From the time we are small, we're always wondering when we're going to get to finish line. "Are we there yet?" we ask as children, piping up from the backseat of a car. We peek in the oven, pressing the cake or poking it with a toothpick to see if it's done. And now that we are grown up, we ask ourselves, "How will we know when our home is complete?" Here's our criteria.
- All systems are in place: Some of the biggest challenges in any home are preparing a meal, processing mail and getting out of the house in the morning. If we can take care of these things efficiently, from finding where we put the last bill to putting clean dishes away to finding clean clothes, we know our home is done. If something gets bogged down (mail piles up on the dining room table, for instance), then we know that we've got to make some adjustments.
- We're ready for company: When we can fling open the door and know that we can welcome in a friend or two with no more than a few moments notice, we know that our home is cared for and well-stocked.
- It supports our activities: We have a lot of things we like and need to do in our home. From a place to knit to a place to write, from a place to sew to reading in bed, from having friends over for movie or game night to listening to music while lounging in the bathtub, we ask ourselves, can we do these things in our home with ease? If not, it's back to the drawing board to make our home more workable.
- It looks and feels like us: Whether it's the confirmation from a friend who says, "Oh, it looks just like you," or just a feeling in our bones, that's when we know our home is done.
How do you know when your home is done?
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I completely agree with Karen.
A healthy home is always in movement, growing and adjusting.
Is a river ever "done"? It's a constant flow, things moving in and out of the house and my life. I could call my home "done" since I don't need anything, but I could find treasures to upgrade things I have, I could fall in love with something and be happier by adding it, I could break something and need to replace it, I could get a Great Idea... so no, not "done."
I am oh so glad to hear I'm not the only one that thinks this way....my friends think I'm nuts for changing things all the time. If I wasn't constantly tweaking my home, I am sure it would feel stale to me in short order.
I don't think I'll ever be done either! I'm always looking for "new" things to do. :(
You mean there's a finish line?!
Harpa
But seriously, these are actually some really good points... I hadn't thought of a finish line in those terms :)
Harpa
I agree that it can never be DONE.
But, I think that there comes a time when your home doesn't really need as much work, and it's as complete as it'll ever be.
I agree that a home is never truly "finished" and frankly, I'd never want mine to be!
Yes, there is a period where you are done for a time, but life is an ever-changing process and the evolution of a home is one of the basic parts of life, not to mention a big part of the fun of making/decorating a home! At least to me....
I don't agree that a home needs to be 'done' before inviting people over. I've had house guests arrive on the day I moved in
I am with the rest - a home is never finished. There is always some things that will need changing and even things you are going to collect over time that will need to fit themselves into your home. To say your home is done is kind of like saying you are done breathing - impossible.
i have fleeting moments of feeling "done" -- but by the time i sit to enjoy our most recent reno, about six other things pop onto my radar!
A home is a machine for living, so it can't be done as long as its occupants are changing, which should be all their lives. Still, using the four criteria is good for getting an idea of what most needs attention.
I think, obviously, you are "done" when you stop obsessing over design blogs for "inspiration" to change what you already have.
Which raises questions about all of our being here.
I agree that it's never really "done", in the sense that things will change, but there's a difference between a finished and unfinished home.
We bought our first house last year, and I would call our bedroom "finished" because it's where I want it to be right now, and there aren't any missing pieces of furniture or accessories, but we have other rooms that are unfinished, because there's still pieces missing, or paint to pick out, etc, and if someone walked in, they would know that it was not complete.
So I like this post, because sometimes if you're too caught up in wanting to constantly change something, you forget to pause and actually enjoy the room as it is.
My home isn't done because I still haven't found art for two rooms...sigh...but we're having company over anyways! It just gives them an excuse to come again to see our new additions.
When my home/latest design project was finally professionally photographed for my blog I had to stop. I could have kept going...and going...but I am pretty happy with the results :)...christapirl.blogspot.com.
I agree - A home is never really "Done"...
...Otherwise it becomes stagnant, like a Museum.
Heck, even Museums have collections that move in and out all the time - so they're never really "Done" either, are they?
I think when my house is 'done' I'll sell it.
This is a great "aspiration" list. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like any house I've ever lived in or visited.
Well, moved 6 months ago and my house is definitely not done. I agree that a house can never really be done, because it's always changing, but there is a point you can reach where you don't NEED to change anything.
I think for me, "done" will be when I can relax and not feel like I need to be working on something (excluding day-to-day stuff, like yard maintenance and dishes).
What is the fabric in the photo above? MUST HAVE!