Q: Now that you’re in your third house, I’m sure there are things you’ve learned about budgeting, decorating, house hunting, etc. having been through the process a few times now. Would you ever consider writing a post about what your first and second house taught you? -Alison
A: Absolutely — here it is. Every home we’ve owned has reshaped how we approach the next one. Our first house taught us a lot about style and splurges, the second taught us restraint and practicality, and together they’ve shaped the choices we’re making in this third home. Stylistically, we expect this house to fall somewhere between the light, beachy palette of the first house and the bolder colors of the second. Beyond color, the lessons we learned influenced budget decisions, layout priorities, and what we care about day to day. Below are the key takeaways from those first two homes and how they’re guiding us now.
Balance splurges and savings more wisely. Looking back, we probably overspent on some things in our first house and underspent in our second. For perspective, we invested more in the first house’s renovations and upgraded finishes, while we tightened the budget on many elements in the second. The two kitchen remodels highlight this: our first kitchen cost significantly more because we paid for premium materials and contractors, while the second remodel came in much cheaper because we handled most of the labor ourselves and used more budget-friendly choices.
Both kitchens turned out well, but hindsight taught us nuance: a small house probably didn’t need an extravagant kitchen, and our mid-budget kitchen in the second house could have benefited from a few higher-end elements. For example, painted cabinets looked updated but didn’t function like new cabinetry — they lacked modern hardware and hinge options. In this third kitchen we plan to keep labor costs low where sensible, but invest more in durable, higher-end finishes since we intend to stay long-term.
Bring cozy back into the plan. We moved from our first to our second house mainly for more space — we needed room for a home office and a growing family. The second house nearly doubled our square footage, largely thanks to a big living room addition. After a couple of years we realized we missed the intimacy of the den in our first home. That cozy feeling influenced our attraction to the living room in this current house. The layout here distributes space more evenly rather than concentrating it in one massive room, so we get both comfortable bedrooms and a snug living area while keeping the convenience of multiple bathrooms.
Create openness where it matters. Openness and flow have been priorities across every home. In the first house we opened some doorways and used a cohesive light palette; in the second we removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room. One thing we hadn’t achieved until now is a truly open connection between the kitchen and living room, largely due to structural walls in past homes. In this house that’s finally possible: only a wet bar and a bookshelf stand between those spaces, and removing them will make a much more functional and sociable layout for daily life and entertaining.
Make floors a priority. Flooring was one of the first big projects in our first house — we refinished and installed hardwoods throughout, which made a huge difference to the feel of the home even though it was disruptive at the time. We skipped that in the second house and regretted it. With this house we tackled hardwoods immediately: refinishing upstairs and polishing downstairs improved the whole place. We still have a few updates left, but addressing flooring early removed a nagging regret and gave the home an immediate sense of polish.
Prioritize easy outdoor access. Accessible outdoor space has become increasingly important to us. In previous houses the grill or patio felt detached from daily life because it required navigating through other rooms or down steps. This house has a large deck off the back that sits at the same level as the main floor, which makes it feel like a natural extension of indoor living. We already spend far more time outside here than in past homes — it’s made outdoor gatherings and daily routines infinitely more convenient.
Practice patience with the process. One of the most valuable lessons from our first two homes is that good homes evolve slowly. We once expected to finish everything in months and instead learned projects and decorating often unfold over years. That patience has become liberating: it allows us to plan thoughtfully, save for meaningful upgrades, and enjoy living in a space that’s a work in progress. Rather than rushing to be “done,” we appreciate the journey of improving and personalizing a home over time.
There are other small lessons tucked into our homeowner experiences, but these are the major themes that influence our decisions today. What about you? How have past living situations — rentals, roommates, family homes, or time abroad — shaped what you want in your current or future home?
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As a little Friday bonus, here are a few projects and conversations happening on the Forums — plus we announced this week’s giveaway winners in the Rafflecopter box if you want to check.
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| by PrettyOrganized | by curvyfurniture | by crabandfishblog | by karazzies |
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