What does a single home look like?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
What does a single home look like?
6
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 9:08am

One week into single life, (my ex left one week ago today), and I've decided to take back my home. I want to clean my house, reorganize, and redecorate but every time I touch something, I get a flood of memories because after two years, there's very little space in my condo that hasn't been touched by him. Yesterday I scrubbed the laundry room. The laundry room was one of those areas so I thought I could tackle that first. Today I'm going to store all of our travel equipment in the shed so I don't have to think of that anymore. Right now it's in my living room right where he dumped it off when he left.

My question is this: What is the difference between a single woman's home and a couple's home? When you walk into someone's home, what is it that tells you a man lives here or doesn't live here? For all you single ladies out there, what is the best thing about living alone that I should focus on right now?

Thanks for the advice/help

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 9:10am
There's no one else to blame the mess on when unexpected company shows up ;-)
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 1:30pm

Well, the first thing I did last time I got out of a relationship was clean out my apartment too. It wasn't so much about getting rid of him as it was stamping me back on the place.

I put up pictures of my cats on the refrigerator. And I don't normally do that as I don't want to be IDed as the cat lady ; )

I have a few crafts projects that I began working on them. I have a lovely afghan I made right after my last break up that sits on the back of my couch. In nice pink and green colors, very feminine. I also got new bedding that was completely feminine also in green and pink flowers. It wasn't very expensive and it was nice not to have to think about him every night when I went to bed.

I went out and bought new air fresheners so the apartment would smell different. Right now it smells like vanilla. And I have a nice candy dish sitting on the dining room table filled with cinnamon disks that smells wonderful when I open it up. And some nice scented candles that mix nicely with the vanilla air freshener. I found having the apartment smell different really changed the feel of the place for me, but I am scent oriented.

As far as how do you tell a single woman's apartment from a taken woman's apartment? It depends greatly on the person. With me, it's all about new smells and feminine colors and spoiling my constant companions (the cats.) I also took over the bathroom counter with all my stuff that I normally would have had put away so it wouldn't look so cluttered. With my cousin, the stuffed animal collection spills out of the spare bedroom into all rooms of the house. With someone else, it might be something complete different. Where you live should reflect who you are.

And yes it does suck when people come over and there's a mess and I don't have anyone else to blame it on, but I find my apartment is much cleaner with the extra person around.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 3:13pm
I have been single for quite some time now, and I love every minute of it! I date, but he doesn't live w/ me and I like it that way. Here is what I enjoy being in a home of my own; I do what I want, when I want, I get to decorate MY way, I don't have to worry about the underwear/bras on the floor, the kitchen will get cleaned...eventually. Basically, it's my world and I do what I want in it. It is going to be hard to get passed those stages of, oh he did this w/ this, etc. But once you do, it will be well worth it, you will get to create a whole new environment for you, with YOUR touch! Best wishes! P.S. Being single isn't so bad, it is actually pretty great!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 7:18pm
Just make sure the decorating is your style... Meaning if there were anything you ever wanted to change, but your guy did not want to do it, then go for it.. Change it!!! There really isn't much difference, otherwise.... with of course the absense of Mens Health and Playboy :)
Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 9:53pm

Toilet seat down: a woman lives here


Toilet seat up:

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 8:47am
You are hysterical! Thanks so much for the laugh of the day.