| I'm at the life stage where many of my friends (who | | | | 9. Painting Party. Have friends who are empty nesters |
| married young!) are sending their kids off to college | | | | come over for a pizza and painting party. You can |
| and feeling the myriad emotions of an empty nest. I | | | | help them later in return. Be sure to use healthier no |
| admit that I haven't gone through this life stage myself | | | | VOC paint. |
| because I don't have children, but as a writer, I'm an | | | | 10. Fine Furniture. You don't have to break the bank to |
| observer of life and my take on it is this: like anything in | | | | buy nightstands and dressers that are reasonably |
| life, we have a choice. You can either choose to feel | | | | priced but look expensive. Check furnishings catalogs, |
| you're now old and no longer useful, or you can | | | | online, and shop sales. Choose a style that |
| choose to see this as a time of rejuvenation of former | | | | complements your bedding. |
| personal dreams and goals, and a time to rekindle that | | | | 11. Lighting Love. Forget overhead lighting glare--you |
| special romantic spark with your long-time mate. I can | | | | want the mood of your "second honeymoon" suite to |
| think of no better way to do that than to redecorate | | | | be romantic so instead choose bedside table lamps in |
| your master bedroom suite as a place of peaceful | | | | a style and color you love and be sure the bulbs cast |
| rejuvenation and restoration-creating a "second | | | | a soft pink or yellow glow. |
| honeymoon" getaway if you will. If large college bills | | | | 12. Amazing Art. Now it's time to choose some art that |
| loom, you can do it on a dollarwise budget. | | | | makes you swoon. Discount stores often have |
| Here's how: | | | | beautiful art reproductions for a small price, or frame |
| 1. Decide and Declutter. Clutter robs you of peace of | | | | those pictures of your sweet family in all-matching |
| mind and a good night's sleep. Go through your clothes | | | | frames and create a "happy wall" collage of family |
| closets and get rid of anything that no longer suits your | | | | photos. Choose vases and other accessories in colors |
| current taste or doesn't fit. Leave space for new | | | | that complement your bedding. |
| outfits. | | | | 13. Bathroom Bliss. If you can't afford to replace the |
| 2. Drab Dressers. Get rid of old dressers that are no | | | | tub and sinks or don't like their color, have them |
| longer your current taste for décor. Donate | | | | resurfaced or just replace the fixtures. Paint the walls |
| them or use them to store tools in your garage or | | | | or choose wallpaper that coordinates with the color of |
| camping supplies in your basement. | | | | the tub and sinks. Fresh fluffy towels and lovely art |
| 3. Art Smart. Take down any art and get rid of any | | | | and bath accessories that coordinate with your |
| decorative accessories you no longer absolutely love. | | | | bedroom's color scheme and style will enhance the |
| Set aside things you'd still like to keep to integrate into | | | | "suite" look. |
| the new décor. | | | | 14. Movie Magic. Place your TV in a hidden cabinet or |
| 4. Beautiful Bed. Is your mattress still in good shape? If | | | | mount it on the wall so that when Friday night comes |
| not, replace it and make sure it's sumptuously | | | | you can shut out the world by choosing a flick you'll |
| comfortable. Choose a headboard you love or forgo | | | | both enjoy as a way to restore yourselves from a |
| one altogether and hang a lovely large painting instead. | | | | busy work week. My hubby and I do this and it's bliss. |
| 5. Window Wonder. Drab old curtains? Take them | | | | You might even consider stocking a mini-fridge with |
| down, fill in the drapery rod holes in the walls, and | | | | goodies. |
| wash those windows 'til they sparkle! | | | | 15. Final Flair. Time to put it all together. Arrange your |
| 6. Floor Finesse. Carpet outdated and worn? | | | | furnishings in a pleasant arrangement, make the bed up |
| Hardwood floors scuffed? Replace and refinish. | | | | nicely, hang the curtains, place the art and accessories, |
| Neither is that expensive to do. | | | | and turn on the soft light of the bedside lamps. Put |
| 7. Bedspread Beauty. Choose a bedding ensemble | | | | some fresh flowers in a vase, turn your favorite music |
| that absolutely makes you smile. Buy coordinating | | | | on low, light a candle, and break out the sparkling cider! |
| sheets, comforter or bedspread, pillow shams, and | | | | As I was giving these "second honeymoon" |
| curtains all at once so they all match. Make sure your | | | | redecorating tips to my about-to-be-empty-nester gal |
| sheets are a high thread count.The bedding will set the | | | | pal recently she joked, "Second honeymoon, |
| tone for the style of your "second honeymoon" suite. | | | | hmmm...can you have a headache on those?" I laughed |
| 8. Comforting Color. Take your bedding to the paint | | | | and said, "No way honey! ... So get out that paintbrush, |
| store and choose one of the colors in it for your walls | | | | don your best negligee, and get movin'!" |
| and a second one for your ceiling. They can match it | | | | Copyright 2009 Kathryn Bechen and Kathryn Bechen |
| exactly. | | | | Ink. All rights reserved. |