Fixing the Little Things Changes How Your Home Feels
If you’ve spent time in recent weeks reusing, repurposing or recovering, you’re starting the year with a home that is better suited to make you happy and content.
This week, let’s discuss one more “re” word, repair. And while repair may seem less exciting than a makeover, it’s one of the most powerful steps you can take.
Small Annoyances Create Big Background Stress
A loose knob. A squeaky door. A drawer that never quite closes right. Individually, these things seem minor. Collectively, they create low-level stress that quietly chips away at comfort.
Repair removes friction. It restores ease. And it helps your home feel calmer without changing how it looks at all.
What Might Be Worth Fixing This Week
When people think of repairs, they often imagine big projects—or things they don’t have the skills or tools to tackle. But many of the most impactful repairs are small, simple, and surprisingly quick.
Here are a few common places to start:
Loose knobs or handles on doors, cabinets, and drawers
Squeaky hinges or sticky doors
Wobbly chairs, stools, or tables
Drawers that don’t slide smoothly or sit crooked
Scuffed walls, chipped paint, or dinged trim
Lamps that lean, flicker, or need a new harp or finial
Closet rods or shelves that sag or feel unstable
None of these fixes will dramatically change how your home looks—but they can dramatically change how it feels. Each small repair removes a point of friction, making daily routines smoother and less irritating. Often, it’s not the big things that wear us down. It’s the constant, quiet reminders that something isn’t quite right.
Finishing Well Matters
Pursuing repairs early in the year brings a sense of closure ais it finally fixes all those annoying nuisances. Rather than chasing something new, I encourage you to complete a cycle—restore function and reliability to some items you own but may have neglected for weeks. Months? Years? I’m guilty of all three at times.
This Week’s Gentle Challenge
Make a short list of three tiny repairs you’ve been putting off. Tighten, oil, adjust, or fix them in one simple session. You may be surprised by how much lighter your home feels afterward.
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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