The Millennial Farmhouse

Can you imagine spending every day in a house that doesn’t inspire you? It’s a blessing to have a house, but one that falls apart doesn’t feel like a home. Spending every day in a place that is outdated and “crumbling” can be overwhelming. There are things you can do to change that feeling. A small makeover, or a full blown renovation, can breathe new life into your home. If you’ve ever considered changing up your space, there are some things you need to consider.

My house is finally getting a makeover, and I am ecstatic. We have lived in this house for so long, and any major changes always need approval. We have lived in a building that was uninspiring, outdated, and sometimes embarrassing. I bet some of you can relate.

A makeover was overdue. Small changes to the wall color and flooring made a huge difference. I’ll be writing about the before and after of this mini makeover starting with my room. If you plan to makeover any part of your home, or you are doing a major renovation, then keep reading. I am sharing some tips to help you get started.

Backstory

My House

We have had brown carpeting on the floors from the moment we moved into this house. That is 20 years of old, outdated, antiquated (note the redundancy because I can’t stress it enough) and messy carpeting. There comes a time when the carpet has to go, and it was long past its time. Furthermore, the walls were covered in this off white paint with a yellow tint. It was absolutely horrible, and the walls constantly looked like they were stained.  

It didn’t matter how much we cleaned the house, old and faded material makes the whole home look bad. Additionally, some of the fixtures were dated and damaged. The fixtures were right for the time until they weren’t. Broken door knobs and rusted light coverings are not attractive! I especially found the fixtures to be an eyesore in my bedroom.

My Bedroom

In my room, specifically, there were pinholes on the walls from years of sticking up different photographs. I even had a few small patches where the tape had stripped the paint. There was this track on the closet floor from the old mirror doors that used to cover the closet. Additionally, the closet space was small. With the carpet and odd wall color the room just always seemed even smaller. Check out the before pictures below. 

The pictures above show years worth of wear and tear. As a child I never really questioned why we couldn’t make major changes. When something was broken or needed an update, it took time but it happened. However, when the paint started peeling, or the carpet pulled away from the walls, we couldn’t do anything about it. I knew that we needed approval from the landlord, but the approval sometimes seemed nonexistent. It can be challenging to get approval for changes in your home when you rent. Sometimes, you don’t understand why you can’t change your home when you’re the one living in it. Do you know that feeling?

As a kid, I never expected to see an update on this house. Instead I held onto the hope that I would change my future home when the time came. I still have that hope, but I am so grateful that this house is getting a much deserved makeover. It was definitely a process to get things started, but I want to share that process with you. Below are a few tips to help you in the “before” phase of a makeover or renovation.

Tips

I have four simple tips to share with you:

• Pack Clothing
• Move Decor and Miscellaneous Items
• Relocate Assembled Furniture
• Document the Process

These tips can make the process of preparing for a home makeover manageable. You can read more about applying them below.

Pack Your Clothing

Pack up your clothing, and store them in suitcases or boxes. If you can, leave out enough clothes for a few days. Choose items that you can easily re-wear, and put the rest in storage. You want to store your clothing out of the “construction zone”, so to speak. Storing them in another closet or in the basement/attic will work. It seems simple to leave your clothing hanging in a closet, but makeovers can be messy. The last thing you want is for your clothing to get ruined, accidentally.

Remove Decor and Miscellaneous Items

Remove all small items, decor, books, and more from your room. Try to find a temporary home for these items. An empty closet shelf, spots in the common areas of your home, or in another bedroom will work. If you don’t have to pack these items away in boxes, then don’t! You can save time by not packing it all away. Additionally, you can decide to leave those items in their new places, if you like the way they look. Accidentally redecorating your home with things you already have is fun and affordable.

Do Not Disassemble Furniture (if possible)

Move your bedroom furniture, temporarily, without taking it apart. If you can, try to put your bedroom furniture in different areas of the house. If you disassemble the furniture, you will have to put it back together again. If you can’t get it out the bedroom door, then try removing the door. That option is easier and faster than disassembling and reassembling furniture! In addition, keeping your bed assembled during the makeover process is helpful. If you have a small home without extra beds, you’ll be glad you still have your bed to sleep on. Your back will appreciate this decision!

Documentation

Document the “before” phase. You are about to make a big change to your space. Hopefully, everything happens to plan. If a mistake is made, you will have reference point from your documentation. You can take photos or video to capture the progress and growth in your home. Furthermore, documentation is great for personal growth. You’d be surprised at how reflecting on a room makeover can inspire introspection.

My Process

The Simple Steps I Took

I started by taking everything off the walls in my room. I have always been interested in decorating my walls, so I had a lot of photos on the walls. Then I packed up small items in boxes, including books and DVDs. I had a lot of miscellaneous items to store. We didn’t have extra space for me to put those things in other spots around the house. Then I moved everything out of my room and into the living room. I had to rearrange the living room and stack some furniture. I managed to organize it all carefully.

We don’t have any storage spaces in this home. It’s a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with a living room and kitchen. We don’t even have linen or cleaning closets. Each bedroom has its own small clothes closet, and that is pretty much where we store our personal items. When I moved all the stuff from my room, the living room became my bedroom for a few days. It was a challenge, but I managed with a little help, and the experience was very interesting.

The Next Step

I am excited for the next step of this home makeover. We have repairmen who will work on fixing and updating our house. Since this is a first for us, I don’t know what to expect during the “progress” phase. It will be a small makeover, but it is very important. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for updates on this makeover. The next post will be about the “in progress” phase of the makeover. I can’t wait to share the progress with you all!

Do you have experience with a home makeover or renovation? Please share your tips and experiences in the comments. Then check out the next part of this process, here.

*Disclaimer: The featured photograph for this post is AI generated.