Home goals are my way of keeping renovation and decorating projects on track. I hope this post encourages you to set clear goals and make plans for your home, too.
I can’t believe it’s already time for another home goals update, but I’m grateful I review these every four months. Breaking the year into shorter goal periods forces me to take stock of progress, readjust priorities, and plan what’s next.
I used to set goals just once a year, and by December many of them had faded from memory. Revisiting goals regularly keeps them actionable and helps me actually finish more projects. This post covers what I’ve done over the last four months and what’s still on my list.
HOW I DID ON MY HOME GOALS FOR 2022, Part 1
If you want to get a sense of the transformations we’ve completed over time, I track entire room makeovers in before-and-after posts. Seeing everything together is a great reminder of how much progress adds up—even when change feels slow in the moment.
For reference, here are the earlier home-goal posts I used to plan and track progress:
- Home Goals 2022, Part 1
- Home Goals 2021, Part 1
- Home Goals 2021, Part 2
- Home Goals 2021, Part 3
Highlights from the past four months:
- How to paint outlet covers
- Installing paste-on-wall wallpaper
- Adding trim tape to curtains for a custom look
- Reupholstering dining chair covers
This post contains affiliate links for convenience.
MY HOME GOALS FOR 2022, PART 2
I kicked off the year focused on the dining room. Working on this space has been a fun mix of new DIY skills and design decisions. The first four months were dedicated to planning three adjacent areas: the dining room, the butler’s pantry, and the laundry room. My objective was largely planning—decide the look, source materials, and set budgets—and I completed that phase for each room.
1. Complete the Dining Room Makeover
We’re almost finished with the dining room. I’m waiting for the rug, lamps, and new lampshades to arrive, and once those pieces are here I’ll share the full reveal. My target is to wrap this room up by late May or early June.
I originally posted a dining room design plan and I’ve shared several process updates since then. During the makeover I made a few adjustments to the original plan, including choosing a different wallpaper and settling on a slightly different paint color for the lower wall. I may revisit that paint choice later, but for now it feels right.
SOURCES: gingham curtains, green wallpaper, wicker lamps, pleated lamp shades, ornate brass mirror, eight-light brass chandelier, decorative pear plate, block print fabric, jute rug, end chairs, trim paint color (Farrow & Ball Card Room Green).
You can follow the step-by-step progress in the dining room posts. I kept a running record of each finished task so the overall timeline is easy to see.
Remaining items to complete the dining room:
Paint trimHang wallpaperHang large brass mirrorInstall sconcesInstall new light fixtureAdd trim tape to the drapesHang curtain rods and drapesPaint outlet coversReplace seat covers- New rug — waiting for delivery
- New lamps and lampshades — waiting for delivery
Budget timing delayed ordering some of the final pieces until March, but those items are on their way now, so the reveal will follow soon.
2. Start & Finish the Butler’s Pantry Makeover
The butler’s pantry is a small pass-through next to the dining room. I planned this makeover months ago but have been held up by budget considerations. I’ve weighed less expensive options, like replacing the countertop with a budget-friendly material, but I’m leaning toward real marble to maintain the look and longevity I want.
Because the pantry is compact, I expect we’ll be able to complete the makeover fairly quickly once the countertop decision is made and paid for—ideally finished by the end of August.
To-dos for the butler’s pantry:
- Replace the countertop, ideally with marble
- Paint the cabinets Benjamin Moore Little Falls (a soft blue)
- Hang the wallpaper already selected
- Replace a broken glass pane in a cabinet door
3. Start and Finish the Laundry Room Makeover
I have a plan for the laundry room but was undecided about flooring. I love the look of marble checkerboard tile and explored multiple ways to achieve that look over the existing floor—vinyl tile, peel-and-stick options, and painted floor treatments. I’ve finally identified the product that will work for phase one and will share the plan in its own makeover post.
Planned updates for the laundry room (phase one):
- Add faux checkerboard flooring to create a marble-look pattern
- Paint the countertops with a specialized countertop paint
- Add beadboard paneling for texture and charm
- Paint the walls and beadboard
- Install a simple window treatment
- Replace the light fixture
A full gut-and-replace would be ideal—new tile, countertops, and sink—but for budget and timeline reasons I’m starting with a cosmetic refresh. I expect the first phase will make the room feel much fresher without the expense and disruption of a full renovation.
I’m excited to share the finished rooms soon. Once these projects are complete, I’ll turn my attention to bedroom makeovers and other spaces. I don’t work at lightning speed—two years into living here I’m still tackling rooms one at a time—but that slower pace has been valuable. It gives me time to live in a space, refine design decisions, and avoid early mistakes.
Working alone on a budget and on a schedule has taught me to appreciate incremental progress. If I’d rushed into every makeover right when we moved in, I wouldn’t have arrived at some of the choices I’m making now. Limitations have helped me slow down and make better design decisions.
What are your home goals this year? What projects are you planning to tackle? I’d love to hear about them—share your plans in the comments.
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