Last Updated on February 4, 2025 by Stacy Averette
If simple, real-life, budget-friendly makeovers inspire you, this post is for you. If you’re looking for Pinterest-perfect design images, you must look elsewhere. The beautiful projects on the internet have inspired me to make my home a beautiful, cozy haven for my family, and that’s precisely what I’ve done.
I don’t do a project with a blog post in mind. I don’t follow trends. I don’t have expensive tools or impressive DIY skills. And I certainly don’t have a team of people to help me. But none of that prevents me from doing my best to help my children create their own cozy bedroom that suits their style.
I’m Cutting In
It’s an ordinary Friday morning, and I have big plans for the downstairs bedroom, which has been recently vacated.
Our youngest son is more than ready to make it his own. His #1 request is to paint the walls. Easy enough.
I gather my painting supplies, round up my trusty paint-rolling sidekick, and get to work. I prefer to “cut in,” but my screamin’ hamstrings remind me that rolling requires no ladder. And, yes, I’m painting in a skirt because my painting pants are too tight. Too-tight-painting-pants plus screamin’ hamstrings is a recipe for grumpy. “When Your Painting Pants Are Too Tight” is an entirely different post. Can we go ahead and blame it on Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls?
We’re done with the painting by lunch and he’s pleased with the results.
The Decorating Dance
He begins moving in. We help a bit with the furniture move, and then we bow out. In this decorating dance, he leads. Tribal Smokestone is not my preference for wall color, but it’s just a wall, a house, and a room—his room, his space, his haven— his place to think, play, rest, and pray.
He requested wood flooring, but after some research (thanks for your help), we decided against the time and money investment. We take the opportunity to talk with him about our budget, savings, and choices we make about money. It was a sweet, teachable moment, for sure.
The After Party
There are no Pinterest-perfect pictures here. Just a room decorated with love. Oh, yeah. For a moment, I compare the “after” with photos I see online. The words form in my mind and mouth to suggest change, edits, and “that doesn’t look good there.”
But the Holy Spirit, packed in the rooms of my heart, cuts in on dark words and paints a “Why?”
He covers my desire for unattainable perfection with a generous coat of grace. He rearranges my heart’s priorities to make room for a bigger picture only the eyes of faith can see.
He invites me in.
I see rust and dust and broken pieces.
He invites me in.
I look closer this time.
I see an old soul, a collector of bits and pieces of history and story. I see a thoughtful and sentimental boy-man with imagination and faith. I see the clothes of a growing boy and the Truth of his growing faith.
Motherhood is bittersweet.
“I love it, son.”
He embraces with words of gratitude. “Thank you, Mom.”
His name means “whole-hearted” in Hebrew. I chose the name years ago when the choices were all mine.
My servant Caleb has a different spirit
and has followed Me completely. Numbers 14:24
He’s living up to his name—this boy is becoming God’s man.
It’s extraordinary what God can do in the middle of an ordinary Friday with a willing heart and a can of paint.
Fast Forward
Today, this young man has a wife, a baby, and a home of his own. He’s created a beautiful life for himself, and I’m thankful to have a seat at the table. I’m thankful for God’s hand in my life and his.
I love this – the transformation of the room & the heart as well as your beautiful story that reminds me the middle matters. I really love how you talked about him inviting you in and then you sharing what you saw. I’m glad to find this post at Britta’s place this week.
Letting go of the decision making is so hard…and starts with something like the color of paint or which shirt. It looks like it’s turning out pretty good so far! I have very stretchy painting pants that I can’t wait to get on again…and if they don’t fit…I may just have to go for a cute skirt!! (visiting from meet me in the middle!)
This is beautiful–the room, Caleb, and your heart! 🙂
Thank you, Mandy.
Your story has me all teary-eyed again! I know what you mean Stacy, I often see myself coming up short when I look around. I need to listen harder for the Lord’s encouragement — I know His ways are so much higher than mine, He sees my heart and knows my intentions. As we prepare to move, my Joshua is praying for a Caleb, a like-minded friend. I think yours is about 6 years older than my Josh. But it is an encouragement to him to keep praying for that! Love you, friend. And also, I think we could do a series together: “Why I don’t wear pants anymore”…and it has nothing to do with the Bible and everything to do with chips & salsa, ice cream and mid-life hormone shifts!!