I hope this title doesn’t scare you! There are different chapters in our lives and after our children leave, we have an empty “larger” nest than we need and usually, we begin thinking about looking for a smaller nest. It can be an overwhelming time with lots of emotions coming to the surface, as well as an exciting time.
Through this article, I aim to share some real life tips and provide you with some “tools” for you to navigate the next chapter in your lives. But most of all, I would like to inspire you, re-energize you and have you look to the future with excitement!
I don’t know about you, but I literally turned around and my home was an “empty nest”. I took a few months to get used to the quiet in the house, dinners by myself and so much less mess in the house! Although I have to say less mess was a good thing!
I began looking ahead, wondering how I would like my life to be, where I would like to live. I am a list girl so I grabbed some paper and started jotting down my thoughts and ideas – all of them, even if they were a little crazy.
Here are my favourite Top 10 Tips to help you navigate your downsizing journey:
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- Take an inventory of everything you have. When deciding what to take with you, choose the pieces you love the most and use all the time.
- It might be a good time to sell, donate or give away pieces you cannot take with you. If you don’t love something, pass it on. The memories of that piece are in your heart.
- Be open-minded. Can a piece be used for a different purpose in a different space, say using a dresser as a TV stand?
- You may have to buy a few new pieces to make your space look its best and work well. Smaller spaces need smaller scaled furniture such as couches and chairs.
- Consider storage options such as bookcases and storage ottomans.
- A floor plan of your new space will be helpful to see where pieces could be positioned.
- Don’t be afraid to pull chairs away from walls; they can “sit” in space. You can angle chairs as well.
- Rooms can be multi-purpose. A music room and reading room? Sure! Just set up the room that way from the beginning.
- Don’t forget to infuse your personality and the pieces you love into your space. Bring out all your favourite pieces that are currently tucked away.
- You may want to consider a new colour scheme and theme for your new nest – gather paint swatches, visit pinterest for inspiration. Design Tip – if you love it – it will work – don’t worry about the trends – they come and go very quickly.
Tips for Buying New Furniture:
Shopping for furniture can be overwhelming, leaving you feeling like you’re walking in circles, not knowing what to select or how it will look in your space.
These tried & true tips will make your shopping experience less stressful:
- Have an idea of the pieces you are looking for.
- If shopping in person rather than online, take a measuring tape, measure the pieces you’re considering and bring this information home with you. (Most online retailers will include that information on their site.)
- Sit on couches and chairs and make sure they are comfortable and the right “fit” for you and your family.
Mark it out
To me this is such an important piece of creating your new space in your new nest.
You want to make sure that everything will fit in the space that you have.
Grab some painter’s tape, using your measurements for all the pieces to be placed in the room, use the painter’s tape to mark out all the pieces on the floor. Take a step back and look at the room. Does it make sense to you? Or is it too crowded?
This also works if you are looking to install a wall-mount TV and/or fireplace.
The key is to create a space that makes you smile, that you love and most importantly can’t wait to get home to.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from celebrity designer Nate Berkus:
“Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a collective of what you love.”
Happy Downsizing,
Sue Pitchforth
