It’s finally happened: the kids have left the building! You might be shouting Hallelujah from the rooftop, or, if you are like most Empty Nesters, you are finding yourself with way too much time on your hands, a whole lot of space you don’t need anymore, and the itch to reclaim some of your life that has been dedicated to raising and providing for other human beings. Not only is this prospect daunting for some people, the thought of starting another phase of life without the responsibility can be paralyzing. Rather than get caught up in the drama of having your home all to yourself, we recommend a makeover that makes you feel at ease in your home again. If you’ve found yourself a new Empty Nester, here’s how you can take back your space and make your home yours again.

Clear Out the Clutter

Your kids might be gone, but surely some of their stuff is still lingering in cupboards, behind doors, and under the beds. The first thing you’ll want to do is decide which room you are going to tackle and then start clearing it out. If you are taking on the family room, you might want to think about getting yourself a new, modern and sleek sofa that speaks to your new lifestyle. Buying a new sectional sofa is a great place to start because it offers lots of flexibility, room for you and your friends to stretch out and watch reruns of your favourite movies. It also helps anchor the room and you can build your style around it.

Source: home-designing.com

Find Your New Style

When you’ve cleaned out the space and decided on its new look, you’ll want to head out on a shopping trip to pick up a few more things. You can always repurpose items in your home, such as lamps for living room, wood lamps, pieces of art, large mirrors or wall decor, but sometimes it’s fun to splurge and create a space from scratch. You might even think about bringing in a professional to help you get the look just right. Whether you decide to embark on the decorating journey alone or with some guidance, you’ll love discovering what’s out there and how you can make it your own. Design and decor help us express ourselves in the place that is most important to us, so it’s important to make sure you get exactly what you want, even if it takes a bit longer than you originally planned. Waiting for the perfect lamp, chandelier, or accent piece is worth the wait.

Source: elledecor.com

Celebrate the Changes          

You might be inclined to stay at home feeling sorry for yourself that your children are grown and have moved on with their life. This is common for parents who find themselves with more time, money, and space than they have been used to in a while. It’s a difficult time for some people, but when you give yourself projects and celebrate the new phase of your life, you’ll be better for it. One way to celebrate that next stage of life is to throw a party in your new space. It’s bright and shiny and new and you’ll want people to see what you’ve been up to. Schedule a gathering of your closest friends and put on your best outfit. Why not make it a glamorous night?! Who says you have to hang around the house in yoga pants all day missing your kids? You’ve done your job as a parent to get them out into the world, and now it’s time to celebrate having a life of your own again.

Make Plans for Other Rooms

Once you’ve been bitten by the redecorating bug, you’ll find lots of ways to spruce up your home and make it comfortable for you once again. Children are wonderful and add many amazing things to your life, but as a parent, it’s easy to get caught up in their lives and forget that you have likes, wants, and needs of your own. This is especially true of women who often struggle with guilt about spending money on themselves or their homes when their kids need new shoes. It’s a constant battle of should I/shouldn’t I and it’s like a whole world opens up for parents when their kids leave home. Making plans for updating or changing some other rooms in your home can help you get reacquainted with your creative side. Even if you’d argue you don’t have a creative bone in your body, the act of creating, choosing, and designing a space that is perfectly you is a wonderful gift to yourself and for your home.

Don’t Let the Guilt Sway You

And don’t worry: your kids won’t be offended that you’ve decided to zero in on making their bedrooms a gym or a spa. Who says you need to keep everything single piece of paper they’ve ever written on? Keep what’s precious and toss the rest. Go all in on what you want your home to be and you’ll feel right at home again in no time. You might feel out of place spending money on yourself for a while, but once you get into the groove, you’ll be able to pick and choose home decor pieces that make you feel alive. Your kids will be happy for you that you are renovating and making your home fun for you again. So set a timeline for yourself, set some home decor goals, and get cracking at reclaiming your home once you are an Empty Nester. You might even look forward to it!

Whether you’ve had one child, or ten children leave home, the truth is that it doesn’t get easier. Your children fill your home with love and bustling activity and it is not uncommon for Empty Nesters to feel alone and bored. Get a project on the go and you’ll suddenly find you don’t have enough time in the day. Why not enjoy your next phase of life in high style?

Source: overstock.ca

Author Bio:

Kristen Heller: Kristen Heller is a passionate writer, teacher, and mother to a wonderful son. When free time presents itself, you can find her tackling her lifelong goal of learning the piano.