Scaled Down Design

Just because you’ve gone through a divorce and may have had to move to a smaller living space, doesn’t mean you can’t still provide a great living space for you and your kids. And no, that doesn’t mean converting your garage into an arcade/ice cream parlor.

Interior designers like Atlanta-based Stephanie Andrews are finding that an increasing number of their clients are newly single and have an entirely different set of goals than say, a pair of newlyweds or a young college grad.

"They have full control and there's no need for compromise, which is very freeing for them," said Andrews. "They can have fun. About the only compromise they may have to make ends up being the cost."

When you’re starting over, try to make your new house a true home for your kids as soon as possible. Put up trophies, artwork and photos even before the paint is dry. If they’re old enough, you can even include them in the designing process.

Getting divorced can be a great time to redesign both your life and your home, and even the smallest details can be liberating. Are you planning on putting up that poster your spouse always found hideous? [Atlanta Journal Constitution]