As we move through life, we change. The way we cook, the way we rest, the way we spend time with each other, shifts over time. Why shouldn’t our homes do the same? That gallery wall you loved last year may feel too busy this year. The bold color that once thrilled you may now feel a little loud. This isn’t failure. It’s a reflection of an evolving life. This is the case with our pantry. It has undergone a second “makeover” from being all white to having creamy walls and ceilings in Ivory Lace by Sherwin Williams (SW), a soft, fresh green called Koi Pond from SW, and the trim and back door in a sophisticated mushroom called Universal Khaki also by SW. And I love the outcome!
“A home isn’t a finished project. It’s a living thing that grows along with you.”
There’s a quiet kind of joy in realizing your home doesn’t have to be frozen in time. You can rearrange. Repaint. Replace. Your design decisions are not set in concrete. You can try something unexpected, just because it makes you smile. That striped armchair you found on Facebook Marketplace? If it makes your heart skip a beat, it belongs. That quirky wall sconce no one else would dare hang in the hallway? Go for it.
“The most delightful homes are shaped by people who aren’t afraid to try.”
Sometimes we hold back because we think there’s a “right” way to do things. We wait for permission—from magazines, from Pinterest, from strangers online, from our neighbor, or friend. But your home is not a portfolio piece and none of those folks live in your home. Your home is a place for you to live. To stretch out. To evolve. And part of its charm comes from the courage to make choices simply because they work for you.
In our newly remodeled pantry I tacked up a wallpaper sample in a soft blue gingham. I really like how it looks against the muted putty colored trim! Just imagine how it would pick up the blue on the platter wall just beyond the doorway into the kitchen. This would definitely tie the rooms together!
“Your home isn’t a destination, it’s the backdrop for your life.”
And yes, this also means you get to keep shopping. Not out of discontent, but out of delight in embracing the changes a new season life may bring. Finding something new to bring into your home is a little like adding another note to a melody. It changes the tune just enough to keep it interesting.
On the other hand, this is a great time to reevaluate and let things go that no longer serve you or your family as well as they once did. For over a year, Matt & I have scrutinized most of our possessions and let go of a lot of things. Through this process you’ll find that your home just keeps getting better and better over the years, and that you love it more and more.
So is your home ever really done? Probably not. And that’s the best part!
Until next time, take care,
Rachel
