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Embracing the Simplicity of an “In-Between” Home

The moving truck had just pulled away when someone offered a piece of advice I’ll never forget: “Don’t fall in love with this house — you can’t have it for long.” I laughed, but inside I already knew it was too late. I had fallen in love.

After living here for two and a half months, that affection has only deepened. I appreciate the bright, functional kitchen, the cheerful wall color, and the effortless flow of the open-concept living space. Small details—two well-designed bathrooms with glass doors and ceramic tile, a thermostat that warms the house quickly, and a cozy deck tucked beneath a tree—combine to make this place feel like a genuine retreat.

This house is more than shelter; it has become our “in-between” home—a comfortable, welcoming place that cares for us during a season of transition. It’s tempting to worry about what comes next, but I’m choosing to savor the present instead: to notice the ways this house supports our daily life and to be grateful for the small comforts it offers.

We’re in the unusual position of looking for our first long-term home after 25 years of marriage. The local market is competitive and unpredictable, and the house we eventually choose this fall could look very different from the one we love now. That uncertainty is daunting. I’ll admit I feel more fearful than excited at times.

Still, dwelling on “what if” doesn’t change the future. So I’m practicing presence: enjoying the good light in the mornings, appreciating a well-organized bathroom, and relishing the ease of a comfortable heating system. By focusing on today’s blessings instead of tomorrow’s unknowns, this “in-between” season becomes rich and meaningful rather than anxious and fraught.

Recently I’ve been reading work that supports this exact approach to home and life. Melissa Michaels wrote a book some years ago called Love the Home You Have: Simple Ways to Embrace Your Style, Get Organized, and Delight in Where You Are. More recently she released Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying. Her ideas about clearing clutter, curating spaces around what truly matters, and embracing the home you live in now feel especially timely.

Her books and writing have offered practical advice and gentle encouragement through moving and settling in. I’ve found her tips on planning a move and simplifying possessions helpful as we prepare for the next step. What resonates most with me is the idea of making deliberate room for what we love—both physically and emotionally—so the home we live in can reflect the life we want to lead.

That process is already beginning. I’ve started clearing out a storage room and sorting through things we won’t take forward. This is part of the larger work of “making room”: assessing what truly serves us, letting go of excess, and organizing the essentials so they bring joy and function. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s intentionality.

As we prepare for buying our first long-term home, I’ll keep learning, editing, and cherishing this season. This in-between house has been generous to us—warm, efficient, and thoughtfully appointed. For now, it’s our haven. We’ll make practical plans for the future, but we’ll also continue to live fully in the present, appreciating the small comforts and everyday beauty that make a house a home.

Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying is a helpful resource if you’re preparing to move or simply want to create a more intentional, clutter-free home. I’ve been working through it slowly and finding its ideas both practical and encouraging.