Remodel, Resize and Redo

By: Madalyn Kiser

I am a Junior at Lancaster Bible College studying to get my bachelor’s degree in Communication.

Word Count: 614

After spending a long extent of time at home due to COVID-19, it came as a shock to

some that their space was not as user friendly after being barricaded inside for months on end.

Rooms started to serve multipurpose functions as COVID-19 reality settled in. Dining rooms

became offices and classrooms, kitchens became playrooms and science labs, living rooms

became a mess and bathrooms a sanctuary of peace (although that may have been the case

before COVID-19). The gift of shutdowns allowed for some people to renovate their homes to

better fit the needs of their family and spruce up outdated spaces.

Wife and mother of three, Sarah Youngstrand, just bought her dream farmhouse before

the pandemic. She has slowly been re-doing each room to better accommodate to modern

trends and fit the needs of her growing family. “I love renovating! Picking out and matching and

searching for how I want things to come together is like a sport to me,” Youngstrand says. “My

husband [Ryan] is amazing at helping me with my visions and doing what we can ourselves

together, and it actually brings us closer as team. We both love hard work and seeing results!”

Updating a house can be simple or very complex and hands-on. For those looking to

invest in a low-budget transformation, “Paint and doorknobs are my number one remodeling

‘tool’,” Youngstrand says. “And a quick fix.” A fresh coat of paint helps to brighten any space

and make it feel like a new room. Currently trending are light and neutral shades because it

opens up the room and allows for a simple, clean and modern look. What’s most important is to
not be afraid of trying something new that makes you happy. Being stuck in the same

environment can become boring, so redecorating can offer an outlet of escape.

Also, many people find themselves in a position of figuring out how to best utilize a

space during the pandemic. “Homeschooling and being home 24/7 has had me think about how

to make our home fit and take wasted space and make it functional,” Shawna Hand, entrepreneur

and mother of four, comments.

Two projects Hand took on included rooms such as her mud room and dining room. She

decided to rip out the laundry room and turn it into a walk-in closet to store her children’s clothes

and the washer and dryer. “To some that doesn’t make sense, but it works for my family and I

realized it’s what we needed,” Hand says. “Before, the space had a random table with some cut

outs that I couldn’t even use, so it just ended up being a junk room.”

Another room Hand tackled was the dining room. As many parents have become familiar

with, the room that once hosted meals suddenly became a bubbling classroom. To accommodate

the space for homeschooling, Hand utilized her hutch and purchased wire bins to store school

supplies and papers inside in order to store schoolwork while also keeping the aesthetic in the

room.

Renovating and thinking of new ways to make a space is so exciting. “It really energizes

me! It makes my home feel new and fresh,” Hand says. “I am not afraid to try new things

because it can always change!” Trends are constantly emerging and new looks become modern

each year. What is important to focus on is what makes you love your house and what allows

your home to best function for your family. COVID-19 has allowed eyes to be opened to what

changes your home is in dire need of and the opportunity to take action. Roll up your sleeves, put

on old clothes and get to work!

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Picture from Sarah Youngstrand of her home that she has done.

Picture from Sarah Youngstrand of her

bedroom that she painted.