How to Decorate Your Home After Divorce, Your Adult Kids Move Out or Back In, A Move to a New City, or While Blending Families

Life is always changing. A divorce, a remarriage, an empty nest, aging parents moving in, or a move to a brand new city. All of these feel better when you update your home to reflect the new season.

If you're ready to make a few intentional changes to your home without buying all new furniture or feeling guilty about wanting something different, this episode is for you.

In This Episode:

Your home matters more right now than you think. There's research showing women's stress hormones are directly tied to how they describe their homes, which means a cluttered, unfinished space can be working against you during an already overwhelming season.

Giving yourself permission to change things. You don't have to wait for more time to pass, and you're allowed to rearrange, repaint, and swap out anything that no longer fits.

Some objects trigger memory and emotion whether you're thinking about it or not, and one client's story about a rocking chair shows how to keep the sentiment without the sadness.

Where to start depending on your situation. Specific first steps for divorce, blending families, an empty nest, aging parents moving in, or settling into a new city.

Resources Mentioned: Free Decluttering and Decorating Guides: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free 1-1 Clear the Clutter session: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Next Steps:

1. Grab the Decluttering and Organizing Quick Wins Guide or Home Clarity Guide at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free and get weekly tips, new ideas, updates, and more delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
2. If you are loving the podcast, I would really appreciate it if you would leave a review. It helps other women who are overwhelmed or frustrated in their homes find the show so they can start creating homes they love. Thank you so much!
3. Looking for 1-1 help? Clutter is a pain. Let's make decluttering easier. You can book a Clear the Clutter session at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Related Episodes:

14: Interior Design Mistakes Homeowners Make And How To Avoid Them

11: Decorating Ideas Not Matching Your Budget? 5 Ways To Create Your Dream Home Without A Billionaire Bank Account

09: 5 Ways Good Interior Design Makes Your Life Easier

The garage that’s filled with so many things that a car hasn’t parked there since 1992. Collections from hobbies that haven't been touched in over a decade in the room no one is allowed to touch. Box upon box upon box of old photos and papers…

If you've ever walked into your parents' home and felt your chest tighten a little at the sheer amount of stuff while hoping and praying an additional storage unit doesn’t also exist somewhere, this episode is for you.

And if you've tried to talk to them about decluttering, downsizing, or organizing their home and it turned into an argument, or they shut down completely, or they agreed just to get you to stop talking but never followed through, you know that this can be tricky.

But it is possible to help your parents declutter in a way that respects their autonomy, protects your relationship, and maybe (just maybe) make progress so you won’t have to tackle all of their belongings later in life.

In This Episode:

Approach the decluttering conversation with how it will benefit them. Because while your reasons for wanting to help your parents declutter are probably very well meaning and practical, leading with them can make your parents super defensive.

Why not asking for permission before you start touching their things will probably backfire.

What research shows is the most effective way to declutter with your aging parents.

The importance of letting them tell the stories behind the clutter (even if you don’t want to hear them).

Resources Mentioned: Free Decluttering and Decorating Guides: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free 1-1 Clear the Clutter session: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Next Steps:

1. Grab the Decluttering and Organizing Quick Wins Guide or Home Clarity Guide at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free and get weekly tips, new ideas, updates, and more delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
2. If you are loving the podcast, I would really appreciate it if you would leave a review. It helps other women who are overwhelmed or frustrated in their homes find the show so they can start creating homes they love. Thank you so much!
3. Looking for 1-1 help? Clutter is a pain. Let's make decluttering easier. You can book a Clear the Clutter session at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Related Episodes: EP 5: Create a Decluttering Routine That Won't Make You Lose Your Mind Ep 7: Decluttering Routines That Continue Working Even When Your Life Changes

You’ve got the trash bag, the donation box, a good playlist, and the motivation to finally tackle that room today.

Forty-five minutes in, you're surrounded by more piles than when you started, second-guessing every decision, and this whole decluttering and getting organized thing feels harder than it should.

Before you touch another thing, let’s simplify decluttering and get clear on how you want the room to look, feel, and function.

In This Episode:

Why decision fatigue derails decluttering attempts. Without a clear standard to measure things against, exhaustion can hit fast.

Three questions to ask before you declutter any room. A simple exercise that turns vague goals like "cozy but uncluttered" into something more personalized and specific so you can strategically declutter.

What it means if you keep decluttering the same space. It's usually one of two things.

Why you need a stopping time, not just a starting time. Decision fatigue sets in faster than you think, and pushing past it usually isn’t the best idea.

A cheaper fix than buying new furniture. Sometimes the piece you've been searching for is already sitting in your garage.

Resources Mentioned: Free Decluttering and Decorating Guides: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free 1-1 Clear the Clutter session: www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Next Steps:

1. Grab the Decluttering and Organizing Quick Wins Guide or Home Clarity Guide at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/free and get weekly tips, new ideas, updates, and more delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
2. If you are loving the podcast, I would really appreciate it if you would leave a review. It helps other women who are overwhelmed or frustrated in their homes find the show so they can start creating homes they love. Thank you so much!
3. Looking for 1-1 help? Clutter is a pain. Let's make decluttering easier. You can book a Clear the Clutter session at www.simplifiedhomedesign.com/clear-the-clutter

Related Episodes: EP 5: Create a Decluttering Routine That Won't Make You Lose Your Mind Ep 7: Decluttering Routines That Continue Working Even When Your Life Changes