You’ve done the hard work of raising your kids, and now they’re off and out of the house. An empty nest can be a bit somber, for sure—but it’s also a perfect opportunity to rethink your home design in a way that caters to you. You are now free to pursue what you like and what you’ve always wanted, without having to sacrifice on behalf of everyone else.
Ready to transform your empty nest into the home of your dreams? Consider these seven design ideas.
Posh Over Practical
With children in the house, you likely made a lot of design choices based on practicality—like choosing colors and fabrics that tolerated spills and stains, or avoiding glass tables and shelves for fear of accidental damage. Think about your wish list. Have you always wanted to embrace more elegance? Are you ready to chase your dream color palette? There’s no time like the present, so go for that white sofa you love. After all, you don’t need to worry about it being kid-friendly (at least not until you start watching grandkids down the road.)
Time to Declutter
We all accumulate plenty of stuff over the years, but with kids, we tend to hold on to even more keepsakes and memorabilia. Consider working with a home organizer or watching some organization shows and videos to see how you can preserve your most sentimental items while opening up your space with more storage-friendly furniture.
Bedroom Rebrand
One of the first projects that empty nesters will want to tackle is adapting the kids’ room into a guest bedroom or home office. Of course, you still want to have a place where your children can feel comfortable and appreciated when they come and visit, but you may want to make better use of the space and give it a sophisticated makeover.
Personal Space
With kids, it can seem like every available space in the house is devoted to their needs. The basement is a video game room, or one big laundry station. The kitchen is also a homework zone. Now’s the time to change things up and make each room all your own. What are your hobbies? What do you like to do to relax? Maybe you want to convert the basement into a home gym and yoga studio. Maybe the sunroom becomes a reading room, or the family room becomes a library. Whatever your passion is, now you can have a home that reflects it.
Get Green
Managing a household with kids doesn’t leave a lot of time or space for other inhabitants that require care. But now that you’ve got an empty nest, you can fill it with plants and greenery. Not only is it healthy to have plants in the house, but having something to tend to can also help alleviate some of the feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Pursue Your Projects
Any type of home renovation project is a tall order. But it’s undeniably more difficult with more people in the house. Now that the kids are out, you can finally start that ambitious project you’ve been fantasizing about for years. Redo the bathroom, upgrade the kitchen, add a sunroom, or knock out a wall to open things up.
Outdoor Oasis
Your backyard has probably been a young-adult-zone for years, littered with sports equipment and pet products or reserved as a teenage hangout. Embrace this opportunity to transform your outdoor space into a grown-folks-oasis, and make it into a sophisticated spot to enjoy drinks or a meal with friends and family.
Bottom Line
Being an empty nester is tough, especially at first. You miss your children and the energy they bring to your home. But when one door closes another one opens, and an empty nest is a great opportunity to reimagine your home as a place that reflects you and all the things you love. It’s still home, just different—and maybe even better. Brook is here to help you upgrade your furniture in style. Our rental model is a hassle-free, eco-friendly way to experiment with trends and find what makes you happy.
