Open Concept Designs: Is It Right for Your Home Makeover?Renovation Slip-Ups You'll Hate — and How to Avoid Them 75

Not too long ago, I stood in the dark stretch between rooms and realized I had grown to loathe it. Not in a gut-the-whole-house kind of way. More like when you outgrow something bit by bit. Like your old phone case, or a shirt that never quite fits.

It was barely lit, and there was this one bit where the paint flaked like old glue. Just a wall. But somehow it felt like it was part of the weight. Of what? No idea. Everything, maybe.

I didn't set out to get into all this. I planned to repaint. Maybe swap the fitting. Then I tugged the edge of the wallpaper, and underneath… well. Orange and brown. Looked like it was straight out of the ‘70s. The kind of wallpaper that makes you step back.

And that's how it begins. You pull one thread, and the house responds like it was ready.

Next thing I knew, I was Googling things I'd never heard of. Caulking guns. I developed obsessions for undercoat brands. I joined forums like it was a sport. Still don't know why one caulking gun's $12 and another's $48, but I'll fight you more info over which is better.

But this wasn't just about fixing things. It was about finally saying something felt wrong, and that I was done adjusting. I used to sidestep a creaky floorboard by the bathroom even after I fixed it. Muscle memory is stubborn like that.

Some days went well. Some didn't. I once installed a light switch upside down and didn't notice for weeks. Only realized it when my sister flipped it and asked why “off” turned the light *on*.

But that's how it goes. You curse, and then suddenly the space feels… yours. Not perfect. Not staged. But not borrowed anymore. That wall? Still narrow. And the paint line by the stairs? Wobbly. But it's earned.

It's not about style blogs. It's about saying no to living with what grates. If you drill in the wrong spot, just patch it. That's what I do. Or at least that's what I tell guests.