10 Signs It is Time to Revamp Your HouseDo-It-Yourself vs. Expert Renovations: What's Smarter? 97

Back in 2019, I stood in the narrow corridor and realized I was sick of it. Not in a gut-the-whole-house kind of way. More like when you resent something bit by bit. Like your old phone case, or a shirt that always feels damp.

It was tight, and there was this awkward spot where the paint peeled like dry pastry. Just a wall. But somehow it felt like it was part of the issue. Of what? No idea. Everything, maybe.

I didn't set out to renovate. I planned to fix the peeling. Maybe clean the skirting. Then I removed a bit of trim, and underneath… well. Swirly beige. Looked like it was printed by someone on drugs. The kind of wallpaper that makes you reconsider all your choices.

And that's how it begins. You touch one thing, and the house responds like it was plotting.

Next thing I knew, I was arguing about things I'd never thought existed. Backing compound. I developed strong opinions for skirting board profiles. I watched videos like it was a sport. Still don't know why one caulking gun's $12 and another's $48, but I'll fight you over which is better.

But this wasn't just about making it pretty. It was about admitting 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 more info 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 part of the ride. You fumble, 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 mine now.

It's not about trend boards. It's about saying no to busted plastic chairs. If you mess up, just repaint it. That's what I do. Or at least that's what I tell guests.