In 2022, we will have lived in our house for 18 years. That seems so crazy but our son was just shy of his 1st birthday when we moved in. Needless to say, it has endured many years of family life, including kids and dogs. Over the years, we have tackled a few home renovation projects, some by choice and some out of necessity, due to water leaks and home damage.
Over 5 years ago, we completely remodeled and upgraded our master bathroom, which was the start of some ongoing projects over the years that have taken the look of the home and kept it up to date. There are, however, some projects still in need of tackling, so I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of home improvement goals for the year and how we can tackle each of them without breaking the bank.
Flooring
We have not changed our flooring in this house since we moved in. It is a major project with a big price tag that has been on our list for the last several years. We are hoping this will finally be the year we can change the original tile floor and carpet. New flooring is one of those projects that impacts every room in the house but we also have held off due to other more important projects and allowing some time for the kids to grow up a little more and not have to worry about wear and tear as much.
My Daughter’s Bedroom
We did an update to this room a few years ago and painted a custom design on her back wall, got her a desk area and a hanging chair. It was the perfect room for her early teen years but we kept her original princess bed and nightstand. Now that she will be turning 16 this year, she is ready for a more grown up, simple space. Most of the updates will be budget friendly and DIY, such as repainting the walls and updating the bedding and accessories. The biggest expense in this room will likely be a new bed but after 12 years with her big girl princess bed, it is time for something more adult. This is one of the first projects we will be tackling for the year.
Kids Bathroom
When we moved in, we did some very minor updates to this room with flooring and painting the cabinets, but it still has the original 70s style bulbs over the mirror and has sustained some water damage over the years. Because this is a much smaller project than our master bath, my husband plans to tackle this one on his own, maybe with some help from my son. This room will likely be in the mid-size budget range as it will require some new flooring, cabinetry and lighting.
Home Office/Guest Bedroom
We have made some small updates to this space with new canned lighting and a smaller bed and console table but the office space can use some refreshing with a new desk and chair along with some artwork on the walls. Not a complete overhaul but some small refreshes that will make a huge difference.
Dining Room/Formal Living Room
We have spent most of our home renovation budget over the last couple of years on our kitchen, casual dining and family room and backyard. Our front formal living room has always been an afterthought for us (cue the leftover old furniture) and our formal dining room is rarely used except for the occasional game night. The dining table is still in very good shape and a beautiful piece of furniture handed down from my mom but the chairs need to be put out of their misery. The space has also become my husband’s guitar studio so finding a way to keep all of his equipment organized and out of the way will be another challenge. I’m not sure this room will be a major focus for us this year, outside of some small updates and, of course, the biggest change of all, new flooring.
Backyard
My husband has spent the last few years upgrading our backyard and it is finally at a place where it needs some minor work and landscaping. Last year, we invested in some furniture out there and would love to finish it off so we can enjoy it over the warmer Summer months.
We may be biting off more than we can chew but by sitting down and outlining the goals we have for our home this year, it allows us to really examine our budget and prioritize based on both our needs and wants. What home projects are you taking on this year? There is nothing easy or ever simple when it comes to home projects but if you stay patient and don’t overextend yourself financially or personally, you would be surprised how much you can accomplish.