Mindful Motivation
A Home in Progress: Why It’s Perfectly OK Not to Have It All Done Yet
Why Leaning Out Can Actually Lead to More Life
Just. Calm. Down!
Somewhere between glossy lifestyle magazines, Pinterest boards, and those alarmingly quick home renovation TV shows, we picked up the strange idea that a house has to be finished. That once you move in, you should instantly have a sparkling kitchen, perfectly coordinated furniture, and a backyard worthy of a champagne commercial. But here’s the truth: homes aren’t finished products. They’re living, breathing works in progress—and that’s not only OK, it’s actually wonderful.
Buying the Fixer Upper (And Why We love It)
Let’s start with the classic move: buying a “fixer upper.” This phrase can mean anything from a slightly dated kitchen to a place that requires you to wear a hard hat in the lounge. Either way, it’s an adventure. You don’t just get walls and a roof—you get stories, quirks, and the chance to roll up your sleeves.
A fixer upper allows you to fall in love with potential, not just perfection. Sure, the bathroom tiles might be avocado green, but think of the bragging rights when you eventually reveal the “before and after” photos. A fixer upper gives you permission to say, “This is not Instagram-ready, but it’s mine, and it’s going to be amazing someday.”
Embracing DIY Projects
And then come the weekends spent with a toolbox/paint roller/sledgehammer. DIY projects are not just about saving money (though, yes, that part is nice). They’re about connection—to your home, to your creativity, and occasionally to the local emergency room if you get overzealous with the power tools.
DIY Builds Ownership
Painting a wall yourself means you’ll remember the laughter, the mess, and the little paint smudge that somehow ended up on the dog. Assembling a bookshelf with your partner becomes less about the screwdriver and more about teamwork (and maybe testing the strength of your relationship). DIY isn’t always neat, but it’s always memorable—and it makes your home feel like you built it, not just bought it.
Working With a Budget
There’s also no rule that says you need to put yourself in debt for a marble kitchen island or a fancy patio extension. Big-ticket renovations can wait. Working with a budget doesn’t make your home less of a home; it makes it sustainable.
Living within your means is quietly powerful. It allows you to focus on enjoying the space rather than lying awake at night doing complicated maths about interest rates and credit card bills. Besides, a good roast chicken tastes the same whether your oven is in a five-star designer kitchen or one that came free with the house.
Living in a Space Before Changing It
Another underrated habit is simply… waiting. Move into a place and actually live in it for a while before tearing down walls or repainting every room. Sometimes what you think is a must-fix ends up becoming a beloved quirk. That weird little alcove in the hallway? It might turn into the perfect reading nook. The odd shade of cream in the lounge? It might look magical at sunset. Just. Slow. Down.
Living in a space before changing it helps you make choices that truly suit your lifestyle, not just the mood board you made during a late-night decorating spree.
Waiting for the Perfect Piece
Home magazines might tell you to “complete the look” in one shopping trip, but there’s joy in waiting for that perfect piece of furniture or décor item. Maybe it’s the couch that fits your room like a glove, or the lamp that finally nails your vision of cozy sophistication.
Waiting allows you to curate, not clutter.
A home full of placeholders feels rushed; a home filled slowly with things you genuinely love feels intentional. And when you finally find that perfect chair at a price that doesn’t require selling a kidney? It’s worth the wait.
Supporting Local Craft and Artisans
Part of this slower approach to homemaking also means sourcing pieces from local craftspeople. Yes, it might take longer than clicking “add to cart” on a mass-produced import, but the payoff is richer. That handmade ceramic bowl carries the story of the person who shaped it. That handwoven basket supports someone’s livelihood, not just a faceless factory.
There’s something grounding about knowing your home is filled with items that were made with skill, patience, and care. It makes the whole space feel more alive—less catalogue, more character.
A Shift in Perspective
At the heart of it all is a simple truth: homes don’t have to be glossy showcases of wealth and your skills at managing contractors. They’re sanctuaries. They’re places where you eat toast at the counter, dance badly in the lounge, and sometimes trip over paint cans because you haven’t finished the skirting boards yet.
Leaning out of the “glitzy home improvement” culture is freeing. You don’t have to keep up with the neighbours’ granite countertops or blow your savings on a vanity project just to impress dinner guests. A home is not a competition; it’s a shelter, a comfort, and a canvas for your own story.
When you accept that a home will always be growing, you stop obsessing over flaws and start appreciating the journey. The slow drip of change, the little upgrades over time, the way your taste evolves—it’s all part of living.
Living in the Work-in-Progress
In the end, a home in progress is a reminder to slow down. To embrace the messy middle rather than rushing to the polished finale. To savour the affordable luxuries—like waiting for the perfect couch, lighting a locally-made candle, or simply enjoying the fact that the roof doesn’t leak anymore.
Yes, it’s tempting to dream of the final “after” shot. But maybe the real joy lies in the “during”—the paint-splattered weekends, the borrowed ladder from next door, the thrill of finding a second-hand treasure that somehow feels like it was made for your space.
Mindful Motivation
Be thankful for the shelter your home gives, even with its quirks. Let go of the pressure to keep up with glossy magazines or overambitious neighbours. And when, one day, the last drop sheet is folded and the final paint streak dries, you’ll know your home wasn’t just built quickly. It was built with patience, gratitude, and a little bit of soul.
