10 Best Home Improvement Ideas for Empty Nesters

If you're an empty nester, congratulations! You've done it —all those late-night study sessions and early-morning carpools paid off! It's time to renovate your home and create a space that reflects your new lifestyle. With the kids out of the house, you have more freedom to explore home improvement ideas that might not have been possible before. Here are ten of the best home improvement ideas for empty nesters.

1. Expand Your Master Suite

Design by DIANA ROSE  Photography by MIKE CHAJECKI

After years of divvying up bedrooms with the kids, you deserve a master bedroom and now's the time to make that happen. Expand your master suite to include not only your bed but a customized walk-in closet, a master bathroom and maybe even a relaxation nook.

2. Create a Guest Suite

Design by BIG SKY HOME INTERIORS  Photography by JUSTINE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

Use your spare room to create a guest suite for those often unexpected overnight guests that you get on the holidays and long weekends. Maybe this includes a small kitchenette with a wine fridge or a simple open concept style studio with a bedroom set and double sinks.

3. Opt for Open Concept Living Space

Kalta Bianco Polished Marble by Emser Tile

Rethink how you'll use your space and enjoy your newfound freedom. Maybe you no longer need that closed off dining room where you hosted family dinners and instead opt to knock out a wall and expand the breakfast nook. Open concept living spaces are ideal for empty nesters as you keep all of the main rooms on one level, making it easier to adapt to in older age.

4. Upgrade Your Furniture

Drapes by Graber

Now that you don't have to worry about kids spilling on your couches, you can finally update your furniture to the 21st century! Invest in materials and pieces that bring you joy. If you've had your eye on an all-white living room sectional but were worried about spills, now's the time to make that gutsy purchase. Without having to worry about performance fabrics or shoes on the coffee table, the world of furniture really opens up and you can explore high-end barstools and solid wood tables.

5. Design a Dream Office

Wood Blinds by Graber

Chances are you have a spare bedroom now that the kid's are gone, so what better time to create your dream home office than now? Create a dedicated home office space where you can be productive and tune out distractions. With so many jobs going remote, an at-home office has become essential.

6. Add a Home Gym or Hobby Room

Design by LISA KOOISTRA  Photography by MIKE CHAJECKI

Turn your basement into an entertainment space or build a home theater with a full surround sound system. Many empty nesters choose to return to their roots by taking up hobbies they didn't have time for when their kids were living at home. This looks different for everybody and where one creative mind might prefer a craft room another active person might consider building a workout room. If your basement is more of a storage space, you can even turn your kid's old room into an at-home gym.

7. Redo the Existing Bathrooms

Bianco Fontaine Res Tile by Daltile

Now that you don't have to worry about kid's dripping their towels all over the floor or messy bathtimes, think about renovating your bathrooms. Consider upgrading light fixtures and hardware, or maybe switch out that old clawfoot tub for a walk in shower. And with a little extra income, now you can finally purchase those heated floors you've had your eye on!

8. Invest in New Appliances

Don't forget to invest in new appliances and upgrade your kitchen! This gathering place has seen many a family dinner and after school snack over the years, so chances are you have a few flaws you'd like to repair. Replace the scratched kitchen table, update the hardware on your kitchen drawers, give your cupboards a fresh coat of paint and install new light fixtures. You can even take your kitchen to the next level by replacing the pocked laminate countertop with granite, installing a new tile backsplash and updating to a smart fridge.

9. Recycle and Renovate

Of course, creating an empty nesters space doesn't need to turn into a whole home renovation. If you aren't ready to commit to an entire house overhaul, save money by recycling and renovating your existing home design. This can be as simple as rearranging the furniture in your living room and reupholstering your dining room chairs to adding more storage space in the laundry room.

10. Design a Cozy Guest Room

Design by MICHELLE BERWICK  Photography by LARRY ARNAL

The truth is, no matter how excited you might be to have your space to yourself, you want the kids to come home sometimes! Increase those chances by turning their old childhood rooms into a cozy, grown-up guest room.

With the kids out of the house, it's the perfect time to renovate and create a space that reflects your new lifestyle. From expanding your master suite to designing a cozy guest room, these ten home improvement ideas are perfect for empty nesters. 

Ready to begin your empty nester renovation? Let our professionals at Carpet One Floor & Home walk you through the stages of project planning and find more flooring inspiration on the blog.