How I Determine Which Projects To Tackle Next

I was thinking the other day about how it feels like I haven't really done all that much in the house lately.  I mean, it's not like I haven't been extremely busy with work and all.  But doing work on the house is actually relaxing and therapeutic to me.  So I'm kind of missing it a little bit.  I've been keeping a list of each room since I bought the house with projects that I have wanted to do.  I guess putting it on paper keeps me from forgetting what I want to do and putting in order what I want to tackle next.  It's also nice to see when things get checked off.  Like I've accomplished something.  

Sometimes the decision on what to tackle next is based on 1) how easy it is to do or how quickly I can get it done, 2) the importance of getting it done- like not doing it will drive me crazy and 3) how much it costs.  I've finished some of the expensive projects on the list so it's not like I do all the cheap fixes first and leave the expensive ones for last.  But I will be honest that money is definitely a factor and since I'm not made of it nor do I have tree in my back yard growing it, I do have to put some things on the back burner even though I'd really like to get them done now (or already have them done by now).  

One example of importance vs cost vs annoyance factor is this:  I really really REALLY wanted to rip out the carpets downstairs the first day I moved in and install dark wood floor throughout.  I figured it would be easiest to do since there was no furniture  in the house yet.  BUT here's the thing.  The carpet was brand new and in perfect condition.  The flooring was pretty pricey since it's going to be the entire bottom level of the house.  But finally, the annoyance factor- while I might really love the look of the dark wood floors, the carpet didn't annoy me all that much.   My plan is to live with the carpet for at least 5 years and see how it is holding up at that point.  Given that it's just me in the house there really isn't all that much wear and tear on it on a daily basis.  So i could be even longer before I replace it.  But I'm definitely looking forward to the day that it's completed.  I think it'll change the entire look of the house.  

On the other hand- even if I didn't know the direction a room was going, I couldn't live in a house with white walls.  I mean, just institutionalize me now.  So you will see from the lists below that some (ok a FEW) of the rooms have already been repainted.  Or have on the list to be repainted.  I figured that a $25 gallon of paint, even if it wasn't the right color, was well worth spending even if I knew I was eventually going to need to redo it the next year.  The annoyance factor won out in that battle.  

So for you and my entertainment, below is my list- which is always getting things added to it- of each room in the house and so far what it on and/or completed so far.  

Kitchen

• Paint cabinets
• Install bead board on cabinet ends and island
• Paint walls
• Switch out boob lights
• Add ceiling fan in breakfast nook
• Purchase table and chairs to breakfast nook
• Tile back splash
• Stainless appliances
• New cabinets
• French doors to patio
• Flooring
• Crown molding
• High baseboards
• New chairs for pedestal table
• Remove wire shelves from pantry and replace with wood
• New door trim on all doors

Powder Room

• Paint walls
• Swap square mirror for decorative mirror
• Repaint walls
• Flooring
• Crown molding
• High baseboards
• Artwork
• New door trim on all doors

Laundry Room

• Paint walls
• Remove wire shelves
• Install wood shelves
• Bins and baskets for shelves
• New door trim on all doors

Living Room

• Paint walls
• Find low dresser piece for TV
• Paint dresser for TV
• Add ceiling fan
• Hang artwork
• Flooring
• Crown molding
• High baseboards
• Area rug once floors are installed

Dining Room

• Find dining table and chairs to redo
• Paint chairs
• Redo cushions on chairs
• Install new light fixture over table
• Find and paint piece to use as buffet/sideboard
• Hang artwork
• Build new dining table
• Find new chairs for dining table
• Flooring
• Crown molding
• High baseboards

Hallway/Stairs

• Paint walls
• New lights for top and bottom of stairs
• Artwork for up the hallway
• Stain wood railings and spindles
• Convert stairs to wood
• Paint front door (inside of house)
• Entryway- tile vs same floor throughout?
• New door trim on all doors

Front Spare Room

• Paint walls
• Change fabric on bed
• Build higher headboard
• Find dresser and nightstands
• Paint dresser and nightstands
• Hang artwork
• Find chair
• Repaint and recover seat
• Paint mirror
• Hang mirror
• Install ceiling fan
• Hem curtains
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards
• New door trim on all doors

Back Spare Room

• Paint walls
• Build bed
• Cover bed with fabric
• Install ceiling fan
• Repaint walls
• Paint furniture?
• Switch out artwork
• Treatment for white duvet cover?
• Curtains need something??
• Hem curtains
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards
• New door trim on all doors

Game Room

• Paint walls
• Paint artwork
• Hang some add’l artwork
• Recover chaise lounge
• New rug
• New lamps
• Put up bookcases and organize
• Decorate
• Install surround sound
• Repaint walls
• Find new desk
• Refinish new desk
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards

Hall Bathroom

• Paint walls
• Buy/paint decorative mirror
• Paint cabinet
• Install bead board on end of cabinet\
• Install new towel bar
• Update faucet
• Tile flooring
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards
• New door trim on all doors

Linen Closet

• Remove wire shelves
• Paint walls
• Install adjustable wood shelves
• Clear out some of excess
• New door trim on all doors

Master Bedroom

• Paint walls
• Install ceiling fan
• Repaint walls
• Seating for foot of bed
• Wardrobe for closet?
• Remove wire shelves in closet and replace with wood
• Paint closet
• New light fixture in closet?
• Add artwork
• New curtains
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards
• New door trim on all doors

Master Bathroom

• Paint walls
• Paint cabinet
• Install bead board at end of cabinet
• Install new towel bar
• Install new vanity light
• Install molding around mirror
• Repaint walls
• Hang artwork
• New vent fan/light fixture
• Install pot light in shower
• Tile floor
• Re-tile around tub
• Re-tile around shower
• New vanity
• New faucets
• New mirrors
• Crown molding
• High Baseboards
• New door trim on all doors

Garage

• Install pegboard for hanging tools
• Work bench
• Install tracks for tools
• Paint walls
• Paint door trim
• Install more shelving
• Get rid of bricks
• Use old baseboards to finish off walls
• Caulk window
• Paint window ledge
• Get rid of/sell unnecessary stuff

Outside

• Form flower beds
• Do landscaping
• Paint floor of screened porch
• Paint ceiling of screened porch
• Install fan in screened porch
• Recover patio furniture with new fabric
• Build paver patio
• Privacy fence
• Top soil for back yard- regrade
• Seed back yard
• Enclose screened porch
• New door on screened porch
• Build a fire pit utilizing the extra bricks
• Work on grass
• Build sectional for patio

After looking at all of the things that have been crossed off, I don't feel so lazy.  But there are definitely a lot of things left to do.  Some of them are more just for aesthetics or my personal preference- like higher baseboards, crown molding and the new door frames.  I personally like them better than the builder grade stuff that is in the house and it'll make the house have more character and be less builder block.   I knew going into purchasing the house that these three things were of high importance to being in my home.  Unfortunately, I won't be tackling the baseboards or door frames until I do the flooring.   But maybe the crown molding is something that I can do in the next year, especially in the lower level since the paint colors will stay the same. 

Some of the projects that I plan to tackle over the winter months are:

• Painting the garage
• Paint the door trim
• Building/installing more shelving in garage
• Building the sectional for the patio 
• Finding a new desk and re-painting it

There will probably be a few crafty things thrown into the mix as well.  Hopefully I can stay on target and get the above done by the time spring rolls around because I'm really going to focus on the yard in the spring.