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Home Improvements and Decorating: How Much Can You Do in a Year?

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In this post: When it comes to home improvements and decorating, have you ever wondered how much you can do in one year ? Here’s a look at what I accomplished this year.⇒

DIY painted furniture decor

I had grand plans last year at this time.

Oh yeah.  I was going to finally tackle my fear of painting furniture and spend the year refinishing half the pieces in my home.

Technically, I accomplished half that goal, since I did tackle my fear of painting furniture. However, you’re looking at the one and only piece that I finished during the year, above. Rather than fear though, it was a time issue that threw me off, and so it’s still in my plans to re-do several pieces, with one major project upcoming in the very near future.

There. I’ve committed. Now I have to do it.

home improvement finished basement

Today I’m part of a very special blog hop, in which a group of friends and I have gotten together to share with you a review of what we accomplished in our homes this past year, and what we have on tap for 2020. 

This is not about seasonal decorating or tablescapes and the like. It’s more about the improvements we’ve made to make our homes more defined. The changes might be as dramatic as a total room remodel, or be simpler room refreshes that run the gamut from minor to transformative.

Please be sure to visit all the posts linked at the bottom of this one. Then come back tomorrow for another group of bloggers’ posts. I will be posting both days, as today I’m sharing the projects I fulfilled in the past year, while tomorrow I’ll be looking forward at what’s planned for the year ahead.

home improvement basement bar

The funny thing is, as much as hubby thinks I was constantly changing things around our home, this wasn’t a year of huge projects. We’d already renovated our kitchen and master bath in the past few years, as well as adding a butler’s pantry.  I would consider those three renovations to be our largest to date and nothing we did in the past year came close. Instead it was a year of mostly refining, with a few notable exceptions.

Perhaps the biggest undertaking was decorating our basement, an effort I was determined to address with as much care as one would approach any room in the main part of the house. I wanted a space for casual entertaining and that’s exactly what I got. With two separate conversation areas and a bar in between, the spacious room is now perfect for hosting a large crowd for a relaxed gathering.

(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)

The other project that was truly transformative was the remodeling of our main floor powder room. I actually didn’t change that much in the room, but the few changes I made amounted to a total metamorphosis, where the entire spirit of the room is vastly altered. What remains from before looks different in the new space and I am so much happier with the outcome.

powder room remodel

My goal for the year was to work mostly on the upstairs, as I had refined many of the downstairs rooms the year before. As it turns out, only one bedroom was completed, but I was very satisfied with the results.  It went from dark and masculine to softer and more neutral. I couldn’t go too feminine, as it’s still the room my son uses when he stays with us.

We did add molding, rods and drapery panels to all of the bedrooms, but that’s just foreshadowing for what’s to come.

guest bedroom refresh home improvement

Another space that got a pretty significant revamp was the patio. Once again, without changing much of the major furniture, the entire look and style was nonetheless recast, going from bold and classic to softer and more vintage inspired.

home improvement patio refresh

Our family room is a space that I’ve been refining since we moved into our house and this year was no exception. The direction is simple and uncomplicated with fewer “things” on the surfaces, but we also added some technological advances making the room ‘smarter’ and hence life easier.

home improvement smart outlets

Curiously, the changes in the study are somewhat opposite those in our other rooms, where we changed quite a few things, but the net result is far more subtle. A softer rug, a more tranquil wall color, a new settee and office chair, as well as pretty French lamps all add up to a more cultivated space, yet the overall recalibration is really quite inconspicuous.

home improvement home office refresh

Another area I began to update is our upstairs hallway, which started with this fabulous French mirror.  But the project was held up by my procrastination on a painting project, so this one will definitely carry into the new year.

upstairs hall decorating

Not quite a home improvement, but something I still wanted to mention, a goal I set early in the year that I did achieve was to add more printables to the subscriber library. I added wall art, gift tags, jar labels and so much more, including table decor items like menus, place cards and  napkins rings. 

home decor printables

And finally, I had hoped the past year would be filled with organization projects, and I accomplished a few.  But there are so many more in the works that I’ll talk more about tomorrow.

It’s always great to set goals about what we’d like to achieve, but we also have to remain realistic and flexible. With an unlimited budget and endless amounts of time, the sky is the limit on what you can complete in a year. 

But for most of us, any forward movement is good enough. 

home improvements organizing

For our plans for the coming year, you can find Part 2 of this post here: Home Upgrades for the Coming Year

home improvement updates and decorating

Please enjoy all the other posts below:

End of Year Hop Monday 01

Designthusiasm | StoneGable | Shabbyfufu

End of Year Hop Monday 02

The Happy Housie | Southern Hospitality | Sanctuary Home Decor

End of Year Hop Monday 03

Zevy Joy | Nick + Alicia | So Much Better With Age

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

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6 Comments Filed Under: Evergreen Decor, Homestyle   Tagged With: home improvements

« Home Style Saturdays 171 | A Place for Inspiration for Styling Your Home
Home Improvement Ideas: Home Upgrades for the Coming Year »

Comments

  1. Janet says

    Monday, December 30, 2019 at 7:42 am

    Your basement project is my favorite and what a great place to hang out!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Monday, December 30, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Thanks, Janet! It’s actually funny how many of our friends love hanging out down there too… 🙂

      Reply
  2. Barbara at Mantel and Table says

    Monday, December 30, 2019 at 12:40 pm

    Amazing what you accomplished in a year – even with everything else going on! And OH that porch! I love your entire home but your porch (and ok, your master bathroom,) is my very favorite! Can’t wait to see what’s on tap for next year – see you tomorrow! 🙂 ❤

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Monday, December 30, 2019 at 6:14 pm

      Thank you, Barbara!! I think it was easy to do a lot because they weren’t big renovations projects. Let’s see if I get to any of my plans for next year… 😉

      Reply
  3. Jamie says

    Monday, December 30, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    Such amazing accomplishments this year, Lory! I love your basement! You must hang out there all the time.
    Hugs, Jamie

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Monday, December 30, 2019 at 6:14 pm

      Thank you, Jamie!! We do use it a lot, in fact… 🙂

      Reply

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designthusiasm

I enjoy seasonal, even thematic decor, but I'm not I enjoy seasonal, even thematic decor, but I'm not a fan of kitsch. ⁣
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So when I set a table for an occasion, I like to infuse it with a certain amount of elegance, no matter how relaxed the holiday tradition is.⁣
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If you enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day, you might appreciate this pretty spring tablescape with emerald greens that would work perfectly for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration!⁣
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Check it out at the LINK IN BIO.
There's just something about vintage style that I' There's just something about vintage style that I'm so drawn to and when someone has that certain knack for putting things together, magic happens.⁣
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Such is the case with my friend Deb @bvintagestyle who lives in an enchanting historic home that in her creative hands is utterly gorgeous!!⁣
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Deborah's a talented DIYer with wonderful taste and you simply must check out her page for yourself!  I know you will love it!
Have you ever heard the story of my gold chenille Have you ever heard the story of my gold chenille couch that I hated from the moment they delivered it? What about the one about the turquoise southwestern wall unit?⁣
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Oh yeah, I've made some pretty big decorating mistakes over the years! ⁣
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Today on the blog I'm talking all about the biggest and most common mistakes people make, how to avoid them and what to do if you find you've made one yourself!⁣
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Details at my LINK IN BIO!
There's no need to sacrifice style in the family r There's no need to sacrifice style in the family room in exchange for practicality.  You can have both!⁣
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I've always found it so strange when people decorate the living room to be beautiful and never use it and then treat the family room like a junk room and spend all their time there.⁣
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The room in the house that's most used deserves to be treated as such and given the most attention. ⁣
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Check my LINK IN BIO for ideas to keep your family room beautiful and practical, too!
One of my favorite ways to cover our windows is wi One of my favorite ways to cover our windows is with plantation shutters. ⁣
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I love the way they let in the light but allow for privacy, too, are convenient to use and add a note of polish to any room.⁣
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Affordable plantation shutters are great for lightening up your home and can be used seamlessly on both door and windows.⁣
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Check my LINK IIN BIO for details on ours!
Here's the most fascinating thing about my friend Here's the most fascinating thing about my friend KariAnne @thistlewood.  She's full of energy and personality and tons of smarts!  She wears red lipstick and is one of the most encouraging people I know.  If you're feeling sluggish, go get a does of inspiration from KariAnne because she's always more awake than anyone else.⁣
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And yet, when it comes to her home, it's as peaceful and calming as you can possibly image. Yes, it oozes signs of her talent and creativity, but it's ever so serene in the best possible way! I just love this dichotomy because I find both sides of KariAnne to work perfectly together.  Be sure to check out her page to see what I mean.  You won't be disappointed... 🙌😀
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If your lifestyle has changed but your home style hasn't followed, maybe now is the time?
SUBSCRIBE and receive my FREE guide "How to Update Your Style"