Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Clearly, it’s an emotional time when your child goes off to University for the first time. You’re probably feeling worried for the future and possibly even bereft at their absence. However, there’s also the plus sides! There will be fewer socks to pick up from the floor and a whole room that’s returned to your use. Well, most of the time anyway. While naturally your offspring would prefer that you keep their room for their dedicated use forevermore, that’s a little unrealistic. So we’re here with suggestions for planning university storage that unlocks practical uses for your child’s bedroom when they go off to Uni.
The reality is that you’re paying for every square foot of your home, so it makes sense to use it productively rather than maintaining a shrine to your departed teenager. But how do you balance making good use of the space while ensuring they still feel welcome when they return for holidays? With honesty and planning, it’s possible to find a solution that works for everyone.
Before you start planning your home office or craft room, sit down with your child and discuss your intentions. They might surprise you with their openness to change, especially when you explain that their room will still be available when they come home. This conversation helps set expectations and prevents any hurt feelings later.
Remember, this transition is happening to them too. They’re navigating independence while still needing the security of the nest. A thoughtful approach here can make all the difference to how they feel about coming back.
This is often the most practical and logical solution for most families. During term time, the room functions as a guest room (after a neutral redecoration) and when your child returns, their belongings will make it feel like theirs again.
Keep areas of storage free for their belongings. No one likes living out of a suitcase in their ow home! Before they arrive back, add a few of your own touches to make the room feel less impersonal. This use of the room simply requires a basic redecoration and carries minimal reorganisation each holiday.
Although many of us have, and do, work from the kitchen table, it’s much more constructive to have a dedicated workspace. A stylish daybed or sofa bed means the room can serve as your office while still accommodating overnight guests, including your returning student.
This setup works particularly well because many students actually prefer having a desk in their temporary bedroom for study purposes. You’re essentially providing them with an upgraded workspace when they visit. You just have to be happy to decamp back to the kitchen table for those weeks!
If the space is large enough, consider using only half the room for your new purpose, whether that’s a hobby area or somewhere to store stock for your new business. This approach means their bed and some personal items remain untouched, making their homecoming feel more natural. It also means that you can choose a rather more indulgent use for your half of the room – a yoga space, art corner, or reading nook.
The secret to successfully repurposing your child’s room lies in smart storage management. This is where a self storage unit really adds value. Rather than cramming everything into wardrobes or under beds, you can store non-essential items out of the home but keep them accessible.
Bulky items like sports equipment, musical instruments, or collections that take up significant space. Off season clothing is another excellent candidate for storage. None of us need our heavy winter coats taking up wardrobe space in July.
Pack everything in clearly labelled boxes or plastic storage containers. Create an inventory list so you know exactly what you have stored. When your child is coming home for Christmas, you can retrieve their winter clothes, and in the summer bring home their surf board!
A small storage unit is typically sufficient for most students’ excess belongings that are left behind when they go to Uni. Choose sturdy, stackable containers that protect against moisture and make good use of vertical space.
Pack seasonal clothes in vacuum-sealed bags to maximise space, and disassemble any furniture you’re storing to make it more manageable. Keep all screws and small parts in labelled bags taped to the furniture pieces.
The beauty of using self storage is that you can involve your child in deciding what gets stored and what stays accessible. This collaborative approach helps them feel in control of their belongings while creating the space you need.
Eventually, you might need to reverse some of these changes if your child returns home to plan their next steps. Using university storage units and flexible furniture help this transition to become much easier to manage.
Having belongings organised and accessible in storage means you can quickly recreate your child’s personal space when needed. It’s much better than discovering years later that important items were damaged or lost in a poorly organised loft. You might even find that the storage unit remains useful long term for some of their (and your) belongings until they have their own space large enough to accommodate it all.
The University years are a time of evolution for everyone in the family, and your home too. With thoughtful planning and good storage solutions, you can create a space that serves multiple purposes without anyone feeling displaced. In fact the bedroom / spare room journey is one that provides a safe space for everyone to move on to the next stage of their lives.
Contact Blue Box Storage today and discover how the right storage unit can help you make the most of your home.