So. The Leaving Cert is done. The CAO form has finally been finalised and is in. And while your child is busy trying to enjoy the summer without thinking too hard about what comes next, you - the parent - are already quietly doing the maths ...
If the offers go the way you're hoping, your child will be moving out in a matter of weeks. And that means now - before the results land, before the chaos of offer round one, before everyone is simultaneously excited and terrified - is exactly the right time to start thinking about what happens to their bedroom.
This guide is for you. The one who will be standing in a suddenly very quiet room wondering how it all went so fast — and also wondering where to put the good winter duvet they've left behind.
Leaving Cert Results day in Ireland is on 21st August 2026 - and once the CAO offers follow, everything moves very fast. Accommodation needs to be sorted, supplies need to be bought, and the actual move can happen within days.
If you wait until after the Results to start thinking about the bedroom, you'll be doing it in a rush, in the middle of everything else. Starting the conversation and the sorting process in the weeks beforehand - while things are still relatively calm - makes the whole transition easier for everyone.
Before anyone starts packing a single box, sit down together and have an honest conversation about what's happening to their belongings. This sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to skip - and it leads to bedrooms that remain untouched shrines to secondary school for years.
A few things to establish upfront:
Once you've had the conversation, the sorting begins. The simplest system is three piles:
Work through the room category by category rather than all at once. It's less overwhelming and less likely to result in everything ending up in a black bag in a moment of frustration.
Clothes are usually the biggest category and the most contentious. The one-year rule applies: if they haven't worn it in the past 12 months, it's unlikely to make a comeback.
For clothes and bedding that are staying - off-season items, good winter coats, spare bedding - vacuum storage bags are your best friend. A bulky duvet that takes up half a wardrobe compresses down to a fraction of its size, and the contents stay clean, dry, and protected. For added protection, tuck a couple of cedar moth repellent blocks into bags containing wool, cashmere, or any natural fibre clothing you're storing long-term. Cedar is a natural, chemical-free alternative to mothballs ... and considerably less stinky!
For hanging clothes that are staying - good coats, formal wear, anything that shouldn't be folded - a wardrobe box keeps them on the hanger, protected, and crease-free. Far better than folding a good coat into a vacuum bag and hoping for the best.
Leaving Cert notes, school projects, and years of accumulated paperwork tend to pile up in bedrooms. Most of it can go - but some of it (certificates, important documents, anything with genuine sentimental value) is worth keeping properly.
Small cardboard boxes are ideal for books and documents - keep the weight manageable, label clearly, and stack neatly. Don't be tempted to fill a large box with books; you'll regret it on the stairs.
This is a conversation that catches many families off guard - usually when the child is halfway out the door with the telly under their arm!
Over the years, various pieces of technology have a way of migrating into bedrooms and staying there: the TV that was “just for the bedroom that time they were sick and isolated with mumps” the games console that was technically a family Christmas present, the Bluetooth speaker that came from the kitchen. In the child's mind, these things belong to them. In your mind - and on your credit card statement - the situation may be rather different.
Before the packing begins, it's worth having a calm, clear conversation about which electronics are theirs to take and which belong to the household. A few common ones to address:
There are no right or wrong answers here - it depends entirely on your family's circumstances. The point is simply to have the conversation before Moving Day, rather than during it.
Every bedroom has them: childhood toys that can't quite be let go of, the sports trophies, the photographs, the things that don't have a practical use but feel important. These deserve proper storage rather than being shoved in a bin bag.
Clear storage bags are particularly useful here - you can see exactly what's inside without opening everything, which makes it much easier to find things later. Label them anyway. Future You will be grateful.
At some point, someone is going to suggest putting things in the attic. This is often a perfectly sensible solution ... with one important caveat.
Use small boxes when storing things in the attic. Climbing a spindly attic ladder with a large, heavy box is an accident waiting to happen. Small boxes are easier to carry safely up a ladder, easier to manoeuvre through a hatch, and easier to stack once you're up there. Your back will also thank you.
A few other attic storage tips:
Here's where we need to be realistic: for most Irish families, a child going to college is not the same as a child moving out permanently. They'll be home at weekends - some of them most weekends. They'll be back for the summer. They'll arrive at Christmas with a bag of smelly laundry and strong opinions about what's for dinner.
Their bedroom is still their bedroom.
The goal isn't to repurpose the room - it's to make it work better. A properly sorted, well-stored bedroom is more comfortable for them to come home to and less of a source of low-level stress for you. When the wardrobe isn't overflowing with clothes that haven't been worn in three years, there's actually space for the things they bring back at weekends. When the floor isn't covered in accumulated clutter, the room feels like somewhere to rest rather than somewhere to wade through.
Storing things well - vacuum bags, storage bags, wardrobe boxes, a few trips to the attic with small boxes - creates breathing room without changing the fundamental nature of the space. It's still their room. It's just a tidier, calmer version of it.
And honestly? They'll probably appreciate coming home to that more than they'd ever admit.
Having the right storage supplies before you start makes the whole process significantly less chaotic.
At Box Depot, we stock everything you need: vacuum storage bags, cedar moth repellent, wardrobe boxes, clear storage bags, and sturdy cardboard boxes in a range of sizes - including small boxes ideal for safe attic storage.
Shop Storage Supplies →
Browse Cardboard Boxes →
And if your child needs supplies for their end of the move - boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap for the college room - we've got that covered too!
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