There used to be a clear progression in home ownership: You bought a starter home when you were young, built equity, then cashed in when prices rose and leveled up to something bigger, newer, or with the features you really want. And if you bought a house that didnt live up to expectations, or if your situation changed without warning (hello, unexpected third child!), you would list the place and move to a better option.But increasingly, that seems like an artifact of a bygone age. Its easy these days to feel stuck in your current homebecause of that amazing mortgage rate you locked in years ago, the eye-watering cost of a house these days, or some other issue. If thats you, dont despair: Maybe you cant sell and move right now, and an expensive whole-house renovation or addition might not be in the cards, but theres a lot you can do with your current home to make it work for your family and lifestyle without needing to launch a Kickstarter.Work with itIf youre stuck in your current house, your first step is to assess what you have and look for ways to make it work for you. This doesnt have to involve an expensive major renovation or addition projectthere are probably a lot of resources already in your current home that youre not using to their full potential, such as:Closets are potentially versatile spaces that can become home offices, pantries, or even small spare bedrooms.Home offices dont have to be their own roomaside from that tiny closet, you can fit an office under a lofted bed, in the corner of your bedroom, or under a flight of stairs.Hallways are often overlooked as usable space, but if yours are wide enough, you can cram seating or library space and even a sleeping area into your hallways.Second (or third) bathrooms might not be in the cards if your house (and budget) are small, but if you just need a practical solution, you can actually create a usable bathroom just about anywhere in your home without any plumbing whatsoever.Storage is one of the biggest reasons people feel like theyve outgrown their homes, but you might be surprised at how much extra storage you can carve out of your house if you put your mind to it.Laundry facilities in the house are one of the greatest gifts of the modern age. If your current home lacks a washer, a portable washing machine might make things more tolerable for you until you can find a place with laundry hookups.By using every inch of your homes potential you can find ways to make it meet your needsat least for a while.Start overSometimes all you need to make a house work for you is a reset. A cluttered, crowded house can have a negative impact on your mental health in general, which will obviously affect your feelings toward your home. Rooms filled with boxes cant be used for their intended purpose, and the constant sense of disruption and unfinished business can make a home feel less than comfortable. Decluttering and organizing your home can make it feel almost new.And this doesnt have to be a monumental project requiring time off from work and an extra therapy sessionstart with one room. Clear it out completely, clean and freshen it up (a coat of paint can make a room feel brand-new), then re-imagine it. Even if it remains a storage room, making it neat and tidy will make it usable, which will make you more positive toward it and thus toward the house. Repeat for each room at your own pace, and youll slowly gain back that sense of pride, control, and ownership you had when you first bought the place.Look outwardMaybe youve explored the spare square footage and decluttered like a champ, and there are just things your current home cant give you. Space is finite, after all, and there may be no super creative solutions to give you that space or functionality you need.If youre stuck in your home for the time being, you might find contentment by looking elsewhere for whats missing in your house. No space for a workout? A gym memberships got you covered. No spot for even a tiny office? A co-working space nearby might work. If your closets are bursting, hauling seasonal stuff to a local storage unit can give you your house back. While the ideal might be to have all these things conveniently in your house, stashing them away temporarily will at least meet your needs until you can make some real estate moves.PersonalizeIts funny: You go through all the trouble and expense of buying a house, and then you work very hard to keep the place neutral for potential resale. You never use the bathtub, but you keep it because its good for resale value. You choose paint colors and design elements that are broadly in line with what most people want in a house.This can result in a house that never feels like yoursits like living in someone elses house. If youre going to be in this house for the time being, one way to feel better about it and make it work for you is to go in the opposite direction: Lean into personalizing the space. Choose colors and furniture pieces that make you happy, display your collections and art pieces, DIY whatever you want or need to in order to use the space the way you want to. If part of whats driving your desire to move is a sense of not being comfortable in your current home, working to make it as comfortable as possibleresale value be damnedmight solve the problem.