How to Downsize Your Empty Nest

Our home can seem large and overwhelming once our children have flown the coup and you find yourself in an empty nest. Once the children are grown and moved out of the house, many of us prefer a smaller home fit more for retirement than family rearing. It’s time to kick back, relax and enjoy your life.

 An empty nest lifestyle leads to a smaller home with less worries and responsibilities. A typical home is designed with comfort and easy living. While the homes may be smaller, they are filled with luxurious amenities and upgrades.

Empty nest couple in kitchen

Empty Nest Design Tips

Open Floor Plan

An open floor plan removes traditional wall barriers that separate the kitchen, living room and other common living spaces. This creates open lines of sight and more useable living spaces.

Practical Features

Creating features designed for the future allow you to plan for comfort now and ease of living down the road. Some examples of these features include

  • Single floor living
  • Wide doorways
  • Multi-level kitchen counters
  • Easy to reach switches and outlets
  • No lip showers
  • Grab bars

Large Master Bedroom

As an empty nester, you can utilize space for your personal living, as opposed to sharing with an active family. A favorite feature to this style home is a large, master bedroom with deluxe ensuite bathroom.

Outdoor Living Space

Without the hustle and bustle of raising a family, and possibly retired, empty nesters have more time to relax and entertain. From grilling stations to shaded gardens, your outdoor space provides multiple opportunities to enjoy your home.

In addition to designing the perfect home, you can downsize for happier living. But downsizing is both an emotional and physical process.

Open floor plan empty nest home

Downsizing Tips

Declutter Your Home

The first step to preparing for downsizing is organizing and paring down your belongings.

Closets

You finally have the chance to tackle those closets. Donate or sell anything you haven’t worn in over a year. While your cleaning out your closet, take some time to stroll down memory lane with those fun bell bottoms or 80s shoulder pads.

Kitchen

We accumulate tons of dry goods in our pantries. Clear out anything you no longer plan to eat. If it is still good, donate to your local food bank. If expired, toss the it. In addition, toss or donate those useless gadgets that take space, but are never used.

Furniture

Family life leads to lots of extra furniture. Now, you can parse through your living spaces and simplify. Hosting a garage sale is a great way to rid yourself of unwanted belongings.

Congratulations! You have successfully decluttered your home and are on your way to downsizing. Don’t forget to take care of yourself as you transition to an empty nest. Keep yourself busy. Plan a party with friends. Finally take the time to read those books piled by your bed. Relax and enjoy your home now that you have shed your responsibilities.

Vernon Esham Builders works with you from beginning to end to ensure your new or renovated home is perfect. To discuss further and learn about more downsizing, call us at 443-783-5792 or email us at vernon@vernoneshambuilders.com.

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