I’m in a redecorating season at my house, working to shape it into a home I genuinely love—one that reflects the way I want to live here. Creating a home is always an ongoing journey for me, but each season brings a different approach and fresh priorities.
There are times when we can focus more on our homes and other times when outside responsibilities take precedence. Sometimes we have the time, money, or the “right” house to make big changes; other times we make the best of what’s available. Some of us are just beginning to decorate, while others live in well-finished spaces. The key is working within the season we’re in and finding contentment as we go.
You might remember we downsized three years ago, moving from nearly 5,000 square feet to about 2,500. Adjusting to that change has required a lot of decisions about what works, what doesn’t, and how our life functions in a smaller space.
Since moving, we’ve been deeply involved in church planting and launching a concert house, which has kept our focus and energy elsewhere. As a result, decorating and updates have often fallen low on the priority list.
I’ve made steady progress with spot updates and small projects, and I’m pleased with much of what I’ve done. Still, some earlier changes need redoing because of wear—like repainting our family room—and other items are ready to be passed along to a new home.
We’ve also had some energetic wear-and-tear from Jack, our goldendoodle, during his first year, so a few updates are definitely driven by that. Overall, many pieces we still own either don’t fit this house or are simply worn and ready for retirement.
On the practical side, six rooms need painting or repainting, and there’s carpet to remove and replace in the living room, dining room, family room, staircase, upstairs hall, and master bedroom.
So I have a substantial list of projects to tackle.
My not-yet-revealed home office is my favorite current space because it’s moved beyond what I call “transitional chaos” and is nearly finished. I find it helpful to have at least one completed room when larger updates are underway; it provides a retreat and a sense of calm amid the upheaval. That’s why I tackled the office first.
This is the season of life I’m in: still busy and on a budget, yet ready to set the stage in our home for the life we want to live. To do that thoughtfully, we’re starting with foundational elements—removing old carpet, installing new wood floors that blend with existing flooring, and repainting walls throughout the house.
Here are my next goals:
1. Take the after photos of my home office.
This week I plan to photograph the office so I can finalize the reveal. Having those after photos will make the room feel truly finished and give me a restful space to return to while other projects proceed.
2. Clear out visual clutter.
I’ve already cleared out the living room to get a fresh perspective, and I’ll do the same in other rooms—removing what no longer serves us and only bringing back items I truly love. A clean slate makes it easier to create a clear vision for each space.
3. Create design boards.
I’ll develop mood and style boards to help guide decisions. The mood board I made for the office was instrumental in visualizing the direction for that room. Next, I’ll create mood boards for the family room and master bedroom, and continue evaluating the living room’s direction as well.
4. Gather paint and flooring samples.
I’m already leaning toward flooring that matches our existing wood because I love its character and how well it suits our home. I’ll gather samples and test paint colors to finalize the palette and materials.
5. Find a handyman and schedule a painter.
I’m looking for a reliable handyman to handle tasks we don’t have the time or expertise to do ourselves, and I’ll be scheduling a painter to tackle the larger painting jobs. Admitting where help is needed is an important step toward progress.
So, that’s the plan—moving forward and hoping to see lots of progress through the summer and into the fall.
What phase of decorating are you in?
Is your house finished?
Are you starting from scratch?
Are you in the ever-evolving decor stage?
Or are you in transitional chaos like I am?
Share where you are in your decorating process.