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Perhaps you anticipated your kids moving out with a certain glee; freedom at last! However, the opposite tends to happen at the last moment, and you can understandably start to miss them and wish they’d stay at home. It’s a conflicting time, and there’s only one to break the cycle of back and forth thoughts in your mind; productivity!
Getting your house back in good order is imperative when your children have flown the nest. But how can this be achieved?
Consequently, here’s how to claim back your home when the kids move out!
Refurbishments
Major DIY projects often take a backseat in a busy house. This is especially true where kids are involved, and if they have exams coming up and other things they need to deal with, upending their life with an onslaught of noisy builders for a few weeks isn’t exactly helpful. You’ve done well to hold off until now, so it’s time to let rip!
Now you can essentially do what you like; replace carpets, update wallpapers, build extensions, revamp your garden, etc. The list can be endless if you choose, and who knows, perhaps this level of chaos in the house again will stop you feeling empty and/or lonely when your kids have gone. In giving your home a new identity, you’ll be building a new one for yourself too!
Bedroom neutrality
When your kids have gone, their rooms become your rooms; the trade-off is really that simple. Still, you might like to keep them the way they are in case they come home to visit. After all, many more young adults are living at home these days, so there’s perhaps a chance your kids could boomerang back at some stage. Still, some changes can be made and there’s fewer people in the home – decorate away!
When your kids live at home, they may have made fun changes to the space while they were living in it. They might have plastered the walls with posters or decals like those that can be found at https://www.aspectwallart.com/star-wall-stickers-star-decals/. These are great when they’re living there, but if you have other intentions for the space now they’ve moved out, it may be better to take a more neutral stance to the room’s decoration.
Try to refresh your kids’ rooms into more neutral guest rooms that everyone can get onboard with. That means unbiassed colour schemes, impartial artwork and safe decorative furniture. Cream, beige and white colour schemes will work best here. Additionally, you could perhaps move some of your children’s stuff into the attic or shed if you’re keen to store things for them, but make sure you keep their old rooms clear of their belongings. The point is you can please everyone now; house guests will get settled comfortably, and your kids won’t have too many complaints if they ever come back.
Less is more
Downsizing almost seems like a negative term, but in the right circumstances it’s a positive step in the right direction. When your kids have gone there’ll be less people in the home, so there’s no sense in having rooms packed with stuff or wardrobes fit for another clothes-mad resident. Scale things back here if you can!
Perhaps downsize in the wardrobe department, for example, and go for a stylish single wardrobe from Cotswold Co; it’ll look nice and function well, but suggest a more temporary stay for any guests that come calling. You could also put spare dining room chairs in storage too and start disposing of things like spare toiletries left in the bathroom. Remember, always communicate with your kids before binning anything!
Conclusion
There’s a mixture of processes here; from going into overdrive with the DIY side of things to perhaps pulling back slightly in other areas. Be careful and calculating, and you could update your home in a way that’s suitable for all who live there – and also for those who drop by too!
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