I've been renovating for years – here's why my house will likely never be finished (and maybe neither will yours)

After years of living in renovation chaos, you'd think I'd be living in a perfectly completed home by now. But I'm here to convince you that all homes are never truly finished – and honestly, that’s okay.

If you too are living in the middle of a home renovation, you know the drill: projects drag on longer than expected, timelines slip, and just when you think you’ve crossed everything off the list, a new idea or inspiration strikes (or you uncover a new problem to fix).

Whether it’s because of budget constraints or simply the never-ending list of ideas sparked by social media, most of us are in a perpetual state of tweaking and improving our homes. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all.

Why my home will likely never be finished

Making a house a home is rarely a quick or linear process. No matter if you're undertaking a full remodel or some quick decorating jobs, there are endless decisions and challenges along the way.

So when I say I've been slow renovating for years; I mean just my current house. Previously we were in our first home, a tiny 1800s railway cottage in Surrey, England, that took us 6 months to transform and a year and a half to recover from before we moved on to this mammoth project.

Renovations take time – and that's totally normal. Sure we can all watch a 30-second TikTok transformation and feel slightly jaded by their seemingly speedy finished project, but for most, that just isn't reality.

The truth is, home renovations are a marathon, not a sprint, and part of the beauty of the process is that it takes time and evolves with you.

From the moment you decide to make changes in your home right through to the day you hang the final picture on the wall, countless unexpected challenges arise. Delayed deliveries, budget constraints, contractor schedules, and even your own changing preferences can stretch timelines far beyond what you initially anticipated.

But often there is beauty to be found in that.

Rushing often leads to decisions you might regret later. Trust me, I already have a long list of things I would do differently in my remodel if I had my time again.

When you live in your space for a while, you gain a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t. What felt perfect five years ago might not resonate with you today.

Perhaps that open-plan layout you initially envisioned isn’t as sensible as you once thought (again, I've learned this the hard way), or the bathroom you wanted to fully gut actually might only need a few cosmetic updates. Taking your time allows you to make thoughtful choices that truly reflect both your style and needs.

It’s easy to feel frustrated when your home isn’t where you want it to be, but there are plenty of ways to make your space feel comfortable and stylish while it’s still a work in progress.

Rearranging and restyling is one of my favorite ways to breathe new life into a room and keep it ever-evolving. This works for spaces that are completely 'done', as well as rooms that are waiting on a big renovation.

Constantly faffing and shopping your own home allows you to see your spaces in a new light and keep that excitement alive, whether you're mid-remodel or looking to create a fresh new feel in a space you decorated decades ago.

Adding in a few new soft furnishings and home decor pieces are powerful ways to transform a room – they’re affordable, easy to switch out, and can instantly make a space feel cozy and curated.

The beauty of interior design trends is that they help us discover new ideas, but the downside is that they can make you feel like you’re always chasing the next big thing. The key is to view trends as a source of inspiration rather than a checklist to follow, and if you love something, include it in small ways to make your home feel current and exciting.

Spreading renovations over time is also often more financially manageable. Rather than stretching yourself thin to try and complete everything at once, you can focus on taking things one step at a time, allocating resources as they become available.

And while waiting for the next phase, you should celebrate the small victories. A home that evolves over time often feels more authentic, so learning to celebrate the progress you've made rather than striving for the end result can make the journey far more enjoyable along the way.

Take time to acknowledge the projects you’ve completed, no matter how small they may seem. Did you finally hang those curtains or paint a wall? Celebrate those small wins!

Consider keeping a journal or photo log of your journey to remind yourself of how far you’ve come. I chose to set up a home reno Instagram account, and while I'm terrible at updating it, it's the best way to reflect back on how far we've come.

Try to romanticize your home. Even if you're sitting on a long to-do list, try to get yourself out of that limbo phase funk by making things more functional and visually pleasing in the meantime so you can enjoy your home as it evolves while still looking forward to what’s to come.

My home is constantly evolving to reflect my lifestyle, needs, and inspirations – and yours will too. But rather than feeling frustrated by the slow pace, I’ve come to appreciate the process.

The best homes are built with time, love, and patience. From finding joy in rearranging to celebrating the small wins, I’ve realized that there’s beauty to be found while in living through a remodel in the slow lane.