How many of you set goals each year? I love setting goals for both personal and professional growth, and making our home a place we truly enjoy is no exception.
In previous years I set goals at the start of the year but then worked on them haphazardly. I wasn’t consistent about planning, tracking progress, or holding myself accountable. This year I’m trying a different approach.
I’ve found I can realistically focus on three top priorities each day and three main goals each month. So for our home projects I’ve chosen just three top goals at a time and I’ll re-evaluate every three months. It sounds slow on paper, but I expect this will help me move faster and with better focus, avoiding overwhelm and scattered energy.
Reflections on the Old House and Goal Setting
Looking back at my 2019 goals helps explain why some projects lingered. Two main reasons held me back on major renovations.
First: I hesitated to invest in big updates because we weren’t planning to stay long. I kept watching the market for the right long-term house, so spending a lot of money on short-term improvements felt risky.
Second: I worried about over-improving for the neighborhood. In hindsight, with the market and the homes that sold quickly, those updates likely would have been fine. Still, I didn’t want to spend heavily and not recoup costs when it was time to sell.
Now that we’ve moved into a house we plan to stay in for decades, I’m fully committed to making thoughtful, lasting changes. Being in a neighborhood with higher-value homes means renovation investments are more likely to be recouped, and I feel excited to make meaningful upgrades.
Review of 2019 Home Goals
Here are the goals I set at the start of 2019 with brief reflections on how they turned out.
1. Living Room. Grade: D-
I planned to replace the rug, add chairs by the fireplace, and build a coffee table and end table. I bought a table saw at the end of the year but didn’t unbox it until later. We did ultimately buy a new couch, although delivery timing meant it arrived after we moved.
- Change the rug — completed in 2018.
- Buy chairs for the fireplace — completed.
- Build a coffee table — postponed.
- Build an end table — postponed.
- Replace the couch — purchased but delivered later.
2. Fireplace. Grade: F
I wanted a reclaimed beam mantel, added architectural detail, and a solution for the beige tile. Because we planned to sell, I left the fireplace largely untouched so new owners could personalize it.
3. Girls’ Bathroom. Grade: A+
This was a success. I refreshed the space with new paint, updated art, and feminine, playful touches that gave the bathroom personality and function. It became one of my highlight projects of the year.
4. Guest Bedroom & Office. Grade: F
This room moved slowly. I managed to acquire a desk and a comfortable office chair, paint the walls, and add curtains, but other storage and furniture changes were postponed. Ultimately we needed the space for full-time office use, which influenced later decisions to find a new house with a dedicated office and guest bedroom.
- Desk with filing — obtained earlier and used.
- Curtains — installed.
- Office paint — completed.
- Office chair — purchased and comfortable.
- Daybed and trundle — postponed.
- Additional storage and bedside updates — postponed.
5. Master Bedroom
I wanted a refresh: new art, a proper bed to replace a DIY headboard and metal frame, updated lamps, and possibly refinished furniture. We replaced lamps, got new beds and a rug, but several items remain on the list for a future update.
My Top Home Goals for 2020
Our new house needs work in every room — from paint and finishes to fixtures and storage. Over the next 5–10 years I plan to update nearly every space, but I’m limiting my focus to three main priorities each quarter so progress is steady and realistic.
For the next three months my priorities are:
1. Paint — Whole-house paint plan
Painting will be a major focus. Rooms that connect visually will be painted the same color for flow, and I’ve prioritized the most visible areas first:
- Kitchen, entry, hallways, butler’s pantry, hall closet alcove, stairwell, upstairs loft and hallway — these connected spaces will be painted the same color for continuity.
- Dining room.
- Office.
- Possibly the living room, if I choose a color that feels right.
2. Light fixtures — Update and elevate lighting
New lighting is a high-impact update. My immediate lighting goals are:
- Install a beautiful brass sconce in the hallway where a fixture was removed during the move.
- Replace the entry light with a fixture that fits the home’s style.
- Add an overhead fixture in the office for better task lighting.
3. Office — Create a functional, inspiring workspace
I’m prioritizing the office because it’s my hub for planning and creativity. A finished office helps me tackle the rest of the house more effectively. Key tasks include:
- Finish organizing the space for efficiency.
- Paint the walls a clean white (Shoji White is the current plan).
- Install the overhead light noted above.
- Add bamboo blinds to the French doors for privacy and texture.
- Replace old curtains with new panels and hang them properly.
- Style and organize the built-in bookshelves for function and display.
- Create or order art for behind the desk and other focal walls, then hang a calendar and artwork for a practical, beautiful workspace.
Bonus: DIY Dishwasher Panel
The dishwasher that came with the house failed, so a replacement was purchased. Building a custom panel to match the cabinetry is a high-priority DIY task and will likely be one of the first projects I complete.
Limiting my focus to these three (plus one bonus) projects for the next 12 weeks helps me avoid feeling scattered. Rather than juggling dozens of to-dos, I can make meaningful progress on a handful of high-impact items and then reassess for the next quarter.
I’d love to hear your home goals—what are you aiming to accomplish this year?