2025 was a meaningful year for our family and our home. Below is a roundup of highlights from the year, sharing progress, small refreshes, and some of the moments that made our house feel more like us.
A few years ago we downsized, moved to a new area, and completed a renovation. Those big changes took a lot of creative, physical, and emotional energy — not to mention the financial stretch that follows a move and remodel. It took time to recover and to find our rhythm in the new space.
In 2025 we finally felt the chaos settle and began to see the cumulative benefits of the work we’d done. I often joke that it takes us about six years to feel fully settled in a new home; this time we’re entering year five and still tweaking things, but it feels good to be investing in what we now think of as our “forever” home (at least for now!).
This year allowed more attention to small, practical improvements — organizing, streamlining daily routines, and making decorative updates that help our rooms feel intentional and more aligned with our style.
In the fall we began focusing on our second-floor rooms, planning practical and pretty updates. We even started repainting and refreshing our bedroom before year’s end — I shared a first look at the striped bedroom on The Inspired Room just before Christmas.
On the personal side, 2025 brought lots of joy with our nearly 19-month-old puppy Finnegan, our senior pup Lily, and time with our two toddler grand littles. Days in our home are full of laughter and small celebrations — exactly what creating a home is all about.
Below is a selection of posts and projects from 2025. I hope you enjoy the highlights and find ideas you can use in your own home.
If you’d like to join me in creating an intentional home in 2026, you’re invited to Wintering for HomeBodies, a virtual retreat in The HomeBody House. Details are available on The Inspired Room — we’ll set Winter Home Goals and begin a Room Recipe Guided Decorating Workshop in mid-January. Everything is saved so you can work at your own pace.
My phrase for 2025 was “a place for everything,” and it guided many small organization projects around the house. Most of these changes have stayed organized, which is exciting — though one spot will need more attention in 2026. I’ll share the fixes and lessons learned when I tackle it.
Some organization and styling posts inspired by that mantra included tips for organizing under the kitchen sink, hiding power strips and cords, a coffee cabinet makeover, organizing a closet for family photos and mementos, and using baskets for both decor and storage. I collected all those posts under the “A Place for Everything” category on the blog.
I also continued sharing inspiration with my Sunday Strolls & Scrolls posts — rooms and spaces I love from around the web, including inspiring bathrooms, charming exteriors, cozy cottage kitchens, and mudroom ideas.
Throughout the year we made many small updates around our home and helped style spaces for a few wonderful brands. I created resources, ebooks, and workshops designed to help others enjoy and improve their homes as well.
Highlights from The Inspired Room in 2025 included:
Our Tiny Mudroom (Pantry + Dog Feeding Station) Makeover
Little Updates Around My House in January (fresh bedding, faux greenery on the porch, and other small lifts)
A Living Room Refresh for 2025
Our Cozy Bed Nook Under the Eaves
Cottage by the Sea Style: 5 Ways to Design a Coastal Sanctuary
My New Striped Couch: Honest Thoughts
I launched seasonal Dreambooks and now have one for each season — a fun creative project I enjoyed building.
A Fresh Front Door Color and Entry Refresh
We celebrated my grandson Forrest’s first birthday — I shared party details and a baby-friendly smash cake recipe on the blog.
My favorite realistic faux tulips and realistic faux hydrangeas discoveries were fun finds for styling.
Pretty Decorating Ideas to Use and practical posts about cleaning, stain removal, and maintenance also appeared throughout the year.
I enjoyed hunting for vintage and secondhand pieces like blue-and-white platters and antique nightstands, and shared tips for decorating with those treasures.
How to Hang Plates on the Wall was a popular tutorial, and I shared several seasonal projects and outdoor updates.
5 Outdoor Spring Projects We Worked On and posts about tiny-space living, deck refreshes, and creating an at-home vacation vibe rounded out the warmer months.
Our Coastal Cottage Living Room Makeover Reveal shared design choices and the slow evolution of the space.
Seasonal posts included how to make a home cozy for fall and winter, ways to romanticize daily life at home, and several holiday and Christmas decorating ideas. I also shared kitchen sources and an FAQ for our coastal cottage kitchen.
Holiday content included recipes (gingerbread loaf and apple cider donut bundt cake), gift guides, and tips for hosting and preparing a cozy holiday home. I also shared a Christmas tour and a video home tour for 2025.
Other practical posts covered favorite coffee and espresso supplies, how to hang garland, and the faux Christmas trees we love. I also gathered favorite gift and home-decor finds from readers and shared them in a roundup.
We finished the year with a sneak peek at our striped bedroom decorated for Christmas and a full coastal cottage Christmas tour that included our tiny cottage.
Thank you for following along this year. If you’re planning to make your home more intentional in 2026, I’d love to have you join Wintering for HomeBodies and explore small, meaningful changes that make a house feel like home.
Wintering for HomeBodies: You’re invited to a virtual home retreat and decorating workshop.
For a limited time, the Winter Dreambook is available at 50% off through the end of the year. Check the blog for details and links to resources mentioned above.