Home goals for 2012

Okay, so we're a few weeks into 2012 already, but I hope it's not too late to share a few home goals for the year. Here we go!


1. FINALLY finish the office
This is numero uno for a reason. I first posted about our office redo waaaay back in March; nearly a year later, and it's still in progress! I've been working on refinishing the oak bookcase we scored for free, and I can't wait to show you the final results (eeee!). Once the bookcase is in, we'll be doing some major organizing, since everything is crammed into the closet right now. We've started working on it, but we have a ways to go. We also plan to add some open shelving over the desk for more storage, and we need a few finishing touches -- art, curtains and maybe a new light fixture. Maybe we can call this project finished two years one year after it began? Let's hope. :)

2. Make a proper entryway closet
Now that the washer and dryer have been moved to the basement, we have a nice big closet in our entryway -- score! Except, it's not so functional yet as a closet, since it just has a single high shelf. Not sure what we'll do in here, but shoe storage is a must (I like shoes!). I also want to paint, of course! I was thinking stenciling would be fun, but would it be too much with our tiled floors?

3. Work on our laundry room
The walls have been framed out, but the laundry room still needs drywall and doors, to start. (Someday we'll put in a floor, but that's not a priority for now.) We'd also like to put a countertop over the washer and dryer to make a nice, flat surface for folding and stowing laundry baskets, and to keep socks and lint falling between the machines.

4. Paint that red dining room
We're ready to get rid of the red and make the room our own. What color do you think we should go for? I'm thinking a light blue-gray, but I don't want the room to be too cool.

I'm also pondering painting the living room because of our beige overload. If we paint the living room, the dining room will get painted the same color, since they're open to each other and share a wall.

5. The walkway project returns
My 2011 home goals including putting in a new walkway, which we scrapped to save money for our one-year anniversary trip to Quebec. But after snowblowing last winter and sending that crushed gravel all over the yard, the hubs is insistent we get rid of the rocks this year.

And, as a more general goal, I plan to be more decisive this year. There are times when I procrastinate working on something because I'm nervous it won't turn out right, or I'll change my mind. This year, I want to just go for it sometimes, instead of overthinking things.

What are your home goals for 2012? I'd love to hear what you're going to tackle this year!