Painting and decorating an emptying nest

From the Resene decorating blog

Writer Monique Balvert-O’Connor shares her experience with the redecorating dilemmas her and her husband face as their kids prepare to leave home.

“I’m not sure about that colour. It’s a bit out there,” my husband said as the painter applied his first brushstroke to our lounge wall.

I was on the end of a phone line, which was just as well, as my hubby couldn’t see my reaction. “If you think that’s bold, wait until you see all the rest,” was what I was thinking as I uttered something reassuring.

That was 18 years ago and the colour described as “a bit out there” was Resene Putty, a light, warm mustard.

As that day of painting progressed, my husband got introduced to colours far bolder. Walls got swathed in the soft velvety red of Resene Merlot, and the sumptuous brown/red of Resene Cab Sav. And if they weren’t out there enough, one of our children’s rooms was painted Resene Wasabi, which can best be described as, well, exactly the colour of wasabi. Resene Jigsaw dressed another bedroom, and there was a blue bedroom too – Resene Magik, if I remember correctly. If my hubby was expecting beige in our house, he so didn’t get it.

All of those colour choices were made when our children were little, and all these years later, those same colours still dress our walls. But now, as we prepare to farewell our last child from the family nest, hubby and I are facing a few decorating decisions. We’ve established we’re not ready to downsize but are both feeling the urge to make some changes to our décor. Top of the list is decluttering, replacing curtains and tackling some repainting projects.

We soon-to-be empty nesters think, however, that some colours will remain. Our general plan is to replace nearly all of those bold colours with a warm white – Resene Thorndon Cream is a possibility, as is Resene Albescent White. I would be keen to incorporate one feature wall of Resene wallpaper (actually, maybe we will wallpaper the powder room too, just for fun). In the master bedroom, my love affair with Resene Duck Egg Blue continues, so I will remain faithful and not replace it. And while most of the Resene Putty will go, I have plans for it to stay in our lounge room where it provides a snug, warm and welcoming ambience. Besides, mustard hues are in vogue, I hear.

My desire to neutralise most of my walls – in our case, in a warm white – is not an unusual one according to Design on James interior designer Lynnette Lochhead.

“They’re wanting to make their home a little more sophisticated. Chances are they now have nicer things to put around and it’s really nice to have a neutral base to showcase those things. It’s time to focus on what the parents like, rather than what the kids like,” Lynnette says.

Many people live with the same colours for years, ignoring changing trends and promising themselves an update once the children have left. While certain colours can ‘date’ your house, Lynnette says it’s the easiest thing to change out – and there is nothing that can change a house more than paint, she assures.

Lynnette’s own home went through a colour transformation when her three children left home.

“Colour can, of course, add character and individuality to kids’ rooms. Our house was a riot of colour from Resene Hippie Green in our son’s bedroom to… you name it. Our dining room was red, then a shade of purple and then mustard. Now it’s Resene Quarter Albescent White, a warm white. One of my daughters had a wallpaper that was very pretty and feminine on her bedroom walls. That room is now painted in Resene Blanc.

“Getting rid of those bright colours made our house more serene and restful. Kids’ bedrooms, especially, can be very ‘in your face’. I couldn’t wait to paint them all out, make the beds in lovely linen neutrals and add my own accessories, while still keeping a few of their things in there,” Lynnette says.

Lots of beautiful warm whites do the job of neutralising and adding serenity, but there are other options too such as soft greys. The smart and contemporary Resene Foggy Grey is such an example. Also popular is Resene White Pointer, from half to triple strength, Lynnette says. Resene Quarter Ironsand is another colour that’s appealing, with its mix of smoky warm brown with an undertone of dense grey. “People are definitely mixing greys with browns,” she informs.

Of course, an empty nesters’ urge to repaint could also have less to do with changing colours and more to do with patching up. It’s the time to deal to dents in walls, missing paint patches, and cover up some scribbles – although, those markings recording your children’s heights at different ages are good to retain.

With the children leaving home there’s perhaps more time, and the inclination, to embrace projects like repainting furniture, too. Painting out the browns of certain timber pieces using Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint from Resene ColorShops is a good way to freshen up and modernise your decor. Or, perhaps it’s time to think of new furniture, both for practicality’s sake as well as aesthetics.

With the children leaving the nest comes the urge to declutter, reclaim space, repurpose rooms and rethink furnishings. Suddenly your home can have dedicated guest rooms, or rooms may become dual-purpose spaces. It may be time to acquire new furniture so what was once a child’s bedroom can become an office, or craft room, with a desk and a pull-out couch so it can still provide a slumber space.

For some, the emptying of the nest heralds the time to downsize. This involves giving serious thought to furniture and storage space. It’s an ideal time to replace old beds with new ones offering storage underneath, purchase ottomans that double as storage bins, or chests that work as coffee tables.

While it can be a sad time for some, don’t lose sight of the fact that with the children leaving comes a time of new opportunities.

December 14, 2019

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