Best Empty Nest Summer: Reclaim Your Space When Kids Leave
The last box is packed. The car is loaded. Your child drives away to college, their first apartment, or their new adventure. I stand in the doorway, watching taillights disappear around the corner, and suddenly I’m faced with something I haven’t experienced in years: empty rooms and endless possibilities.
Summer is the perfect time for this transition. The house feels different when children leave home, but it doesn’t have to feel sad. Instead, this season offers the ideal opportunity to rediscover who you are beyond “Mom” or “Dad” and transform your living spaces to reflect this exciting new chapter.
I’ve learned that redecorating after children move out isn’t just about filling empty rooms. It’s about reclaiming your identity and creating spaces that celebrate both your memories and your future dreams.
Understanding the Empty Nest Phase
When children leave home, parents often experience a profound shift. The house that once buzzed with activity suddenly feels too quiet. Bedrooms that were constantly messy now sit pristine and untouched. The dining table that required extra chairs for friends now seems oversized for two.
This transition hits different families at different times. Some experience it gradually as children become more independent. Others feel it suddenly when the last child moves out. Summer departures can feel especially poignant because the season typically represents family time and togetherness.
But here’s what I’ve discovered: this phase isn’t an ending. It’s a beginning.
Why Summer is Perfect for Redecorating
Summer provides the ideal backdrop for home transformation. The longer days give you more natural light to see your spaces clearly. The warm weather makes it comfortable to have windows open while painting or moving furniture. Garden centers are stocked with beautiful plants that can breathe new life into any room.
Most importantly, summer’s leisurely pace allows you to take your time with decisions. You don’t have to rush to finish a room before the holidays or worry about disrupting school routines. You can experiment, change your mind, and truly enjoy the process of creating spaces that reflect your evolved lifestyle.
I started my own empty nest transformation in June, and I’m so glad I did. The warm evenings gave me energy to tackle projects, and the relaxed summer schedule meant I could spread tasks across several weeks without stress.
Room-by-Room Summer Transformation Guide
The Former Children’s Bedrooms
These rooms often feel the most challenging to reimagine. I recommend starting slowly. Don’t feel pressured to immediately convert your daughter’s room into a home office or your son’s space into a craft room.
Begin by deep cleaning and removing items your child no longer wants. Create three piles: keep for memories, donate, and store for your child’s future home. This process alone can be therapeutic and help you visualize the room’s potential.
For summer redecorating, consider these approaches:
The Memory Room Approach: Keep some meaningful items but update the overall feel. Replace twin beds with a comfortable reading chair and good lighting. Add floating shelves to display cherished photos and awards alongside your own books or collections.
The Multi-Purpose Space: Transform the room into a flexible area that can serve multiple functions. A daybed with lots of pillows creates seating for guests but maintains the option for overnight stays. Add a small desk area and some storage solutions.
The Complete Makeover: If you’re ready for dramatic change, summer is perfect for painting, new flooring, or even small renovations. Choose colors that energize you. Think sage green for tranquility, warm terracotta for creativity, or crisp white for a fresh start.
The Living Room Revival
With fewer people using the main living areas regularly, you might find your furniture arrangement no longer makes sense. This summer, I moved our sectional to create better conversation areas and added a reading nook by the window.
Consider these summer-specific updates:
Lighten your color palette with removable elements like throw pillows, curtains, and artwork. Swap heavy winter fabrics for linen and cotton. Bring in fresh flowers or potted plants that thrive in summer heat.
Rearrange furniture to take advantage of summer breezes and natural light. Create intimate seating areas that encourage relaxation and conversation with your partner or friends.
Kitchen and Dining Room Adjustments
Cooking for fewer people requires different kitchen organization. I found myself with half-empty pantries and oversized serving dishes I rarely used. Summer is the perfect time to declutter and reorganize these spaces.
Consider downsizing your everyday dishes to sets that make sense for your current household size. Create a separate collection of larger serving pieces for when family visits. This simple change makes daily meal preparation feel more intentional and less overwhelming.
Transform your dining room to better suit your lifestyle. If you rarely use the formal dining table, consider converting part of the space into a coffee station, plant corner, or small library area.
Creating New Functional Spaces
Empty nest life often means discovering new interests or returning to old hobbies. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to create dedicated spaces for these activities.
The Home Office: With remote work becoming more common, many empty nesters find they need a proper workspace. A former bedroom can become a professional home office with good lighting, ergonomic furniture, and inspiring decor.
The Creative Studio: Always wanted to paint, sew, or craft? Transform an unused space into your creative sanctuary. Good ventilation is crucial for summer projects, so choose a room with windows you can open.
The Fitness Room: Summer motivation often includes getting healthier. A simple exercise space with mirrors, good flooring, and storage for equipment can support your wellness goals.
The Guest Suite: Make visiting children and friends feel welcome with a thoughtfully designed guest room. Comfortable bedding, good lighting, and personal touches create a space that says “you’re always welcome here.”
Color Psychology for Your New Chapter
Colors significantly impact mood and energy levels. As you redecorate, consider how different hues might support your goals for this new life phase.
Warm colors like peach, coral, and golden yellow can energize and inspire creativity. They’re perfect for spaces where you want to feel motivated and social. Cool colors like blue, green, and lavender promote relaxation and introspection, ideal for bedrooms or reading areas.
Summer decorating allows you to experiment with lighter, brighter colors that might feel overwhelming in winter. Try painting an accent wall in a bold color, or introduce vibrant hues through easily changeable elements like artwork and accessories.
Incorporating Summer Elements
Summer decorating doesn’t just mean lighter colors and fabrics. Think about how you can bring the season’s energy inside.
Fresh flowers make any room feel alive and welcoming. Consider creating small arrangements throughout your home using flowers from your garden or local farmers market. Sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos are particularly cheerful and long-lasting.
Natural materials like wicker, rattan, and unfinished wood add texture and summer appeal. A rattan accent chair or wicker storage baskets can instantly make a room feel more relaxed and seasonal.
Don’t forget about lighting. Summer evenings call for softer, warmer lighting. String lights aren’t just for patios – they can create magical ambiance in bedrooms or reading nooks. Candles and lanterns add romance and relaxation to any space.
Budget-Friendly Summer Decorating Tips
Redecorating doesn’t require a massive budget. Some of the most impactful changes cost very little.
Paint is your best friend for dramatic transformation on a budget. A gallon of quality paint can completely change a room’s personality for under $50. Consider painting just one accent wall if you’re hesitant about color commitment.
Rearranging existing furniture costs nothing but can make rooms feel completely new. Try floating furniture away from walls, creating conversation areas, or repurposing pieces in different rooms.
Summer garage sales and estate sales offer treasure hunting opportunities. Look for unique artwork, vintage accessories, or quality furniture pieces that can be updated with paint or new hardware.
Bringing in plants provides instant freshness and life. Many houseplants are inexpensive, and propagating from friends’ plants costs nothing at all.
Creating Meaningful Memory Displays
As you redecorate, you’ll want to thoughtfully incorporate memories while avoiding the trap of living in the past. Create dedicated memory areas rather than scattered reminders throughout every room.
A hallway gallery wall can showcase family photos from different eras alongside your own interests and travels. Mix family pictures with artwork, inspirational quotes, or photos of places you want to visit.
Memory boxes or shadow boxes can preserve meaningful items without cluttering surfaces. Display them in a study or bedroom where you can enjoy them privately.
Embracing Your New Lifestyle
The key to successful empty nest decorating is embracing who you are now, not mourning who you used to be. This might mean finally having the formal living room you always wanted, or it might mean creating a casual, comfortable space perfect for spontaneous gatherings.
Think about how you actually live now. Do you prefer intimate dinner parties to large family gatherings? Create a cozy dining area with a smaller table. Do you love quiet mornings with coffee and a book? Design the perfect reading nook with comfortable seating and good lighting.
Planning for Visits and Holidays
While you’re creating spaces for your current lifestyle, don’t forget to plan for when family returns. Flexible furniture and storage solutions can help you quickly accommodate guests without permanently organizing your home around occasional visits.
Ottomans with storage can hold extra bedding. Expandable dining tables can grow to accommodate holiday meals. Murphy beds or high-quality air mattresses can turn any room into guest space when needed.
Seasonal Maintenance and Updates
Summer decorating should include planning for the changing seasons. Choose foundational pieces in neutral colors and update with seasonal accessories. This approach allows you to enjoy the process of refreshing your home throughout the year without major expense or effort.
Consider which summer changes you’ll want to maintain year-round and which elements you’ll swap out as seasons change. A light summer throw might be replaced with a cozy wool blanket in fall, but the overall room arrangement might stay the same.
Conclusion: Your Summer of Transformation
Redecorating your home after children leave isn’t about erasing the past – it’s about writing a new chapter. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to thoughtfully transform your spaces into a reflection of who you are now and who you’re becoming.
Take your time with this process. Some decisions will feel right immediately, while others might require experimentation. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s creating a home that supports and celebrates your evolving life.
Remember that empty nest doesn’t mean empty life. It means space for new adventures, rediscovered passions, and deeper connections with your partner and friends. Your home should reflect that excitement and possibility.
This summer, as you stand in those quiet rooms that once echoed with children’s laughter, see them not as empty spaces but as blank canvases waiting for your next masterpiece. The best chapters of your story are yet to be written, and they start with creating spaces that inspire you to live them fully.
Your home has supported your family for years. Now it’s time to let it support your dreams.
If you love home decor and interior design as much as I do, check out these other articles I think you might like.
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