This year Mark and I have decided to focus on finishing home improvement projects around the house so that we can move on to some new dreams and goals! To stay on track we decided to do a “project of the month” each month. This way we focus on one thing at a time. And we break the larger goal of “finishing our house” into smaller, achievable tasks! We’ve created a free printable home improvement project planner to help us and you reach your home improvement goals!
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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When you make a home “to do” list, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You don’t even know where to begin…so you don’t! Those list items continue to stress you out, but you never actually DO anything about it! Sound familiar? Tell me I’m not alone
So here’s a challenge…just start! And I’ll tell you how! Start by printing out the free Home Improvement Planner worksheets below, or just grab a paper and pen. Write down a list of projects you’d like to complete. Make sure each item is 100% achievable. Don’t write something like “finish the kitchen”. That’s too vague. If you do have a lofty goal like that write it down, but then break it down into achievable tasks. For example… “make a Pinterest board of kitchens I like” or “pick a cabinet colour!”
FREE PRINTABLE HOME RENO PLANNER
If you are a super-planner like me feel free to fill out the entire year in advance. If you find that overwhelming, just fill out the current month and take it one step at a time!
Our projects this year range from repairing a few holes in the drywall to completely redoing our downstairs family room! Quite a few areas of our house including the exterior are currently about 90% complete. It’s time to finish the last 10%!
OUR RENOVATION PLANS
The Exterior
When we put a mudroom addition on the side of our little bungalow last year, it morphed into a major remodel of the entire exterior!
The house is almost unrecognizable now! Home improvement definitely achieved!! We can’t wait to finish the new deck and add patio lights and seating! We also plan to build a big garden/greenhouse area out back. And a moody chicken coop is already in works!
The Interior
There are lots of projects that still need to be finished inside as well. Mark doesn’t know it yet (he’s a fill out the planner one month at a time sort of guy), but I’d like to add some trim around the house just to finish it off a bit more. For example, the little half wall we built in the living room to make the guest entrance could use some detail!
The
Update: We’ve finished the bathroom refresh. You can see it in An English Country Style Small Bathroom Refresh!
And then there’s the basement! It contains a family room/playroom, guest bed and bath, and my laundry room/office down there as well as some extra storage. We finished the basement when we first moved into the house in 2008 so that we could live in it while we renovated the main floor.
We have plans to turn the playroom into an airy and bright space that will work for our family as the
Update: We finished the family room in the fall of 2020. We appreciated the extra space during the unexpected extra time at home!! You can see the finished space in 7 Ways to Create a Cozy Basement Family Room.
Our house is far from perfect or “finished”, but I’ve learned over 10 years of renovation to enjoy the process. A house will always be a work in progress. The secret is to remember to be grateful for what you have and how far you’ve come!
I hope you will find this home improvement project planner useful. Remember to “Make your home dreamy, even if it’s not your dream home!”
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Love hearing about your pace to get some projects done this year! Love the planner idea too
Thanks my friend! Excited to see what we can accomplish in 2020! Can’t wait to see more of your beautiful projects as well!
Your ideas are unique and very helpful. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us.
Love the wall paint color, may I ask which one did you use??? Thank you!!!!