It is our sixth holiday season in North Carolina. We're living in our fourth house during our thirty-five years of marriage. I loved all our homes for different reasons. Four houses may be a few for some but a lot for others. I'm wondering, if you're anything like me, do you ever get the urge to move or live in another house or area? I do, and I can't say I know why. I drive through a beautiful neighborhood or visit another state or even a different country and ponder how it would be to live there. I don't think it negates my contentment, but perhaps it expresses my desire for exploration. Maybe it would be fun to live downtown or who wouldn’t want to live on the water? A dreamer I have always been! One thing is for certain, I love older homes, and our current one fits the bill. However, once in a while I need a new perspective. So, what do I do when I need a change? I rearrange!

First, let me tell you what triggered my latest idea.

After Thanksgiving, I started decorating for Christmas. We always get our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, but not this year, and honestly, it was okay! I'm usually anxious to decorate for the holidays; however, since we'll be in New York this Christmas, I suppose the sense of urgency was lacking. I started decorating the house little by little. About a week into the process, our tree was selected, not cut down by us as tradition would have it, but times have changed. Once acclimated to the indoors, I put the lights on the branches and enjoyed it for a day. I took the ornaments down from the attic and arranged them on the table, only to repack them and return them to storage. What was left was a bare tree with white lights, and I was pretty satisfied with my minimalist decision.

Meanwhile, a conversation ensued at a recent gathering about how my brother and I, when we were kids, would rearrange our living room when my parents went out for the night. I don't know why we thought this was okay, but I remember feeling quite satisfied with our accomplishment. I also don't understand why my parents weren't annoyed; I certainly would be since I'm a bit of a control freak! Reminiscing about that escapade got me thinking!

My mind was all a flutter, and set in motion was the urge to rearrange. One might think it would be best to wait until after the holiday since my house was more or less complete with Christmas decor. Still, I dreamed of lounging on our oversized sectional and watching Christmas movies, and I couldn't let the vision go! I needed to convince my husband since I could not do this alone. I gingerly approached the subject, all my arguments ready, and I made a relatively good case. Thankfully my son was around to help move some of the heavy pieces. 

It all came together one late Sunday afternoon and into the evening hours. There was a moment or two of panic when the design was not as I envisioned. Once all the furniture was in its new spot, I shifted and tweaked all the pieces until I got it to the point of, wow- this looks great! Thank goodness it was a success because I would have to live with the consequences of my action. 

What once was a grand dining room is now a comfortable family room (with a big sectional for TV viewing). The living room is still a living room but with a more sophisticated flare. The smaller TV room (technically, a guest room by original design over eighty years ago) is now a cozy, more intimate dining room. 

This room switch gave me a whole different space to feel excited about. I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the new layout, which isn't new, just a rearranged way of living. So, are you ready to see the rooms changed? Take a peek below.

The picture right above is the new living room.

In the slides below, pictures 1,2, and 3 are the “old” living room. Picture 4 is the “new” living room.

Pictures 5 and 6 are the “old” dining room and pictures 7-10 are the “new” family room (previous dining room)

Picture 11, is from our former TV room which is now a dining room shown in pictures 12-15

So, there you have it. I highly recommend switching things up if you feel like you need a change. Even if you can’t switch rooms around, as I did, perhaps consider moving a piece of furniture or paintings or even just decor items. When you see your “stuff” in different spaces, you get to see them in a new light- and I think that can bring some satisfaction, at least until the next urge comes along.