I recently realized I’d lost my sense of direction when it came to updating our new home. I wasn’t sure what projects to tackle next.
I’ve nearly finished the office and living room makeovers, but without clear next steps I felt aimless. I also realized I’d missed setting new home goals at the beginning of April for this quarter — a detail I hadn’t followed up on. That prompted a weekend of reviewing the goals I set in January and creating a focused list of projects for the April–June quarter.
Below is an updated, clear account of what I set out to do earlier this year, what’s complete, and what’s on the list for the next quarter. I find breaking projects into three-month chunks makes the work feel manageable and keeps momentum steady.
Progress on January goals
1. Paint — paint, paint, paint!
- Completed: The kitchen, entryway, hallways, butler’s pantry, hall closet alcove, stairwell, upstairs loft, and upstairs hallway were all painted the same neutral and now feel cohesive. I’m very happy with the result.
- Completed: The dining room was painted a deep, moody charcoal that transformed the space.
- Completed: The office walls were painted a soft white that brightened the room and made styling easier.
- Completed: The living room received a fresh coat in a navy hue and is nearly finished with decor.
Result: A+
2. Light fixtures
- Hallway sconce: planned but not yet installed.
- Entry light: have an idea for the right fixture but still searching.
- Office overhead light: planned but deferred until other items are finished.
I haven’t completed these lighting updates yet. I focused on other rooms first, but new fixtures remain on the to-do list.
Result: Needs work
3. The office
- Organizing the space: complete.
- Painting: complete — a bright, clean white refreshed the room.
- Overhead light: postponed for now.
- Blinds for the French doors: still waiting on a supplier for bamboo blinds; this is the last hold-up before the full office reveal.
- New curtains: installed and love how they look.
- Rug: already in place from earlier.
- Desk panels: completed.
- Bookshelf styling: finished and styled.
- Art and wall decor: repurposed existing pieces and hung a calendar and bulletin board above the desk.
Result: A+ — the office is practically done; just waiting on blinds to complete the reveal.
Bonus project: DIY dishwasher panel
- Completed: I finished the custom dishwasher panel and was very pleased with how it turned out.
Result: A+
Home Goals for 2020 (April – June)
With the family home through the summer months, I don’t expect to finish everything, but I’m aiming for three main goals this quarter. My priority is the girls’ shared bedroom and ensuite bathroom, followed by finishing touches in the office and living room.
1. Makeover the girls’ bedroom & bathroom
The girls adjusted well to the new house, but they miss their previous, more personalized rooms. My oldest has been asking to repaint the current lime green walls, so the plan is to give their shared room a fresh, cohesive look. They’re sharing one bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and using the second bedroom as a playroom; we wanted to trial that setup before committing.
- Paint the bedroom walls a soft pink ground color.
- Paint the bathroom walls a clean white to brighten the ensuite.
- Consider an accent wall with wallpaper or a stencil for added interest.
- Purchase bunk beds or a loft-over-full configuration to maximize sleeping space.
- Buy new bedding and update textiles to create a cohesive look.
- Refinish or repaint an old dresser in white if needed.
- Reuse existing wall decor where possible to keep costs down.
- Hem and adjust curtains for a polished finish.
This plan is modest — mainly paint, beds, and finishing decor — but it will likely take a couple of months. Right now one child sleeps on a daybed and the other uses a trundle on the floor; updating the room will help it finally feel like theirs.
Current room image:
I’ve moved the daybed and trundle to the playroom to create seating and extra sleeping space for guests while the bedroom gets updated.
2. Finish the office and share the reveal
- Install bamboo blinds for the French doors to complete the look.
- Wrap up styling and photography for a full office reveal.
The office is nearly finished; I’m excited to share the final room once the blinds arrive.
3. Finish the living room and share the reveal
- Conceal the TV cord inside the wall for a cleaner media setup.
- Find one more piece of art or decor for the last empty wall.
- Completed: TV installed above the mantel.
- Completed: Bookshelves styled and arranged.
- Completed: Curtains hung to frame the windows.
- Completed: Gallery wall added and balanced with the room’s proportions.
Once the TV cord is hidden and the final decor piece is in place, the living room will be complete for now. I plan to replace the ceiling fan and add swivel chairs later, but for the moment I’m focusing on getting the most-used rooms into a good, finished state before buying more furnishings.
Bonus 4. Replace the broken eat-in kitchen light fixture
A light pane in the dining area light fixture cracked and risked falling, so we removed it immediately. That created an urgent, practical reason to find a new fixture that suits the space.
Replacing that fixture is now a priority. I haven’t locked down a complete kitchen vision yet, so selecting the perfect light is a creative challenge — but one I’m excited to solve.
I hope this quarterly approach to home goals is helpful if you’re trying to make progress without getting overwhelmed. Breaking the year into three-month projects keeps priorities clear and helps me revisit and re-plan as life demands.
Off to tackle some painting and shopping — onward with the makeover plans!