Setting home goals every few months helps me keep projects moving and stay on track.
I planned to publish this goals update a month earlier, but with virtual school, sick kids, and the usual January chaos, it was delayed. That’s why I now revisit my home goals every four months—if I fall behind one month, I still have three months to catch up.
I used to set goals annually and then forget them. Revisiting goals throughout the year keeps them actionable and helps me actually make progress.
How I Did on My Home Goals for 2021
If you’d like to see everything we completed last year, check out the Two Years: Before and After Home Tour. Seeing projects collected in one place makes it clear how much can happen in twelve months, even when progress feels slow.
Original home goals posts and highlights from the year included:
- Dining room plans and makeover
- Brick house exterior updates (white trim and black shutters)
- Blue and green traditional powder room reveal
- Kitchen refresh ideas and a small kitchen makeover
- New stair runner installation
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My Home Goals for 2022, Part 1
I learned that big goals around the holidays don’t work well for me—holiday tasks take over. So for the end of 2021 I intentionally set low-bar goals: simply create plans for the dining room, butler’s pantry, and laundry room. I completed that first step, which felt like a win.
1. Complete the Dining Room Makeover
I shared most of the dining room plans in a design post that also showed my initial ideas for the butler’s pantry and laundry room. I’ve adjusted a few details since then but kept the same overall green palette and traditional styling.
Sources I considered: gingham curtains, green wallpaper options, wicker lamps with pleated shades, an ornate brass mirror, an 8-light brass chandelier, trim paint in a green tone, jute rug options, and end chairs. I ultimately tweaked the wallpaper and trim color to suit the light and scale of the room.
Progress update: I’ve painted all the trim in Oyster Bay by Benjamin Moore and installed the brass mirror. The room looked like basic antique wood furniture last fall, and now the painted wainscoting and crown molding make a big difference.
Next steps include wallpaper installation. I’m deciding whether to paint stripes behind seams to hide any gaps; painting narrow stripes where seams land seems like a simple, effective solution.
Still left to complete the dining room makeover:
Paint trim- Hang wallpaper (already on hand)
Hang large brass mirror- Sconces — I replaced planned sconces with antique brass candelabras for the wall next to the china cabinet
- New light fixture (ordered, currently backordered)
- Add trim tape to drapes (ordered)
- Hang curtain rods and drapes (have them ready)
- Paint outlet covers
- Replace seat covers (fabric on order)
- Order a new rug
- Order new lamps and lamp shades
I’m waiting for the budget to align before ordering the rug and lamps I really want, but I’m hopeful everything will be finished before April.
2. Start the Butler’s Pantry Makeover
The butler’s pantry is a tiny pass-through next to the dining room, but I’ve planned several updates and hope to complete them by April. The scope feels small, but the changes will improve both function and appearance.
Planned work:
- Replace the countertop — ideally marble
- Paint the cabinets Benjamin Moore Little Falls (a soft blue)
- Hang wallpaper (already purchased)
- Replace a broken glass pane in a cabinet door
The countertop is small, and since I’ve never replaced one before, I’ll ask around locally to find a reliable installer. The cabinet glass should be straightforward to replace by a glass shop.
3. Prep for the Laundry Room Makeover
A full renovation might be down the road, but for phase one I plan cosmetic updates: beadboard, fresh paint, and small surface improvements to give the room new life without a full gut.
My plan includes hanging beadboard and painting either the beadboard or the wall above it Comfort Gray, paired with Shoji White for trim. I have DIY ideas for the floor and countertops and have chosen a light fixture. I’ll focus on ordering decor, sourcing supplies, and mapping out the first DIY tasks so the makeover can proceed smoothly when I’m ready.
After these rooms are refreshed, I’ll move on to a few bedrooms. I work slowly—two years into living here I’m tackling each space one by one. I’m a one-person team with a modest budget and limited time, so progress is steady rather than rapid. That slower pace has been beneficial: living with a space before changing it has helped me make better design choices.
What are your home goals this year? What do you hope to accomplish? Share your plans and progress in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
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