At last — I’ve finally sat down to put my plans and goals for our home into words for the year ahead.
When I moved into this house last year, there were plenty of things that needed attention. I tackled the most glaring issues first: odd paint colors and outdated light fixtures were replaced, and many rooms already feel much better. Still, there’s a long list of spaces I haven’t fully refreshed yet, and I plan to address each one over time.
So far I’ve mainly painted several rooms, and in the powder bathroom I replaced the mirror and light. The master bathroom (beyond paint), the laundry room, the guest bedroom, the dining room and the playroom are all still on my to-do list. I work on this home on evenings and weekends while balancing motherhood, cooking and daily life, so progress happens incrementally.
Budget is another constraint. I don’t have a large renovation fund, so I try to balance affordable updates with investing in higher-quality pieces when they’ll last. We’ll be here for many years, so I’m prioritizing items that will stand the test of time — even if they cost a bit more up front.
Last year I experimented with quarterly goal-setting, revisiting plans every three months. Because the holiday stretch is always chaotic and it’s already February, this year I’ll review goals every four months: January–April, May–August and September–December. That gives each block a clear focus and room to adjust.
How I did on my Home Goals for 2020
I won’t repeat everything here — I recently shared a detailed Before & After Home Tour that documents most of last year’s changes. If you’re curious, that post shows how much the house has changed in just one year. You can also find the original 2020 goal posts on the blog for more context.
My Home Goals for 2021, part 1
January through April
For the first four months of the year I’m focusing mainly on the exterior and the garage — areas that were neglected last season. With warmer weather approaching, it’s the right time to make these improvements.
1. Get an Estimate for Painting the Trim & Shutters
This Cape Cod-style house has lovely real shutters and detailed trim — but the previous owners favored yellow, and nearly all the trim is painted a pale yellow that doesn’t suit our taste. My first step is to get quotes for repainting the trim and shutters.
I also plan to pressure wash the front steps and clean the exterior surfaces before painting. The back porch ceiling is currently a light yellow as well; I’d like to repaint it a traditional “haint blue,” a soft pale blue often used on southern porches.
For trim color I’m considering Benjamin Moore Simply White and for shutters and the front door a deep charcoal like Benjamin Moore Graphite — a soft black that works well outdoors. I’ll test paint samples on poster board and view them at different times of day to confirm the choices before committing.
This is phase one: updating shutters and trim and replacing the front porch light. Phase two, later on, will be a more involved transformation where we’d like to limewash the brick with a masonry finish to lighten the exterior.
I love the look of a limewashed brick exterior and I’ll keep that vision in mind while we save for the full makeover. For now, trimming and shutter work will make the biggest impact for the least disruption.
2. Fix the Grass
Last summer a lawn company accidentally damaged large sections of our yard while treating weeds, leaving brown, burnt areas. They didn’t correct the problem, so we recently hired a new lawn service. They recommended waiting until spring to restore the turf properly.
It’s not glamorous, but replacing and repairing the lawn will dramatically improve curb appeal. I’ll document the process and share what worked to bring the grass back to life.
3. Finish the Kitchen Makeover
The kitchen refresh has been a slow burn. The mood board and earlier progress are already on the blog, and the next step is to finalize a few remaining pieces so the space feels complete.
The biggest hold-up was finding the right counter stools: swivel stools with backs, a generous weight limit, non-upholstered and in a style I love. I decided to save up for the stools that fit the criteria, and they finally went on sale — I ordered them immediately. Shipping is slow right now, but they should arrive before March and I’ll share the reveal once they’re in place.
Another near-term priority that connects to the kitchen is the stair runner leading into the space. I postponed this last year, but intend to shop samples and place an order soon so the entry flow feels cohesive and finished.
Once these finishing touches are in place — and possibly a new faucet if the budget allows — the kitchen will be ready for a proper reveal.
4. Organize the Garage
The garage is a project I can’t put off any longer. When we moved in we dropped everything inside and never sorted it. It’s a roomy two-car garage that should be able to fit vehicles again once organized.
We’ll combine cabinets, open shelving and wall-mounted storage to create a functional system. This is one where I’ll get my husband involved since his spring schedule makes him more available for projects.
What’s Missing?
You might notice I didn’t include finishing the master bedroom on this short list. It’s at a comfortable stopping point for now, and I prefer to focus on outdoor and practical spring projects first. The master may be completed later in the summer.
Writing these goals down made a difference immediately: I’ve already requested an estimate for painting the trim and shutters and started planning the garage layout. Putting plans into words helps priorities move from ideas to action.
I’d love to hear your home goals for the year — feel free to share them in the comments.