The university drop-off is done, the suitcases have gone and you’re back in Mallorca, getting used to a quieter house. There’s less washing, fewer shoes by the door and a bedroom you’re not quite sure what to do with.
For families here, children leaving for university can mean a flight away, whether they’re studying on the mainland, in the UK or elsewhere. Coming home takes a little more planning, and their rooms may sit empty for weeks before becoming busy again during the holidays.
You don’t have to start redecorating the moment they leave. But when you feel ready, it’s worth asking: could this space work better for the life you’re living now?
Perhaps you’d like somewhere to work away from the kitchen table, a comfortable room for visiting friends or space for a hobby you’ve never quite had room for. With some thought, you can accommodate those things while keeping a welcoming place for your children to return to.
How I Changed My Own Home
I have two children, a boy and a girl. When they were small, they shared a room. After toddlerhood, I divided it into two smaller bedrooms with adjoining en-suite bathrooms, giving each of them their own space. The rooms were compact, but they suited that stage of family life.
Once both children had left home, I decided to rethink the whole area. I packed their treasures into storage boxes, knocked down walls and combined the rooms into a spacious guest bedroom with a large en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.
My daughter absolutely loves staying there when she visits. My son prefers our guest house at the back of the garden, so everyone is happy. Particularly me!
I had enormous fun choosing the colours, patterns, furniture and bed linen. The botanical wallpaper gives me a beautiful backdrop for Zoom calls when I use the room as a home office, and there’s even space for yoga.
The space works for our life in Mallorca today, and my children still have somewhere lovely to stay.
Start With a Conversation
Leaving for university isn’t necessarily the same as moving out for good. Your child may still think of your house in Mallorca as home and be looking forward to returning to familiar surroundings after their first term away.
Talk about any changes before you begin. Ask which belongings they want to keep, what can be stored and what would make them comfortable when they return.
Then think about how often the room will be used. Will they be home for the whole summer? Will friends and relatives stay between visits? Does it need to accommodate someone working remotely?
Those answers will help you decide whether to refresh the bedroom, give it a second purpose or make a bigger change.
Here are six possibilities.
A Guest Bedroom for Children, Friends and Family
Living in Mallorca could make your guest room a very popular destination! If you regularly welcome friends and relatives, an underused bedroom could become a more comfortable space for everyone who visits.
Start with a comfortable bed, useful storage and somewhere to put a suitcase. Leave wardrobe and drawer space free, rather than filling every inch with household belongings. You can also enjoy choosing colours and patterns that suit your home, while keeping a few familiar things that your children will appreciate.
Think about comfort throughout the year. Window treatments should offer privacy and control the light, particularly for guests who don’t share your enthusiasm for an early Mediterranean sunrise. Choose bedding you can adapt for warm summer nights and cooler winter visits.
Bedside lighting, drinking water and somewhere to charge a phone are small details that make settling in easier and fresh flowers are a lovely finishing touch.
A Home Office That Works All Year
If you work remotely from Mallorca, a room with a door you can close may be far more useful than another desk squeezed into a shared living space. Before deciding where the desk should go, notice how the light moves through the room. A position that looks lovely in the morning may be uncomfortable when the afternoon sun hits the screen.
Consider shading, ventilation, lighting and sockets, along with a comfortable chair and storage for paperwork. If you take video calls, wallpaper or artwork can create an attractive backdrop. Avoid a bright window directly behind you, which can leave your face in shadow.
A guest bedroom can double as an occasional office, but make sure work equipment is easy to put away when someone comes to stay.
A Reading Room for Quieter Days
We talk a lot about terraces and outdoor living in Mallorca, but it’s lovely to have an inviting indoor corner too. Somewhere to read on a wet winter afternoon or retreat from the heat in August. A comfortable chair, a reading lamp and a bookcase may be all you need. Position your reading chair near natural light if possible, with curtains or blinds to soften glare when needed. A rug and soft furnishings can make the space feel welcoming, especially in a room with tiled flooring. This can also work beautifully as part of a guest bedroom, giving visitors somewhere to sit other than the bed.
Space for Exercise or Meditation
Mallorca gives us plenty of opportunities to get outdoors, but having space to move at home is useful when it’s too hot, raining or you simply have half an hour to yourself. If your yoga mat has always had to fit between the sofa and coffee table, an underused bedroom could give you room to stretch comfortably.
Clear floor space comes first. Check that you can move freely, then think about ventilation, shading and somewhere to store equipment. On tiled floors, choose a suitable exercise mat rather than relying on the surface beneath you. A mirror can help with posture, and a speaker is useful for following classes. For meditation, you may prefer gentle lighting, soft colours and very little furniture.
A Room for Something You Love Doing
Perhaps you’ve been meaning to paint, sew or organise your photographs for years, but everything has had to be packed away before dinner. A dedicated space makes it easier to return to a project. Think about what your activity needs: a generous table, an easel, good lighting or storage that keeps materials within reach.
In Mallorca, pay attention to strong sunlight when positioning your work surface and storing materials. Adjustable blinds can help you make use of daylight without working in glare. The room doesn’t have to look like a studio in a magazine, it just needs to make your hobby easier to enjoy.
A Room for Films and Games
After a day outside, a comfortable room for films or games can be a welcome addition to your home. Blackout curtains or effective shutters will help control the light. Comfortable seating and a screen at the right height matter more than filling the room with equipment.
If it also needs to accommodate holiday visits, a sofa bed could be useful. Measure the room with the bed fully open, and make sure there’s still space to move around and put belongings. Think about sound, too, particularly if the room sits next to a bedroom or opens onto a shared courtyard.
Make Room for Your Life Now
A family home in Mallorca might need to accommodate several different rhythms: your everyday life, children returning for university holidays, summer visitors and quieter winter months.
The best use of a room will depend on which of those matters most to you. You might keep the bed and add a reading corner, introduce a desk or rethink the layout altogether.
There’s no deadline. Take your time, talk it through and choose changes you’ll enjoy living with. Your children can still feel at home while you make space for something you’ve been wanting to do.
What would you love to have room for?
If you’re ready to rethink a space in your Mallorca home, I’d love to help you explore the possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I change my child’s bedroom when they leave for university?
There’s no need to rush. They may still come home to Mallorca for holidays and want a familiar place to stay. Talk to them before making changes, and start by considering whether the room could serve another purpose while keeping a comfortable bed and space for their belongings.
How can I use the room without making my child feel unwelcome?
Include them in the conversation. Keep the belongings that matter to them and explain how you’d like to use the space between visits. A refreshed room can still feel like home, especially when they have somewhere to unpack and settle in.
Can a guest bedroom double as a home office?
Yes, with a thoughtful layout. Choose a desk that fits comfortably, provide storage for work equipment and make sure there’s room to move around the bed. Consider Mallorca’s strong sunlight when positioning your screen, and use curtains or blinds to control glare.
How do I make a guest bedroom comfortable throughout the year in Mallorca?
Think about summer and winter visits. Adjustable bedding, ventilation, suitable heating and window treatments that control light and offer privacy all help. Add bedside lighting, accessible sockets and space for clothes and suitcases.
Do I need to renovate to make better use of a spare bedroom?
Often, rearranging furniture, improving storage and changing the lighting are enough. A reading chair, a compact desk or a storage bed can give the room a new purpose without major building work. Decide how you want to use it before buying anything.
What if my children come home for the whole summer?
Plan for longer stays rather than treating the room as somewhere to sleep for a weekend. Keep enough storage available and make any second use easy to pack away. If it doubles as your office, consider where you’ll work while they’re home.