If you’re in the market for a new home or considering upgrading your current home, you may quickly realize there are some things DINK couples just don’t need. It’s important to be mindful that not all home upgrades are valuable to every homeowner. Some home features seem like great ideas, until you realize they’re only practical if you have children. From playroom nooks to backyard jungle gyms, here are eight upgrades that often go underused in kid-free homes.
1. Playroom or Bonus Room
Without kids, that dedicated playroom becomes wasted square footage or a glorified storage space. Consider converting playrooms into an office space or movie room for you and your spouse. A bonus room could even be made into an adult space, complete with a bar.
2. Jack-and-Jill Bathrooms
Jack-and-Jill bathrooms are great for siblings sharing a space. Not so great when guests feel awkward walking through someone’s bedroom just to use the bathroom. You can turn this into two separate bathrooms. Or you could reposition doors so that there is only one point of entry.
3. Built-In Bunk Beds
These are fun for sleepovers and siblings, but they severely limit how you can use or reconfigure the room in the future. Not all adults are comfortable sleeping in a bunk bed. You can transform bunk beds into a loft space with storage underneath or a cozy reading nook. Some even suggest using the frames as garden beds.
4. Homework Nooks
A built-in desk in the hallway sounds smart, until no one uses it. Adults tend to work in home offices or on the couch. A homework nook may work better for DINKs as a storage solution or bookshelf. Or you could turn the area into a craft space.
5. Backyard Playground Equipment
Swingsets and jungle gyms take up a lot of space and quickly become an eyesore if no one’s climbing on them. There are many ways to repurpose playground equipment without taking it down. You could easily create a dog kennel, a hangout for grownups, or a garden structure. These options are fun and less headache than removing a built-in structure.
6. Mudrooms With Cubbies
Mudrooms with cubbies are designed with kids in mind, perfect for organizing backpacks, muddy shoes, and art projects. Without little ones, these open cubbies often sit empty or become a magnet for clutter. They rarely serve a purpose in a kid-free household. If you want to make the space useful, consider adding doors to create hidden storage.
7. Baby Gates and Cabinet Locks
These safety features are must-haves for homes with babies and toddlers. They prevent accidents and give parents peace of mind. But in a home without children, they’re just barriers and minor annoyances. Most adults quickly remove them once they’re no longer needed.
8. Child-Themed Bedrooms
Whimsical bedrooms, like fairy-tale castles or superhero hideouts, can be magical for young kids. But they’re tough to repurpose as children grow or if you don’t have any. The bold colors and themes often limit a room’s flexibility. Redecorating becomes inevitable if you want the space to appeal to guests or adults.
Home Features for Your Lifestyle
Not all home features are one-size-fits-all. While these kid-focused upgrades can be great for families, they often become wasted space or maintenance headaches in child-free homes. Before investing in these features, consider how they’ll serve your lifestyle long-term. A home should work for the life you actually live, not the one you’re expected to have.
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Teri Monroe
Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
