what it is you’re sacrificing your independence for. This comes in particularly handy when there’s a queue for the bathroom.
TELL US
Do still live at home? What do you love and hate about it? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE BEDROOM TALK
7 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Dreams Come True
14 Savvy Ways to Boost Your Bedroom Storage
14 Steps to Take Your Bedroom to the Next Level
Breakfast in Bed … And Other Important Activities
Pinning pictures of your goal to a mirror or dresser is a great way to remind yourself why you’re living in a room rather than a whole house or apartment. What are you saving for or paying off? Be it an exotic holiday, your dream home or your wedding, keep a visual reminder of what it is you’re sacrificing your independence for. This comes in particularly handy when there’s a queue for the bathroom.
TELL US
Do still live at home? What do you love and hate about it? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE BEDROOM TALK
7 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Dreams Come True
14 Savvy Ways to Boost Your Bedroom Storage
14 Steps to Take Your Bedroom to the Next Level
Breakfast in Bed … And Other Important Activities
Just because it’s a bedroom it doesn’t mean you should only have bedroom furniture. A charming or interesting item of furniture can inject charisma, warmth and style into your living space. I chose an antique kitchen dresser to store my bulging collection of interior design books and cookbooks, and used the additional storage space for stationery, music and paperwork. A cosy armchair also adds warmth to your room and is ideal for any guests who come to visit, or if you just want a spot other than your bed to curl up with a good book.