The transition to an empty nest can be a mixed bag of emotions, but it’s also an opportunity to embrace a new lifestyle and redefine your living space. With your adult children embarking on their own journeys, let’s explore how to refresh your empty nest and begin your new chapter.

 

 

Keeping the Doors to the Nest Open

While it’s natural to repurpose your children’s bedrooms, it might be wise to keep their rooms as they are.

Life can be unpredictable, and they might need to move back home temporarily due to illness, an accident, financial challenges, or new job opportunities. Having their rooms available can provide a comforting solution.

And unless they’re starting their own household, they’ll likely be home for the holidays.

Ways to Freshen Up Their Room After They Leave

It can also be a great idea to refresh your adult child’s room while keeping it ready for their possible return.

Start by reorganizing the space and tidying up. A fresh coat of paint can make a difference. Choose a color that brightens things up but retains some of its original scheme.

Updating the bedding and window coverings is also a great way to refresh the room’s appearance without completely changing it. Consider adding new finishes to the existing furniture to give it an updated look.

Collaborating On Their ‘Old Room’

To ensure the room remains comforting and familiar, involve your adult child in the process. Get their input on color choices and any other changes.

This collaborative approach helps create a space that feels both renewed and welcoming, while still being ready for their return if needed. This can be done before they move out, but the best time to collaborate is when they’re home on an extended holiday.

Repurposing Your Adult Child’s Bedroom

The first step in repurposing a spare bedroom is to look at new functions. Some choices are:

• Crafts room
• Yoga/Exercise/Meditation room
• Home office
• Guest room
• Television room/den

You could also consider adding French doors and a spa or sauna outside the room.

Begin Your New Chapter

Your children leaving home is a happy time.

They’re going off on their own, learning how to create their future with education, marriage, career, home ownership, and children. It can also be profoundly depressing.

I know it was for me after losing my husband of 25 years when shortly after, Christian went off to school. When you begin your new chapter, remember this: Allowing yourself time to grieve is very healthy. But it’s also healthy to move forward with your own plans.

Focus on yourself and your home. When Jim died, my focus was on getting well. That involved eating healthy, exercising consistently, and getting plenty of downtime in my home and garden.

You can use this new chapter to create a home that suits you aesthetically and supports your health and wellness. The process is therapeutic, and the benefits are tremendous.

An attractive, meaningful, clean, and uncluttered environment leads to mental clarity, making it easier to focus on self-care activities like meditation, reading, or learning new skills.

Renovating and Upgrading Your Empty Nest

Updating your kitchen or bathrooms, improving outdoor spaces, or making energy-efficient enhancements can increase the comfort and value of your home.

These changes not only improve your living experience but also reflect your commitment to creating a space that supports your future goals. For example, a modernized kitchen can inspire healthier eating habits, while an updated primary bed and bath space can become a place for better sleep and self-care.

Refresh Your Empty Nest

Refreshing your home provides a sense of renewal.

Updating your accessories to reflect your personal style, adding new pieces of furniture, recovering the sofa and chairs, or adding a decorative paint finish to some old wood pieces can give a completely new look.

It’s a great way to upgrade and customize what you have. Oftentimes, old furniture is better quality and by recovering and refinishing it, you get a lot of change for a relatively conservative investment.

My home makeover online design program can help with this.

Improving Your Home’s Function When the Kids Leave

Increasing the functionality of your home is beneficial. Here are some solutions to refresh your home and begin your new chapter:

• Add built-in storage
• Hire an organizer
• Add built-in shelving
• Install pull-out shelves
• Create a mudroom
• Use multi-functional furniture
• Install closet organizers
• Create a home office
• Add a kitchen island
• Convert attic or basement space
• Install under-cabinet lighting
• Create built-in seating
• Install French doors to a garden area
• Improve the laundry
• Add or expand the pantry
• Create a charging station

Download Your Free Gift

 

 

To get started on a home where you feel healthy, happy and connected grab my complimentary design and wellness download, The Wellness Home.

It’s the prettiest little book. It’s a quick read with super easy design solutions that help you lead a beautiful, healthier lifestyle at home, plus my 3-to-5 Things Framework that gives you step by step actions to get started and stay on track. 

That’s it for today. Thank you for stopping by!

Shiree’

What is Wellness Design? Learn more about the connection between your wellbeing and your home, featured on Deirdre Fitzpatrick’s Dying to Ask Podcast. And if you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, check out my blog post, “Hiring an Interior Designer”.