Tips For Redecorating After a Break Up

As the old song from the 60s goes, breaking up is hard to do. In addition to the emotional toll that a break up can place upon you, if you are married or cohabitating, you are also going to need to adjust your living arrangements.

This may be as simple as discarding the floral throw pillows or that god awful deer head hanging on the living room wall, but it could also be as complicated as needing to find your own apartment. On the bright side, you now have the freedom to design your home to your own liking without the influence of your former partner.

However, there are a few pieces of advice that you should keep in mind when redecorating your home following a break-up.

Keep Your Budget in Mind

When you are married or cohabitating, you likely have two sources of income being brought into the home. After a break up, your budget often takes a nosedive. Although men are usually the higher earners in a relationship and are stereotypically more subject to being ordered to pay alimony, as women have joined the workforce and increased their own earning capacity, they may actually be the party who ends up paying alimony.

According to a survey conducted by MarketWatch, divorce attorneys have noted a 45% increase in women being court-ordered to make alimony payments.

So, if you absolutely love that designer couch and sofa set that would look amazing in your new condo, you may want to think twice before making the purchase. After the end of a relationship, you are going to need to re-evaluate your budget and begin making more cost-conscious purchases.

Make Space for Your Hobbies

Aside from going out for margaritas with your best friends, pouring yourself into your hobbies is amongst the coping mechanisms that can help take your mind off your heartbreak.

If your ex used a small spare bedroom as a home office or packed a spacious closet with insane amounts of shoes, you can begin to utilize that extra space as an area to pursue your passions.

For instance, if you enjoy art, turn the room into your personal studio.

If you enjoy gardening, ditch the old backyard barbeque pit that your ex insisted on and plant flowers and vegetables in its place. Lately, gaming has become a passion for many people.

As a matter of fact, over 200 million copies of Minecraft have been sold over the past year. If you are amongst the millions of gamers, turn your den into a gaming area.

Be Patient If You’re Moving

Sure, your soon-to-be-ex may be insisting that you pack your belongings and get out right now. You may even be so fed up with things that you are eager to do just that. However, that’s not always a realistic approach.

The unfortunate fact is that it typically takes time to find an apartment to lease or close on a new house. You may be hoping that this is misinformation, but sadly it’s often the reality. Half of the homes listed on the DC Metro market failed to sell after their initial listing. For the sake of your sanity, this is hopefully a different story in the area where you reside.

Even so, impulsive decisions are rarely the best choices, so take your time in your search for a home to ensure that your new home is the right place for you.

These are just a few basic tips, but regardless of your approach to relocating and redecorating after a break-up, add your own flair and personality to your new home. In order to get over your ex, you need to begin to focus on yourself.