First, let me say I’m sorry to have been off the budget design grid these last few weeks. No, I haven’t been overly busy at work, or off on a fabulous adventure. I’ve been hiding, avoiding and feeling stuck, which does nothing to help spark the creative fire. I’ve been undergoing a personal renovation of sorts, and no one wants to see (or show) the demolition part.

Renovation is, “the process of improving a broken, damaged, or outdated structure.” And yes, it is most often applied to buildings, but what does it mean in relation to our lives and our spirits? I believe there is something to this renovation narrative that speaks to us on a deeper level. All of us are in the process of designing our lives, and at some point we may come to the conclusion that things need a major change.

But here’s the thing I’m realizing, which probably explains why I haven’t written a blog post or set foot in HomeGoods for nearly a month (and trust me, that NEVER happens in my world).

You cannot decorate your way out of a renovation.

Before there can be renovation, there must first be a demolition. Once you wake up and realize that a change is at hand (be it the house you inhabit or the place where your soul resides), grab your grubby clothes and all of your tools, because you’re in for some WORK.

So what happens now? The unglamorous scraping, sanding, removing of dry-rot and hauling out crap that has been taking up space happens. You’ll be tired, frustrated and just want it to be over. You’ll go to bed, sore from head to toe, wondering why you opened this Pandora’s box in the first place.

Once all the sledge-hammering of walls and ripping out of dated kitchen cabinets is done, something wonderful will result. Space will be created for the fresh and the new. You will be able to redesign and rebuild from this foundation, and create a new space with greater function and flow. And, by the way, you’ll get to decorate that space in a way that reflects your exciting new vision. WHEE my favorite!

When you stand back and take in the empty room, ask yourself: What do I want to put in this space? What colors would make the room pop? Let a vision start to come out, maybe from things you’ve seen in magazines or on a certain four-letter design channel, or from a deeply personal place that holds a longing to marry your bohemian and elegant sides.

Tune in to yourself and ask: where am I right now? Am I decorating when I really need to be renovating? What needs to go in the dumpster? It’s so tempting to jump all over yourself for not having started sooner, but give yourself credit for having recognized the need and taking a first step.

At the end of the renovation road, there’s a big reveal waiting, where you can ooh and ahh at the BEFORE and AFTER. Take it all in, and feel proud that all you have created is the product of your hard work and dedication. I’m currently in the post-demo phase, but I already feel more open and happy to have cleared some energy-clogging junk away. I have all of the tools for this renovation, and I’m excited to twirl around the empty space and play with possibilities. And of course, make a visit to my local HomeGoods.

Stay tuned…