This is going to be a fun year! Since 2021, we've moved slowly regarding projects. Guys, I'm not 25 anymore. DIY is physical and tires me out. Add to that busy family life with 3 kids, health issues (nothing serious, but enough to affect our capacity for other things), and simply using our budget other places besides renovation, and well...maybe I'm describing burnout. Whatever the reason, both Joe and I decided, this year needs to be a year of progress! We're being realistic about it- we'll never be a couple who pumps out monthly renovations- but we're putting our foot on the gas just a bit and I'm excited for the journey! Here are the home projects we plan to tackle this year not necessarily in order.

1. Entry

The entry has definitely improved- take a look at that before! We wallpapered it and added Crown Moulding which were major upgrades. However, it doesn't function well for our family. In August, I ditched the console table for a the prettiest bench and this year we'll finally make it beautiful and functional. Our plans include adding trim and pegs to the wall, swapping the rug and light fixture, and giving it a fresh coat of paint. 

2. Guest Bath

Almost immediately after painting, I hated the guest bath color. Since the photo above, our sink has cracked and the floors have sustained water damage. Since it's a space guests see, it's becoming harder and harder to unsee. Frankly, bathrooms intimidate me. So far, we've added added wall treatments, trim, art, and paint to our bathroom and the kids' bath, but have never done a full renovation. This one won't be too crazy- the footprint will stay the same but we'd like to add beadboard (maybe wallpaper?) a new vanity, toilet, and flooring. We also plan to make the little nook into a utility closet. Can we do it? Stay tuned to see!

3. Primary Bedroom-ish

I've never planned our primary bedroom outside of an initial coat of paint (side note: it's Sherwin Williams Cascades and hands down my most asked about paint color) and bed purchase. Everything in the room has always slowly evolved- often due to collaborations- but without the kind of thought and intention needed to really make it sing. Our plans for this room include flooring, wall trim, and new furnishings. I say "ish" because depending on budget, it may just be flooring and paint this year. We'll see...

4. Kids' Playroom

At one point, we made the playroom into a temporary guest room. Shortly after that, it became storage while we renovated the office. And it just hasn't recovered. It used to be adorable and organized but lately, it's largely ignored. Dax loves to lug our extra TV in there (anyone else have a TV that doesn't technically have a home?) and game but with no seating or TV stand, it's a sad set up for sure. We plan to add a loveseat and a TV and sideboard. If space permits, we'll add some sort of game (maybe a small foosball table or wall mounted arcade game?), and small table for Lego or crafting. Of course I plan to add fun decor and accessories and I've been dying to wallpaper a ceiling...Let's see what we come up with!

5. Carpet

I told Joe what I don't want is to replace the carpet just before listing the house. I want to enjoy it while we're still in this house. We were starting down that path last year until a few unexpected and costly repairs hit. Following those expenses, we took several big [read expensive] trips and no regrets. ha. But it's time!

6. Kids' Bath

I still love the kids' bath. It just needs a little refresh. The flooring is peeling and I'm afraid the subfloor is going to rot if we don't do something about it soon! I grabbed these and can't wait to install them. But I can't stop at replacing the floor. If you give a mouse a cookie...I might as well swap mirrors and maybe the light fixture too. Stay tuned!

We've been in our home for 9 years and I wish it was "finished." At the same time I'm comfortable moving at the speed of cash and our energy level, neither of which is limitless. ha. We haven't touched the laundry room, the garage needs serious help, and our kitchen could use a refresh. But we'll cross that bridge in 2025. By then, everything else will be in a good place and we can really put our all into the heart of our home. And then we'll move. ;)

What are you planning to tackle this year? I'd love to hear about it!

First, swap the rug. Depending on the size of your room, this is an easy and affordable way to change the look. If the rug I'm replacing is in good condition, I sometimes sell it to offset the cost of the new rug. And something I do often (and is free) is move rugs around. Our dining room rug has been in several other rooms at some point. I love how cozy this rug makes the room feel. It's incredibly soft and perfect for my rambunctious kids to roll around on. 

throw blanket  |  striped pillow  |  olive fringe pillow  |  black "Dahlia" pillow

Secondly, swap or add throw pillows. I love Xasmin Interiors and Jasmine (the owner and a friend) was so kind to help me choose beautiful pillows that would compliment the new rug. Highly recommend her shop! 

Lastly, change the art. The old art was beautiful but always felt a bit serious for the room. I swapped it with this beach art- Shallow by Lauren Neilson- which is perfect for our beach-loving family. The room already had some coastal elements in it so this art fit in perfectly.

Another thing to consider is changing your shelf decor- Sometimes, I'll change shelves by shopping my home and rearranging things without spending a dime. Small furnishings are also a great way to give a space a fresh look. In our case, our coffee table had broken (An assembly error on my part- I loved the old table and recommend it) so I grabbed this generously sized coffee table. It's real wood, under $350, and quick ship. Can I get an amen? 

By changing these few things the room looks brand new. This is also a great way to work around a large furniture item you're not yet ready to replace like a sofa, dining table, or bed. In fact, I talked about refreshing a dining room inexpensively here.

What do you think? Do you prefer the new more neutral family room or the old one with the moody art and colorful rug?

If I missed anything, comment below! You might also like these posts:

A Fun Family Room Loft That We'll Want to Hang Out In

How We Added Storage and Style to Our Neglected Family Room

Thank you Juniper Print Shop for sponsoring this post.

This post is sponsored by At Home Stores. All opinions are mine.

I've been sharing looks for less (or "dupes" as I call them on Instagram) for as long as I can remember. It seems I'm always drawn to higher priced items but my budget doesn't always comply (not cool). Sometimes even if budget isn't an issue, I just don't want to spend it on a particular item. Enter, the look for less. Not only am I going to share my top tips on finding a look for less, I'll also share the challenge I took on with At Home Stores to create a look for less version of a higher-priced look. Here we go!

One of my top tips for recreating a look for less is to shop in person at stores that promise it! If you've followed for awhile you've probably seen me take you down the aisles of At Home Stores- a place that has everything you need to decorate your home for less- i.e. my kind of place. And I love that while it's less expensive than other stores, the items look just as great. Here's an example:

I took 'look for less' to the next level by styling an entire space with items I found at At Home. Here's my inspiration from the lovely McGee and Co:

Not every item in this space is currently sold on McGee & Co, but those that are- the basket, lamp, rug, and planter cost a total of $1537. 

Now here's my Look for Less 

I purchased the rug, 3 pillows, 2 nightstands, 2 lamps, a quilt, 2 throw blankets, art, 2 baskets, and accessories for $870. What?! I chose Dax's room because it seemed like the perfect place to add some colorful spring touches. At Home has amazing spring decor and outdoor sections to shop from.

If we use this look for less as an example, we can see a couple of my other tips in play. For instance, we may not be able to match every single item, but matching colors is the easiest way to recreate the look and one of the things I love about At Home. They have rows of pillows that pretty much cover the rainbow. And you can now shop their site and reserve for pick up in the store!

Another note, if you see a standout item- in this case, it's the throw blanket (I die!), try matching the style or vibe. The beige throw mimics the handmade feel, the grey throw layers in color, and the textile art brings in that cool global vibe.

Another way I find looks for less is by using Pinterest. You can tap the little magnifying glass at the bottom of an image to see similar items. This is one of my favorite 'tricks' for finding similar items.

Lastly, peruse catalogs and bookmark items you like, that are trending. Over time, trends find their way into stores with lower price points where you and I can snag them! An example is the urn style lamp in the photo above. And while there were way too many designer inspired items at At Home to share, take a look at this gorgeous fringe stool for a steal! McGee & Co sells a similar one for 9 times the price! I also couldn't get over the Grace Mitchell White Tree Trunk Stool very similar (albeit smaller) to the Serena & Lily trunk side table that sells for over $1000.

But one more look at the inspo and my look for less version. How did I do?

Dax's Room Before and After:

In January, I worked with Ace Hardware to renovate Dax's room. It was a super fun and quick renovation and we were so happy with how it turned out. 

Dining Room Before/December 2019:

Dining Room Before/February 2020:

Dining Room After/March 2021:

The Loft Before and After

Primary Bedroom Before and After:

Pantry Before and After:

Gallery Wall Before and After:

The Guest Bath Refresh