Five years ago, my family and I decided to move to Wilmington to be closer to family. We made the decision and committed to relocate for a job…the week before Hurricane Florence hit. We had been looking at houses for a while but hadn’t found “the one”. Suddenly we found ourselves in a situation where we had to move and to a place with limited viable inventory. We ended up buying our house basically sight unseen (NOT for the faint of heart) because it checked enough of the boxes and we were confident that we could make it close enough to what we wanted to be happy…at least for a couple of years.

When we moved in, we were disheartened by the small rooms, choppy layout, and lack of character (I mean, come on. It was built in 1995 so…). But what did we expect? We hadn’t actually gone into the house until the day before we closed on it so as well tell our daughter, “you get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.” Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely grateful for what we have and realize that a house not being 100% my style IS 100% a first world problem. However, after pouring our hearts and souls into our previous house and loving its charm (and its many, many quirks), this house just felt…not like home. While we tried to get settled into our new lives here, we kept an eye on the market just in case our dream home came up for sale.

And yes, we have seen our house value appreciate, but while ours has increased, so have (almost) all of others in our area. Many of the homes that were perhaps at the top of our price range when we moved here are now well and truly out of reach. And the rise in interest rates has made others laughable daydreams at best. As time went on, we realized that our dream home may always be that…a dream.

How WE took our house and turned it into our happy place

Fast forward a few years and we decided to look at things a bit differently. We stopped looking at other houses online and chose to look at our own home through a new lens. We went back to that original checklist and focused on the wins, not the losses.

Location.
We decided that where we are is ideal for now. We have a young daughter who loves being able to ride her bike around the neighborhood, walk to school, and have frequent visits with my sister and her family who are just a few streets away. We are not walking downtown to concerts and neighborhood bars like we used to but we are walking to friends’ houses and having epic backyard barbecues that our daughter (and we) will remember forever. Don’t get me wrong, if a restaurant opened within safe walking distance of our house, it would be our absolute favorite, no matter the quality of the food, but for now, we can be at any of our favorite restaurants within 10-15 minutes.
Size.
Our house is admittedly bigger than we need. That extra space for the additional children we expected but lost? Hello, home gym and home office! Now our friends and family have a place to stay and be comfortable when they come visit and know that they have an open invitation any time.
Proximity to the water.
We aren’t on the water. We don’t have water access in our neighborhood. What we do have? The freedom to choose a new exciting adventure and location each time we do go to the water. ICWW? Sure, let’s go! Wrightsville Beach? Sounds good, see you there in 10 minutes!

So how have we tried to rectify the whole ”home sweet home” thing? Sweat equity. Creativity. Taking our current boxy house and making it a home. OUR home. We have made lots of changes in our 5 years here. Some bigger than others, some more expensive than others, some more impactful than others.

Paint.
Never underestimate the power of paint. I called the color scheme of our house “Banana Pudding” when we first moved in. Honey colored oak floors, yellow walls, and white trim. Straight up banana pudding. We painted the majority of the house a light greige to create a bit of a blank canvas and added lots of interesting color throughout the spaces that needed more spark. And you know what? It can all be painted again. It’s just paint.

Exterior.
We painted our brick exterior which instantly updated and added major character to our seriously blah 1990’s house. And thanks to a drunk driver, we now have a new porch and new landscaping! Winning…?

Use of Space.
As I said earlier, not every space in our home is as it was originally intended. What was certainly meant to be a study or parlor (who seriously needed a parlor in 1995?) is now our home gym. Is it ideal to have a home gym by the front door to greet guests? No. Do we care? No. If you have been to our house more than once, you aren’t going through the front door anyway.

Improved Flow.
We removed a wall between the living room and kitchen as well as a wall between the kitchen and dining room. Now we have a more modern floor plan that is more conducive to entertaining and interaction. Does it hide my dirty dishes from the living room? No. Do I need to hide the fact that we live in our home and *gasp* eat here? No. We also reoriented the kitchen so that there is adequate counterspace, storage, and efficiency. No more asking permission to come into the kitchen when someone else is in there. If you need something, you have plenty of space to come and get it.

Updated Finishes.
While our house isn’t that old, it is definitely dated. We have replaced most of the light fixtures, updated appliances to more efficient/streamlined ones, and replaced our incredibly water damaged hardwoods with LVP that will withstand the drippy traffic from the pool to the restroom.

Embraced Change.
The room over the garage has had more lives than most cats. Its layout changes almost with the seasons to accommodate what our family needs. More space for guests? Sure, we can just move things around…again. More room for our daughter to play? Let’s make it happen. And my daughter’s closet has been a closet, a club house, an art room, and a closet again. We aren’t married to the idea that one space serves one purpose. If our family’s needs change, we have to change with them.

And you know what, I love our home now. I don’t love every single thing about it but I love it. I love our new kitchen. I love the natural light that pours in. I love its potential. But I love it most for my family who lives here with me and the memories we have made here.

So how can YOU take what you have and make it work for now (or forever)?

Now that interest rates are so much higher than in recent years and our local real estate market does not seem to be cooling down, more and more people are finding themselves stuck in homes that are seemingly less than ideal. That starter home many people bought with the intention of moving in a couple years is now becoming a family home that is bursting at the seams and has a whole new list of demands.

Reimagine Your Current Space.
Do you need a formal dining room or do you need that space for a playroom? Is that large closet in your child’s room overkill for their storage needs but could also accommodate a desk for a homework/art space? Use it!

faux mudroom
Many newer houses have a mudroom with storage for all of those things you don’t necessarily want trapsing through the rest of your house. Don’t have one? Create a faux mudroom by an entry by placing a bench with storage and a pegboard above it. Now you have a place to store coats and bags as well as muddy shoes.

convertible furniture
Don’t have visitors frequently but need a place for them to stay? Instead of having a dedicated guest room, try a murphy bed or a pull-out sofa. Rarely work from home but need the occasional office space? Try a fold down desk. Your teen wants their own hang out space? Try a lofted bed with loveseat below it.

budget friendly kitchen update
If you are looking to update your kitchen but not looking to spend the amount usually associated with a full renovation, try painting your cabinets, replacing hardware door hardware, changing your countertops, or replacing door/drawer fronts. Need improved storage in your kitchen? Look online for items that can be used to better utilize the space you have.

furniture with storage
The idea of storage pieces has always been a bit utilitarian. While plastic containers have their place, these days you can find loads of stylish storage options for nearly any part of the home. Beds with built-in drawers, ottomans with lift up lids, perfect for blankets or games, entertainment centers that double as dog crates - you name it, it’s out there.

room dividers
If you have a space that needs to serve 2 purposes, use a room divider. They provide visual separation and (limited) privacy. Think screens, curtains, or tall bookshelves (more storage!). Room dividers can be both functional and beautiful. Try creating a living screen by placing a few large plants between the spaces to provide both separate and visual interest!

vertical storage
While storing things close to the ceiling is not necessarily the most user friendly, it can be a huge space saver. I’m not saying to cover your walls with floor to ceiling shelves but don’t forget to utilize vertical space.

make it yours
No matter where you live or how ideal the setting, a house is going to feel more like home if you fill it with the things and people you love. Don’t wait for your dream house to have your dream space. If you have always wanted black kitchen cabinets but your current kitchen isn’t your dream kitchen, paint the cabinets black. What is currently frustrating and lackluster may become a space you actually enjoy.

So often we hear “if you personalize too much it will hurt resale value.” Sure, buyers want to imagine THEMSELVES in a home, not moving in and having to live YOUR life. But if you are making a commitment to stay in a house, why not make it yours? Love the wallpaper? Hang it! Want that funky tile? Go for it! Love where you live…NOW.

Of course, if you are having a hard time deciding how to make your current home work for you, you can always call a professional (cough cough)…

What are some of your favorite ways to personalize a space? What have I left out? Have any success stories from learning to love your home? Let us know in the comments!