10 smart home improvement ideas for empty nesters and retirees.

1. Declutter, deep clean and organize.

With fewer people in the house, it's time to start fresh. Start by going into each room and getting rid old junk, including children's clothes, toys, sporting equipment, old bedding and even furniture. Just be careful — you don't want to accidentally throw away sentimental items your kids left behind. 

And don't limit your decluttering tasks to just your kids' rooms. Go through your own bedroom, all of the closets, the kitchen, garage and attic to find unused items you don't need anymore. Have a yard sale, donate the items to charity or contact a junk removal service to haul it all away.

Next, deep clean your home. You can do this yourself (using this checklist), or hire a house cleaning service who can do it faster (and better) than you probably could. During a deep clean, the goal is to remove dust, dirt and grime that you normally don't address during a regular cleaning. This means cleaning behind your appliances, scrubbing your oven, washing your interior windows and more.

Once everything is clean and clutter-free, you're ready to start re-organizing your home. For example, you may want to add more shelves, cabinets, cubbies or storage units in your kitchen or spare room to create more space. Or, maybe you need help organizing all the clothes and shoes in your closets, or the tools and yard equipment in your garage. If you get stuck, consider hiring a professional home organizer for the job.

2. Add a hobby space.

Now that you have your house all to yourself (or if you no longer need to clock in at work), there's a good chance you’ll have more free time to pursue your hobbies. So, why not create a space you can use to explore your hobbies and passions? You can:

• Convert your attic or your child's old bedroom into a studio to draw, paint or do other arts and crafts.
• Turn your basement or garage into a home gym or dance studio. 
• Make your home office a mini library with new bookshelves, a reading nook and comfortable seating. 
• Build a small greenhouse or garden in your backyard to grow your own plants, herbs and food.

There are some questions you'll need to ask yourself before you begin. For example, will an existing room work for your hobby space? Or, should you consider building an addition or an outbuilding? Does your hobby require a lot of lighting (like an art studio)? Or, do you need a space with no windows (like a dark room)? 

When designing your “hobby space,” a professional can help answer any questions you have about which features you can include given your budget and layout. 

Related: How much does a room addition cost?

3. Make your home smart and secure.

One intelligent home improvement everyone should consider making: turn your home into a smart home. There is great technology you can customize to fit your specific needs. Some popular features include smart thermostats that can be set from anywhere, water sensors, automatic lights and timers, cameras, alarms and more.

If you plan on traveling a lot after you retire or when your kids go off to college, these smart home features can be beneficial. Security features such as alarms and cameras can give you peace of mind while you're away. Water sensors can alert you when there’s a leak. And you can get your home ready for your return by turning on the lights and adjusting the temperature before your return.

Many smart home devices are plug and play, meaning they only need to be plugged in to work, but it may be helpful to have professional help with the setup.

Related: How much does a home security system cost?

4. Remodel your closet.

The truth is that after you retire, you probably won’t need all of the clothing that you used to wear to work. One of the first things you can do is go through your belongings and determine what you still need and what you can get rid of by selling, donating or throwing away. 

After you've identified what you'll need, you can remodel and re-organize your closet to your liking. If your closet is spacious, this may mean converting it into a mini sanctuary where you can lounge and relax. If it’s small but you have the extra space, maybe you’ll choose to expand it. Or, perhaps you’ll use your closet as a storage space for the items you want to keep. 

Related: How much does a closet remodel cost?

5. Make your bathroom a spa.

Going to a luxury spa is a great way to relax and rest after a hard day of working in your garden, exercising or volunteering. If you don’t want to spend hundreds on a spa day, you could upgrade your bathroom into a more luxurious sanctuary. 

Bathroom remodeling can be a massive project that involves gutting the entire space and adding new plumbing, lighting, flooring, tile and fixtures. You can replace your old tub with a walk-in shower that has a bench or walk-in soaking spa tub. They look fantastic and add a luxe touch.

You can also complete smaller projects if you're not ready for a full remodel. Upgrading your fixtures is one easy way. Rainfall showerheads will help you enjoy your bathroom more during your retirement. You might also consider lights and diffusers that offer aromatherapy smells, play music and even change color to create a more relaxing environment. Finally, add some candles, thick towels and a plush rug to achieve an overall spa vibe.  

Related: How much does a bathroom remodel cost?

6. Refresh your doors, windows, lighting, flooring and walls.

After having kids in the house for all these years, your home's interior may have suffered quite a bit of damage. Chipped paint, dirty walls, scuffed floors, dings in the doors — children can definitely wreck havoc on your home. Now's the time to refresh your home and make it as cozy as possible.

For example, it may be time to replace your doors and windows. Doors and windows age over time, and investing in new hardware may even boost your home’s curb appeal. If you opt for more energy-efficient options, you can also benefit from lower energy bills and more savings. 

Look at the floors in each room. If you have hardwood floors, you may want to refinish them. Do you have carpets? They're probably due for a professional cleaning. Or, you may want to swap your vinyl or laminate flooring for real wood or natural stone floors instead. Do a bit of research to determine the best flooring for each room in your home.

Don’t forget about your walls and lighting, too. If your home is a bit dark and gloomy, consider brightening it up with new paint and better lighting. Choose paint colors and light fixtures that are visually appealing and will lift your mood when you’re spending long stretches at home.

Related: How much does it cost to paint a room?

7. Upgrade your backyard.

In this stage of your life, you may find yourself wanting to spend more time outside. If so consider creating an outdoor oasis for relaxation and throwing get-togethers with loved ones. 

Build a new deck, add a hot tub for long soaks, create an outdoor kitchen if you entertain often and maybe even start a garden. Even if your backyard has the features you like, it may be time to upgrade your landscaping. A professional landscaper or gardener can help you design your dream backyard.

Related: How much does landscaping cost?

8. Plan a kitchen and dining room remodel.

After years of making school lunches five days a week (and preparing breakfast and dinner nearly every day of the week), it may be time to upgrade your kitchen and make some repairs. Even if you don't plan on cooking that much anymore, an updated kitchen can be an excellent project to complete to improve your home's value.

Redesigning your kitchen's flow will help you modernize your home and it can also give you storage. If you aren't interested in an entire kitchen remodel, you could give it a mini-makeover by painting the cabinet doors or adding new hardware.

If you decide you want to move when you retire or when the kids leave, do a bit of research to identify a few kitchen upgrades that could help increase your home’s value.

Related: 18 kitchen trends we're loving right now.

9. Replace your roof. 

Your home's roof is one of the most vital systems of your home. It keeps your home dry and protects it from the elements. 

Replacing your roof is one of the most expensive projects to undertake. Still, it may be worth the money — especially if your roof is old, damaged and requires frequent repairs. Being proactive and getting a new roof means you won't have to worry about it later in life. Some of the new roofing systems available today (think: metal roofs) can last a very long time. 

Related: How much does a roof replacement cost?

10. Consider senior-friendly home features.

Now that the kids are gone, it's time to consider making your home work better for you. No one wants to think about what happens when they get older, but it’s important to look at your home and determine how you can make it more comfortable and accessible. Making these changes now can help make it possible for you to live at home longer, rather than needing to move in with family. 

For instance, you may want to add a bedroom on the first floor since your stairs could become too difficult to climb in the future. Or, you may want to consider adding wheelchair access throughout your home, grab bars in the bathroom and more.