Whether you and your ex-partner parted your ways on friendly terms or not, moving on after divorce is never easy.
Some people lose themselves in their relationships and get so used to “we” that they forget all about “me”.
However, no matter how hard the post-divorce period might be, it’s an opportunity for you to get in touch with yourself and discover who you truly are.
And there’s simply no better way to start than redecorating your home and giving it your personal touch. Reinventing your space will enable you to reaffirm your sense of self and make your home truly feel yours.
Declutter Your Home and Free Yourself
Before decorating your home, there are several important steps you should make and the first one is decluttering. Decluttering your home after divorce will be liberating because you’ll be able to clear out your space and get rid of all the items that might remind you of your ex-partner.
If you’re not ready to just throw away everything, you can seal certain items, such as your joint memorabilia, photos, etc., in a box that will be tucked away in the attic. Everything from the kitchen wedding gifts to their favorite sweater should be cleared out. Otherwise, you might find yourself thinking about your ex-partner just because you’ve seen something that used to belong to them.
Thus, you should declutter your home, remove your ex-partner’s belongings and make room for your personal items.
Find Your Own Style
Living with someone typically means finding a home style that you both like rather than focusing on your taste. After the divorce, however, you have all the freedom to discover what you like and identify an interior style that suits your personality. There’s no need for compromise – it’s time for you to focus on yourself.
Interior design styles are diverse and inspiring, ranging from modern and minimalist to rustic and romantic. Each style has its own features and charms, creating a specific effect in your space.
For example, a natural Zen-inspired space can help you create an ambiance of tranquillity and serenity while modern style will enable you to add a touch of luxury to your home. As you try to find your personal style, you’ll have an opportunity to look deep inside and find your true self.
Paint Your Home for Positivity
Your home environment has a major effect on your mood and state of mind. Feeling slightly depressed or discouraged after divorce is completely natural, but decorating your home appropriately can help you create an aura of positivity.
Colors can affect your emotional state, so you should implement those hues that will help you relax or boost your creativity.
For example, a soothing green is a perfect choice for a bedroom since it creates an atmosphere of balance and relaxation. Soft yellow can be quite inspiring and energizing, filling you with positivity. Choosing the right color scheme will completely transform your space and help you enhance your mood.
Introduce Your Favorite Pieces as Focal Points
There’s no need for your ex-partner’s chair to be the focal point of your living room. You have an opportunity to design your home in a way that is more in touch with your taste and personality.
So, instead of letting your partner’s chair take centre stage, you can pick one of those modern and elegant couches that you’ve always wanted. Not only will your living room have a stunning focal point, but you’ll have your favorite piece.
In the bedroom, you don’t have to sleep in the same bed you’ve shared with your partner. You can treat yourself to a beautiful new bed that you’ll simply adore. You can find enchanting yet affordable pieces in antique stores or on the flea market that will work as stunning focal points in your home.
Turn to Nature for Openness and Peacefulness
Nature can improve your sense of well-being significantly while also embellishing your home. Decorating with plants will make your home more open and serene, filling it with natural peacefulness.
Furthermore, plants will also purify your indoor air and help you create a healthy environment that you’ll love. From succulent terrariums to hanging planters, there’s plenty of creative ways to introduce plants to your home.
You can even add an astonishing living wall as a décor statement. Surrounding yourself with nature can help you relax and find your inner peace, which is really important after divorce.
Use Decorations to Add Personality
When decorating your home, it’s important that you give it your personal touch and express yourself through design. Interior design offers numerous creative ideas that you can implement, from DIY decorations to displaying your personal memorabilia.
Artwork is always a beautiful addition to any home and it offers an opportunity to express your style. You can create a gallery wall of paintings done by your favorite painter or add just a few impactful pieces. On your bookshelves, you can exhibit your favorite books and memorabilia that will make you happy.
Divorce is a major life change that can be seen as an opportunity to discover yourself and there’s no better place to start than your home.
About the Author: Will Sandford is a Sydney based wood architect, blogger and contributor on interior design and ecology blogs. Besides that, he is also interested in home improvement combined with green technology. In his spare time, Will enjoys surfing and rock climbing. He is also a regular contributor to SmoothDecorator. Connect with him on Twitter.
