Design Tips for Empty Nester Interiors
While MTI caters to many different types of clients that come our way, a large majority of our clientele are Empty Nesters. Our timeless and sophisticated design breathes fresh, new life into your home. It’s no surprise that over the many years we have been operating, Empty Nesters have naturally gravitated towards our design style and philosophy (which you can learn more about here.)
A bitter sweet experience, your last child moves out of the nest and into the real world for the first time. You may have new spaces to transform or areas to enhance now that you’ll be experiencing a new lifestyle without children living under your roof. Now that it’s just you and your spouse, the fear of messes and damage is diminished and only opting for practical choices for the home is no longer necessary (say hello to fabrics other than crypton!).
We want to share a few of our tips to start this makeover. Let’s get into it shall we?
Refinishing your hardwood floors & a fresh coat of paint goes a long way!
We all know that children can be rough on floors, from scratches to dents, your floors go through a lot of wear over the years. Consider hiring a company to sand the floors and refinish them to make them look shiny and brand new. As an empty nester, you want to your home to feel and look new again, another way to do this is by applying a coat of fresh paint on the walls. Consider going lighter if your home has darker walls, this will help to modernize, brighten and enlarge the space!
Declutter but don’t get rid of everything.
Of course you want to keep everything from your child’s past, but do you really need every toy they grew up with? Time to make those hard choices of what you would like to keep or donate. Having your home back to yourself allows you to really think about what is necessary or not. Place non-essentials in organized storage solutions in either your basement, mudroom or closets. However, keep in mind how much you put away, for children going to college, they will be back and you still want to keep the space feeling welcoming for when they return from school.
Stop being so practical!
Do you have an old massive sectional with performance fabric that needs to go? Furniture, like your floors get the most wear and tear in the home, hence why for the past 18 years, practicality and functionality has been your main focus. But now is the time to invest in some pieces that you’ve been eyeing and genuinely love. Choose the white sofa, replace ottomans with stylish side tables and buy the luxuriously plush rug for your living room. Being an empty nester is about making choices that are about you and what you love!
Check out our condo transformation for a couple that moved to the city after becoming empty nesters here. By repurposing many of their belongings, we created a fresh, contemporary look for their condo. And just look at that beautiful white sofa we incorporated!
Make the game room your new hobby room or office.
A room that was once used for your child’s toys, then transitioned into a hangout spot as they got older can now be yours to reclaim. Converting the space into a place you’ve always wanted can also help ease the transition into the empty nester lifestyle. A few ideas include a library with a few chairs for reading, a home gym, or a home office (which most of us need nowadays!).
This period in life can be both tricky and exciting time for some. The transition of certain titles to no longer having a busy household. Make this time easier by transforming your space into one that serves you best. One that is still filled with your life experiences but professionally curated in a way that shows your personality and story.
Are you an empty nester looking to update your space? Schedule a consultation with us today, we look forward to speaking with you!