The Hidden Cost of Overhauling Your Entire HouseEnergy-Efficient Upgrades That Pay Off 19

Back in 2019, I stood in the hallway and realized I couldn't stand it. Not in a dramatic kind of way. More like when you stop liking something without noticing. Like your old phone case, or a shirt that never quite fits.

It was claustrophobic, and there was this weird patch where the paint flaked like old glue. Just a wall. But somehow it felt like it was part of the issue. Of what? No idea. Everything, maybe.

I didn't set out to get into all this. I planned to tidy up a bit. Maybe clean the skirting. Then I nudged some old panelling, and underneath… well. Orange and brown. Looked like it was straight out of the ‘70s. The kind of wallpaper that makes you frown.

And that's how they get you. You touch one thing, and the house gives in like it was plotting.

Next thing I knew, I was learning things I'd never heard of. Architrave. I developed a taste for undercoat brands. I read reviews like it was a sport. Still don't know why one caulking gun's $12 and another's $48, but I'll fight read more you over which is better.

But this wasn't just about fixing things. It was about realizing something felt wrong, and that I was tired of tiptoeing. I used to avoid a creaky floorboard by the bathroom even after I fixed it. Muscle memory is stubborn like that.

Some days went well. Some didn't. I once installed a towel rail upside down and didn't notice for weeks. Only realized it when my sister flipped it and asked why “off” turned the light *on*.

But that's part of the ride. You laugh, and then suddenly the space feels… yours. Not perfect. Not staged. But not borrowed anymore. That wall? Still narrow. And the paint line by the stairs? Wobbly. But it's earned.

It's not about trend boards. It's about saying no to stuff that makes you sigh at 7am. If you mess up, just call it character. That's what I do. Or at least that's what I tell guests.