As my youngest son moved to his own home in July, closets, cabinets, and corners of our house emptied, clearing the way for possibilities. We left both our sons’ childhood bedrooms intact through their college years, but now that they’ve launched, we’re empty nesters living in a four-bedroom home with room to spread out.

At the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, and after mulling over several possibilities, Mike bought a used sit-stand desk, cut a foot off the back, and set up his home office in a corner of our bedroom. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it would still be there six years later, but so it goes. It’s great having him work from home, but a bedroom office has its challenges.

My youngest son’s empty bedroom is now Mike’s office. He has room for paid work and hobbies, a small seating area for me and Tessa, and the ability to spread out.

I’m an organizer by nature and by trade, but not everyone enjoys the process of decluttering, so I’ve learned to tread carefully over the years. Excited at the possibility of his own dedicated space, we worked together to reduce the excess from the garage, den, and assorted closets. It feels transformative.

After donating, recycling, and a trip to a toxic waste collection facility with a small box of solvents and old products, I’ve been able to move all of Mike’s hobbies and treasures into the converted room.

It’s a small room, only 10 x 10, so years ago I converted the six-foot closet using a closet component system. I used different shelf widths, creating a desk, a small hanging space for jackets, and three drawers. The altered closet now houses all of Mike’s model airplane kits, too many electronic components to count, his pilot gear, and assorted treasures.

We moved the sit-stand desk to one side of the room, bought a rug and a small, flat-pack foyer table, and I scored the small settee at a second-run store for a song. We framed a print rescued from my brother-in-law’s apartment after his death that originally came from their parents’ home.

Mike is already enjoying his space and his passion for electronics. He’s dusted off his oscilloscope and converted a battery-operated light to an electrical one. I’m going to have a small sign made for the door that says “Renaissance Man.” He’s a sailer, a private pilot, a ham-radio operator, and an engineer. He writes well, loves to travel, and he’s fluent in English and Spanish, with some mastery of Italian. He’s a keeper!

I moved an upholstered chair and table from other rooms to our bedroom to fill the corner once occupied by the work desk. I hung my son’s photo of his sweet dog, Juneau, a Christmas gift one year. The owl watercolor is an original from local artist Lexi Grenzer. Our bedroom feels spacious and light.

I’m free to shower and change without first making sure Mike’s Zoom camera is off. I can put away freshly laundered clothes, change into gardening shoes, etc. without disturbing him or potentially mortifying myself. 

Change is good.