Do you set goals for what you want to accomplish when a new year begins? I don’t make rigid New Year’s resolutions anymore—those tend to fail—but I do set practical goals for home projects. Having a clear list helps me stay focused and decide what to tackle next, even if I sometimes drift from the plan.
Looking back at my list for 2020, I was a bit optimistic. I didn’t fully account for everyday life, the need for breaks between projects, or how my busiest decorating season from mid-August through December would slow progress. This year’s goals are more realistic and include finishing several spaces that were left about 90% done. I’m notorious for moving on when a project is nearly complete, so this year is about finishing those details.
MASTER BEDROOM
The master bedroom makeover is essentially finished except for one detail: faux Roman shades for the windows flanking the bed. I already have the supplies, but it’s been long enough that I’ll re-measure before I start. Completing window treatments will bring the room together and finalize the look.
If you want to review the transformation and the updates that led to this point, you can search my site for master bedroom posts. The photo below shows the layered bedding and furnishings I chose to update the space.
FOYER REFRESH
The foyer refresh was on last year’s list but went largely untouched—aside from taking down the gallery wall to live with a blank space for a while. Removing the artwork let me visualize the possibilities and ultimately led to a new plan that I finished just last weekend. I’m excited by the result and look forward to sharing the full reveal soon.
GUEST BATHROOM
The guest bathroom has seen some progress—wallpaper removed and floor tile replaced—but it still needs a new vanity, mirror, and lighting to complete the refresh. One small change we made already had a huge impact: refinishing the tub.
The original tub and surround were an off-white beige that made the whole space look dingy. We hired a refinishing company to restore the tub to a bright, clean white, and the difference was dramatic. We’ve refinished multiple tubs over the years with no adhesion issues; the only minor chip we experienced was caused by a dropped wrench during a plumbing upgrade. The refinishing company also removed the glass shower doors and all metal framework, sanding and smoothing those areas so it now looks like the doors were never there—an affordable way to modernize a bathroom without a full remodel.
OUR DECK
The deck is a long-standing item on my mental to-do list and is now officially on the 2021 project list. It spans most of the back of the house, but we rarely use it beyond grilling because we prefer the screened porch when the weather is nice. That said, the deck is in good condition and could use a budget-friendly cosmetic update—new furniture, an improved layout, and some inexpensive decor to make it a more usable outdoor living space. I’ve settled on a furniture arrangement and plan to finish this in spring.
THE MASTER BATHROOM
The master bathroom received a lot of attention last year and is mostly complete, but several finishing touches remain: trim work around the vanities, repainting the dressing table, treating the small water-closet or “potty room,” and creating a faux Roman shade for the French door. These are detail-oriented tasks that will finalize the renovation and bring cohesion to the space.
Two other rooms—our dining room and home office—also received attention last year and are nearly finished. I’m holding off on the full reveals until everything is perfectly styled, but those updates are coming soon.
Overall, this year’s home goals favor finishing details and making affordable, high-impact changes: window treatments, a finished gallery wall, a refreshed guest bathroom with updated fixtures, a practical deck makeover, and the final touches in the master bathroom. Focusing on completing these projects will turn the many half-done improvements into a cohesive, comfortable home.