Nesting Isn’t Just for the Baby: Creating a Home That Feels Like Yours

Nesting is instinctual - often talked about in the lead-up to a baby’s arrival, it’s more than just folding muslins or building flat-pack furniture. It’s a pull to prepare - not just the space, but yourself - for what’s coming.

But here’s the thing: nesting doesn’t end with pregnancy. I’d say some of the most important nesting happens after the baby’s here. Or even years later, when life shifts again and you need your home to reflect who you are now - not who you were before.

Nesting is about care - yours, too

Yes, there’s a practical side to it. We all love a freshly folded blanket or a well-organised drawer. But real nesting is more emotional than aesthetic. It’s about making your space feel safe, soft, lived-in, and yours.

After I had Franklin, my relationship with home changed completely. It wasn’t just where I lived, it became where I recovered, where I parented, where I cried and healed, and re-learned myself. Slowly, I realised nesting wasn’t just prepping a nursery. It was letting my space support me, too.

Signs you’re in a nesting phase (even if you don’t realise it)

You might be:

• Replacing clutter with softness - clearing out chaos to make room for calm

• Buying fewer, but more meaningful, things - choosing items that make you feel something

• Caring more about the feeling of a room than how it looks in photos

• Starting wee rituals, like lighting a candle in the morning or making your bed first thing

That’s nesting. It’s less about having a “perfect” home, and more about creating a space that holds you in the life you’re living now.

How to nest intentionally (without a complete overhaul)

If you’re in a season of change - new baby, new rhythm, or even just the urge for something to feel better - try this:

1. Start with one corner

Don’t try to tackle the whole house. Pick one spot that matters, like a chair you sit in every day, a bedside table, or a drawer that’s always catching clutter. Clear it. Add something that feels lovely. Done.

2. Add one sensory layer

A soft blanket, a favourite candle, a playlist that makes you exhale. These little things add warmth, and they don’t have to cost much.

3. Let it evolve

Nesting isn’t a one-time thing. As your life shifts, so will your space. And that’s okay. It’s a reflection of your story, not a show home.

Nesting is emotional work

It’s healing, grounding, and deeply personal. Whether you’re preparing for a baby, adjusting to new rhythms, or simply craving more calm, it’s okay to care about your home. Not in the Instagram-perfect way, but in the “this makes me feel better” way.

So light the candle. Fluff the cushion. Rearrange that drawer until it feels right. You’re not being silly or frivolous. You’re nesting. And that’s a form of self-care, too.

— Lucy x