Before You Replace It, Ask This Question

In the new year as you’re inspired to change things up and make them better, you may have the urge to ditch the items in your home that are no longer bringing you joy. That’s a great instinct, but before you decide something has reached the end of its usefulness, there’s a powerful question worth asking: Could I fall back in love with this item by using a little imagination?

Refinishing Isn’t Just About Paint

Refinishing often gets reduced to sanding and staining, but at its core, it’s about reevaluation. I encourage you to take some time to walk through your home and tune in to what speaks to you and what doesn’t. For any items that hit your “No” list, realize that a piece doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth keeping. It just needs to support a new idea. Sometimes that means paint. Sometimes it means a new top, new hardware, or a slight shift in how it’s used.

Reimagining Builds Design Confidence

When you reimagine instead of replace, you begin to trust your instincts more. Instead of relying on someone else’s vision, you’re creating your own. It can be fun and exciting to let your creativity loose.

That process also brings additional benefits. It can sharpen your eye so you start noticing proportion, balance, and scale more clearly. You learn what you like and that confidence carries forward into every room.

Small Changes Can Reset a Space

One refinished or reimagined piece often changes how everything around it feels. A lamp with a new shade. A table with a lighter finish. A cabinet refreshed just enough to feel intentional again. These updates can quietly elevate the room.

Not everything needs to be saved, but many things deserve a second look. Refinishing teaches discernment—knowing when something is worth the effort and when it’s truly time to let go. That skill that gets stronger with use.

This Week’s Gentle Challenge

Choose one item you’ve been tempted to replace. Instead, imagine one small change that could make it work better. New hardware. A different finish. A subtle tweak. You may find that what you needed wasn’t something new—just a new perspective.

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

Be sure to visit The Redesign Habit to share your redesign stories or reach out with your questions. We’d love to hear what you’re working on.

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