How empty-nesters repurpose space

~ MaryG

We now have three unused bedrooms upstairs, but we’re using our one and only dining room as a combo art studio, home office, and marijuana dispensary.

Because…stairs

I’m definitely seeing the benefits of living on one floor.

When your kids are home, it’s nice to have separate floors for various activities. Young kids can be sent “up to bed” and you can still watch your shows on whatever volume you want. Older kids and teens can go to the basement to roughhouse or just hang out adult-free. And everyone can have privacy and space when needed.

When it’s just the two of you, it’s different. Do I really want my other glasses enough to climb the stairs to get them? If I need a pain reliever in the middle of the night and the only bottle is in the kitchen, how bad is the pain really? Bad enough to go downstairs in a cold, dark house? Maybe I’d rather just try to sleep with the pain. A bee’s nest recently grew to massive proportions in our basement because nobody was down there to see them coming in. And how exactly are we going to deal, if my husband’s arthritis requires joint replacement?

Sometimes I decide to go upstairs to get something, get distracted by laundry sorting or some other upstairs activity, and return without what I went up there for. I’ve found that if I say my plan aloud (“I’m going to get a sweater”), there’s a better chance I’ll complete the mission. And if I forget, there’s a chance my husband heard me say it and can remind me.

So, convenience. That’s how empty-nesters repurpose space.

11 thoughts on “How empty-nesters repurpose space”

  1. Interesting. Just one note that may alleviate a concern. We live in a house with 16 steps from the main floor to the upper level–and another set of stairs to the basement. I’ve had two total knee replacements seven years apart. I knew I needed them because of the pain climbing those stairs.

    After the surgery, I spent most of my days on the main level. But I was able to do the stairs twice a day.
    My second surgery was four years ago. I’ve learned from people who’ve had the surgery recently that the techniques are far better, and recovery is quicker. If your husband’s problem is his hip, that recovery is even easier.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Annie. It’s his knees (unfortunately). We have 13 stairs between the main floor and the bedrooms, plus 13 down to the basement, and another 13 up to an office/loft from the bedrooms. It’s a lot of stairs, but really just one flight is absolutely necessary post-surgery, unless I set up some sort of temporary first floor bedroom. Good to know you survived two knee replacements. Thanks for commenting!

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  4. Most of our living space is on the first floor. It was a consideration for my in-laws when they visit. Lately, I’ve been thinking it will probably benefit us if we stay here any length of time. We’ll see if this becomes our last stop.

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