When you move into a new home, it’s tempting to think of every decision as permanent, every paint color, wallpaper pattern, or piece of furniture must be “just right.” But I’ve found there’s a beautiful freedom in viewing your current decorating project as an experiment.
By that I mean: give yourself permission to simply try things. Try the wallpaper. Try the paint color you think you’ll love on the wall. Hang the art you love, even if it feels bold, and it’s not like anything you’ve seen anyone else doing.
“The house you’re living in right now, whether it’s your forever home or just for a season, can be the perfect place to discover what you really enjoy living with.“
What Our “Practice” House Taught Us
As many of you know, our previous 1960s brick house was a fabulous classroom in discovering and developing our English cottage style. We knew from the beginning that someday we would move. It wasn’t a forever home, but it gave us the chance to:
- Learn what colors we love
Over time, we discovered which hues bring us peace (soft creams, blues, and greens) and which ones we grew tired of quickly. Those lessons will guide the choices we make in our new home. - Experiment with pattern and texture
From floral wallpapers to tongue-and-groove paneling, we tried ideas we weren’t sure about until we lived with them. Some became favorites, others were great for the time and place, but both experiences were valuable. - Collecting and layering over time
Cottage style is never about buying everything new. It’s about gathering pieces that speak to you. This house gave us the chance to collect furniture, artwork, lighting that we’ve carried into our new home. It’s so nice not to start from scratch again & to have things we love that are familiar! - Practice small remodels
Each project on the old house, from tiling the bathroom, doing a whole kitchen remodel, to swapping light fixtures and hardware, taught us skills and gave us confidence to take on bigger transformations in the future.
Why a Practice House Matters
Even if you know you’ll move someday, working on your current home isn’t wasted time. It’s the canvas where you:
- Try bold ideas without fear.
- Discover what truly feels like “you.”
- Build confidence to make changes instead of waiting for “someday.”
If you are in your long-term home, every paintbrush stroke, every thrifted piece of furniture, art, or lighting, every wallpaper or fabric sample is part of the process of learning your style. Your home can only get better over time and more clearly reflect the needs and tastes of you and your family. If you move into your forever home or just into the next life chapter, you’ll have solidified the furniture style, art, colors and patterns that work for your family and that you love living with.
Encouragement for You
If you’re living in a home that you know isn’t forever (even if you are renting!), don’t let that stop you from making it beautiful now. Pick a room and try the paint color you’ve been daydreaming about. Hang the art. Put up the wallpaper you’ve pinned a hundred times.
You may be surprised, not just at how much you love your space, but at how much you learn about yourself along the way. If you want more thoughts and encouragement on creating a home read this post on “Practice Makes a Home.”
“Your practice house is where you find your voice. And every choice, even the small ones, will carry forward into the home you’re building for tomorrow.“
New soft celery green cabinet color we tried in the butler’s pantry makeover.
Looking back, I’m so grateful for our “practice” house. It gave us the courage to try, the patience to learn, and the joy of creating a home with our own hands. Now, as we begin the adventure of putting our stamp on our new country home, we can carry those lessons with us, and we’re excited to bring you along for the ride! Until next time, take care,
Rachel
