A heartfelt before-and-after home tour reflecting on six years in our house, budget-friendly updates, room makeovers, and the slow, meaningful process of creating a home our family loves.
I can’t believe it’s been six years since we moved into this house. Although it felt like we lived in our previous home forever, this is the house my children will remember most. They’ve spent their formative years here, and those years have been very special. We moved in in 2019 and, just a few months later, life changed in ways we didn’t expect. Still, moving when we did turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made.
It’s been about four years since my last full before-and-after home tour. I stepped away from those personal updates for a while, but I want to get back to writing in a more conversational way. I miss sharing what I’m working on each week, so this post is my attempt to be more personal again. I may one day move these updates to a newsletter, but for now they’ll stay here on the blog.
When we first moved in we tackled the biggest eyesores—outdated paint colors and dated decor—and even refreshed the exterior, which made a huge difference. In the last few years, projects slowed as our family’s needs shifted and our budget priorities changed, but I’m still committed to making this house feel like ours, even if progress happens more slowly now.
You can see our first two years of projects in these previous tours:
- One Year: Before and After Home Tour
- Two Years: Before and After Home Tour
Since my last full update in 2021, the biggest changes have been to the laundry room, dining room and butler’s pantry—rooms that required significant purchases and several DIY projects. I’ll summarize those below as honorable mentions, so scroll down if you’ve missed them.
With the main living spaces on the first floor in a good place, I turned my attention upstairs to bedrooms. So far I’ve only fully remodeled one bathroom—the powder room—and three full bathrooms are still waiting their turn.
One reality of home updates is budget. In an Instagram era of quick makeovers, the truth is that most of our updates move at the speed of cash. With rising costs and kids’ activities, we can’t always do everything at once. But slow progress means thoughtful choices and longer-lasting results.
Last year I wrapped up cosmetic updates in my younger daughter’s room so the space feels cohesive and truly hers. I also resumed work on the primary bedroom (Part 2). I paused during the holidays, but new pieces are arriving and I plan to get back to the DIYs that are waiting in the garage when temperatures allow.
Below I’ll walk through the rooms I focused on this year, then recap the notable projects from the previous few years. It’s been rewarding to see how much the house has evolved over six years.
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2025 House Projects | Before and Afters
This year I concentrated on my younger daughter’s room and the primary bedroom. Her room is complete, and I’ve made steady progress in the primary bedroom—more deliveries are coming and I expect to finish that space soon. After that, I’ll move on to the next project.
The Tween Daughter’s Room
This room started as a playroom when we first moved in, but about a year later the girls asked for separate rooms and it became my younger daughter’s bedroom. It sat untouched for a few years, so last year we gave it a proper update to suit her tween tastes.
We chose a beachy theme, painted the walls her favorite color, decluttered, and organized her things so the room feels mature and functional. I refinished a dresser and added a small jewelry station, plus art and storage that suits a tween rather than a toddler.
Both girls now have rooms that reflect their personalities and will last them through the next few years while I shift focus to other spaces. You can see the full reveal in the Beachy Tween Girl Bedroom Ideas post linked above.
The Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom is a large space with a sitting area that needed a cohesive design. I’d already painted and bought a bed frame and nightstands, but the room lacked a unified style. I created a part-two design plan and have been making steady progress, one thoughtful decision at a time.
Here’s how the room has changed so far:
The peacock art over the bed is a DIY thrifted piece that still delights me every time I enter the room. We’ve added a Frame TV across from the bed and I’m building a custom frame for it. New items, including a large mirror and lamp shades, are on their way, so I’ll share more as the space comes together.
I’m aiming to finish this room in 2026 — stay tuned for the reveal.
More Primary Bedroom Posts:
- Traditional Bedroom Design Plan {Take 2}
- Christmas Bedroom Decor Ideas & Inspiration
- Bedside Cord Organization Ideas
- Our Primary Bedroom Window Treatments
Honorable Mentions from 2022, 2023 and 2024
Over the past few years I completed several key projects that changed the feel of the main floor: the dining room, laundry room and the butler’s pantry. Each update was part of a larger plan to make the connected spaces feel cohesive and functional.
The Dining Room
In 2022 I painted and papered the dining room as the first step in a three-part project that included the laundry room and butler’s pantry. It’s the first room guests see when they enter, and I love that it makes an immediate, welcoming impression.
More Dining Room Posts:
- How to Hang Plates on a Wall
- How to Decorate the Dining Room for Christmas
- How to Reupholster Dining Chair Covers
- How to Paint Outlet Covers
- How to Add Curtain Trim Tape for a Custom Look
The Laundry Room
The laundry room coordinates with the dining room since both are visible from the kitchen. I pulled the blue from the dining room into the laundry room walls, creating one of my favorite rooms for both style and functionality.
More Laundry Room Posts:
- How to Paint Countertops to Look Like Marble
- How to Upgrade Your Home with Beadboard
- DIY Window Cornice Board with Fabric
- How to Install Peel & Stick Floor Tile
The Butler’s Pantry
The butler’s pantry links the kitchen, dining room and laundry room, so it needed to look great. Because it’s visible from the front door, I wanted it to be both functional and pretty—another small room with a big impact.
There’s still more to come: the guest bedroom, three full bathrooms, the loft and a pantry refresh are all on the list. We’ll likely tackle these over the next several years.
Final Thoughts
Six years in, I’ve learned that homes are built slowly, season by season, alongside real life. Some rooms come together quickly; others take years. That slow pace has allowed intentional choices and improvements that work for our family’s rhythms and budget.
This house tells our story—each update reflects where we were at that moment. As I move into another year of projects, with pauses and bursts of progress, I’m thankful for what we’ve accomplished and excited for the changes ahead. I’ll continue sharing updates as I take on thoughtful, achievable projects one at a time.