How to Live Through Mid-Project Woes Without Melting Down
There’s a point in every redesign project when enthusiasm dries up. Your space is torn up. Your house is loud. You can’t find what you need, and what you can find is covered in dust. Suddenly you’re wondering why you ever thought changing this room was a good idea.
Welcome to the middle. The middle is hard, but it’s a completely normal part of the redesign process. And knowing that can make all the difference.
Why the Middle Feels So Hard
The beginning of a redesign is fueled by excitement and possibility. The end is fueled by relief and satisfaction. The middle is fueled by inconvenience.
During this phase:
- routines are disrupted
- rooms don’t function the way you need them to
- progress feels slow or invisible
- decision fatigue and second-guessing creep in
Embrace the Temporary
One of the fastest ways to increase stress during a redesign is expecting life to function the same way it did before.
Instead, learn to tolerate and even be amused by temporary solutions, understanding they are, in fact, merely temporary:
- a makeshift coffee station
- a folding table used as a desk
- storing daily essentials in one easy-to-reach bin
- buying a whatchamacallit you know you have three of because you can’t find one
These temporary solutions are aggravating, but strategic. They help daily life continue while the bigger picture comes together. I’ve lived this myself.
When we remodeled our primary closet last year, everything—and I mean everything—moved into the guest room. Clothes, shoes, accessories. The entire closet lived there for nearly two months. The project included moving a wall, installing a new door, adding lighting, and then installing a completely new closet system. Did it suck? Yup, big time. Was it worth it? Yup, double big time!
Decision Fatigue Is Real
Redesign asks you to make more decisions than you realize.
When this happens:
- pause before making new decisions
- revisit the original plan
- remember why changes were made in the first place
Progress Rarely Looks Impressive in the Middle
Walls are patched but not painted. Floors are installed but not finished. Pieces are missing. Trust the process. The polish comes later. The last 10 percent is so packed with fun details, so keep your eye on that prize as you’re mired in the 40- to 90-percent range.
Protect Your Energy Matters
Living through a redesign requires emotional energy. Step away from the space when possible. Give yourself permission to feel tired. This phase is temporary. Every redesign passes through this stage. The mess resolves. The routines return. The space settles. And the new space feels oh so good!
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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