Please note: this post is long—feel free to skim or read it in small chunks. This list grew out of questions about how we organize our many home projects. We keep a single running document and have been updating it as we go. Below is a cleaned-up, room-by-room version that separates completed items from remaining tasks and includes a rough percent complete for each area. Consider it a practical home renovation checklist and progress report you can adapt to your own house.
-The Front Yard (25% complete)-
Done:
- Pruned the magnolia and removed overgrown bushes that obscured the house
- Updated several garden beds and added new landscaping
To do:
- Transplant, plant, and trim remaining beds (we’ve completed three of about ten)
- Modify the front roofline—add small peaks to add dimension and better match the house’s rear profile
-The Front Porch/House Facade (35% complete)-
Done:
- Furnished the porch with pieces from our previous home
- Planted shrubs and flowers
- Painted the front door a cheerful yellow
To do:
- Frame the porch columns to be chunky and square rather than ornate
- Stain the concrete porch floor for a more finished look
- Paint the porch and siding a moody gray with crisp white trim
- Add window boxes and shutters where appropriate
-The Carport/Garage (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet
To do:
- Plan and convert the carport into a proper garage (decide on windows, doors, and layout)
- Add a trellis arch around the new garage door for a lush, finished look
- Replace the light fixture with a larger, lantern-style fixture
-The Living Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls and hung curtains
- Gray-washed the ceiling beams
- Added a new sectional and a large rug appropriate for the room’s size
- Built a console and upgraded the TV
To do:
- Fill bare walls with art and add corner furniture near the kitchen
- Build or upcycle a larger media cabinet for the TV
- Add an armoire or tall bookcase by the sofa window
- Install French doors for the doorways leading to the deck (three doors total)
- Convert the kitchen fireplace into a double-sided fireplace that opens to the living room
- Create a coffered ceiling by boxing the existing beams for a more luxurious look
- Refinish the floors at a later date
-The Office (85% complete)-
Done:
- Built a custom desk and added functional storage
- Painted and upholstered thrifted chairs
- Painted and stenciled the walls
- Updated the chandelier with fresh color, bulbs, and a large shade
- Added a comfortable chair and file cabinet
To do:
- Decorate bare walls and add window treatments
- Install French doors between the dining room and office for privacy and architectural interest
- Refinish the floors eventually
-The Hall Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain to the ceiling
- Added window trim to balance the space and hide a demo hole
- Installed a new light fixture above the mirror
To do:
- Paint the walls and frame the mirror
- Update the vanity with paint and new hardware
- Add a window treatment and new knobs/hinges
- Accessorize to complete the room’s style
-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-
Done:
- Installed a favorite frame collage and a console table—we’re happy with the space
To do:
- Add a patterned runner to the floor
- Refinish the floors eventually
-The Small Hallway (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet
To do:
- Add wainscoting or wallpaper above it, crown molding, and art
- Replace the light fixture and swap hollow-core doors for solid paneled ones
- Refinish the floors and refresh knobs and hinges
-The Dining Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls and the back of the built-ins a deep teal
- Made curtains, selected a large round table, and hung art
- Added a vintage buffet and layered in accessories
To do:
- Define the entryway area with art and furniture
- Personalize the yard-sale art over the buffet
- Install a statement light above the table
- Decide on dining chairs that feel right or replace existing ones
- Build a large lazy Susan for the table and refinish the floors
-The Laundry Room (95% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls, removed shutters, and frosted the glass side door
- Painted cabinets, replaced hardware, and added built-ins
- Replaced appliances, swapped laminate for cork flooring, and hung art
- Created a clothespin chandelier and wall-mounted the ironing board
To do:
- Consider a window treatment (this room is almost finished)
-The Kitchen (85% complete)-
Done:
- Primed and painted paneling and brick, replaced appliances with energy-efficient stainless steel
- Opened the kitchen to the dining room, improved lighting, rearranged cabinetry, and painted cabinets with new hardware
- Replaced counters, tiled a floor-to-ceiling backsplash on one wall, added floating shelves, and built a ventilated microwave cabinet
- Installed a range hood with a custom wood cover, swapped to dark cork flooring, and added stools and art
To do:
- Finish the peninsula back, add window treatments, and consider a chalk or message board
- Upgrade crown molding, cozy the sitting area by the fireplace, and add trim to cabinet tops
- Possibly beef up the range hood and consider repainting the walls
- Eventually reface the fireplace with a chunky wood mantel and a stone or tile surround
-The Playroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet; the room currently stores project materials
To do:
- Clear and organize project items, then paint, furnish, and accessorize
- Convert the daybed into a built-in style with a trundle for sleepovers
- Refinish floors and refresh hardware
-Clara’s Room (80% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, hung curtains and art, and moved in her furniture
- Installed a sentimental capiz chandelier and built a play kitchen
- Redesigned the closet to include stamped walls and a cozy reading nook
To do:
- Hang additional art, add crown molding, and consider ceiling paint or a stencil
- Refinish the floors, refresh hardware, and adapt the room if family needs change
-The Sunroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Temporary furniture from our first house is in place, and the room holds project materials
To do:
- Paint lofted walls, whitewash the brick, and furnish thoughtfully
- Add window treatments, upgrade the fan or install a favorite light, and replace doors with French doors
- Consider built-ins or shelving, ceiling details, and new flooring
-Our Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Removed dated bifold doors in the sink nook and improved the sink area’s look
- Added a new bed, painted the walls, installed a playful chandelier, and made an upholstered headboard
- Hung art and curtains and rearranged furniture
To do:
- Convert a deck-facing window to French doors and furnish a bare wall
- Consider raising the ceiling to follow the roof line for a cozier peak
- Update the sink vanity, possibly tile the back wall of the nook, and add French doors for architectural interest
- Refresh hardware, finish the closet, and refinish the floors
-Our Bathroom (75% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain, painted the walls, added art, and refinished trim
- Frosted the window, replaced the toilet, and swapped the old ceiling light for a pendant
- Replaced dated border tile with white glass subway tile
To do:
- Phase two includes retiling the floor (possibly gray hex tiles) and reglazing beige tiles white
- Refresh door hardware
-The Guest Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Painted and furnished the room with leftover pieces, plus curtains and a mirror
To do:
- Add crown molding, hang art, and refresh the mirror’s finish
- Replace worn furnishings, update hardware, and refinish the floors
-The Guest Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Removed an awkward door mirror, added a shower curtain, bath mat, new mirror, light, and art
To do:
- Paint, possibly replace tile, install a glass shower door, frost the window, refresh hardware, and hang more art
-The Basement Workshop (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet
To do:
- Clear the clutter, organize tools, and create a functional workshop with storage, wall displays, and a painted concrete floor
-The Side Lot (10% complete)-
Done:
- Planted two trees
To do:
- Plant more trees to naturalize the area into an orchard-like space
-The Deck (60% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared vegetation, secured county approval, demolished the old balcony, framed the deck, and installed deck boards
To do:
- Finish railing and steps, furnish with dining furniture and planters, add lighting or a pergola, and landscape for privacy
- Create a paver patio beyond the deck for the barbecue
-The Patio (70% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared the area, leveled and prepared the base, laid pavers with a custom curved edge, and landscaped around the patio
- Built a rock box for Clara and installed a rain barrel
To do:
- Furnish the patio, add lighting, and create outdoor play features like a chalkboard or slide
-The Backyard (0% complete)-
Done:
- Built a compost bin
To do:
- Remove invasive ivy and clear overgrown beds to create more lawn for kids and dogs
- Remove unused brick paths, plant trees for privacy, add raised beds for vegetables and herbs
- Transplant shrubs, reseed lawn, repair the basement door and screen, build a swingset and a storage shed, and consider a modest in-ground saltwater pool
We’ll complete many of these projects over the next few years—our first house took 4.5 years—so we’re taking the long view and enjoying the process. Our order of projects is flexible: we tackle what we’re excited about, while prioritizing safety or urgent needs. Bigger projects stay on the back burner until we’re certain of the plan and budget; smaller wins keep momentum and motivation strong. What about you—how do you track home projects? Paper lists, apps, or something else? How do you decide what to tackle next?
Psst—see our floor plan post and the Current House photo gallery for more details and images that help clarify many of the major layout changes and completed projects mentioned above.