Hi my friends! With our little pregnancy announcement I can officially share a few home projects we are starting to plan! Obviously the baby room, which I will share a design board for that, we are also going to have some fun with the kids bathroom, and if we get a chance before baby arrives, add hardwood to the stairs.
Projects can be overwhelming, thinking about everything that needs to be moved or torn out of a space, finding materials , buying all the things, and the time it takes. I get it. For me creating a project plan before the project even begins makes it SO much easier, it also allows for the project to go smoother.
It doesn’t matter if your project is just painting a wall or tearing out your entire kitchen these tips help for every type of project! So below I have listed the 7 things I accomplish before I even begin a project. These tips don’t take much time, I have done all the prep work for a project in just a day! Trust me, it’ll make your life easier and your project a success!
1. P R O J E C T L I S T
My husband and I have a complete list of all the home projects we wish to one day finish. Obviously we cannot do them all at once or one right after another. They are all listed by importance and by estimated cost. Finding out we are pregnant our list of importance has switched up and that’s okay! Maybe something in your life changes and now the leaky sink under the kitchen has to get done first before the pretty wallpaper in your dining room. So I recommend creating a project list and prioritizing by importance, and yes that may change as things go along.
2. P L A N
Make a plan for the space. This step is so important because it gives you a vision for the space. I like to sit in the space that we are about to do a project in. With a pad of paper and pen write down everything you wish to change. Need more storage? Write it down. Is something leaking or broken? Jot that down. Hate the dated fixtures or hardware? Write it down. Is there old wallpaper or terrible colored walls? Write her down! Do not worry about cost at this point, just get everything down that you want to see changed. Also keep in mind this is YOUR space, do what YOU love! If everyone is painting their walls grey but you love bright and bold, THEN GO FOR IT! This is your space to create goals around your unique style.
3. F I N D I N S P I R A T I O N
Once your goals for the space are written down find your inspiration for the space. My go to is Pinterest. Pinterest is an awesome tool to figure out what is your style and what works together. Its a way for you to be able to visualize what you want going into the space. Say you are wanting to add a new mirror and hardware. Create a design board for this specific project and start saving ideas that you like. This will help you when you start going to stores to look, you will already have something in mind. Again don’t worry about the cost here, you are just getting a picture of what this space is going to look like.
4. C R E A T E Y O U R D E S I G N
This is the fun part! Putting your thoughts together on a design board helps keep you focused on the needs for the project. It won’t let you stray from what you have planned and keeps you on budget! There are lots of free options out there to easily create a board for the space you are working on. I use Canva, super simple to navigate and there is a mobile app, so I can have it on the go. There is also just good ol PowerPoint. The elements I always keep in mind when creating my design board are:
- wall coloring
- flooring
- lighting
- furniture
- storage
- design elements ( hardware, mirrors, decor, rugs, etc)
5. M O N E Y T A L K
Figure how much this project of yours is going to cost and see if its in your budget. The number one thing I find most helpful for this step is literally going to stores and pricing things out. Don’t buy a thing, write down the price for everything, go home and see if that total works for your budget or if you need to change some ideas. For example we added shiplap to our entryway wall, we measured out the wall, went to Home Depot and Lowe’s, priced out the wood we would need, the cost of power tool rentals, cost of materials ( nails, painters tape, paint brushes, etc) and cost of paint. There is a reason you made a design board and now it makes it easy to head to your local hardware store, lighting or flooring store, and find exactly the price of the item you are looking for. Coming in over budget? Find a similar light from say home goods or wayfair, find a less expensive flooring option, hunt for hardware online instead of an expensive home design showroom.
6. S H O P S M A R T
Shop smart not hard. Like I said above whether you are coming in over budget or just have a smaller budget to work with, take each of your design elements and think about how you might be able to do each for less. Here are some ideas of saving some money that you may have not thought of:
Paint – Did you know you can find paint at your local recycle center? Its worth going to take a look and see if something matches the paint color you have in mind. Its free! If not there, your local hardware store also has an “oops” section that goes for a discounted price!
Flooring – flooring can be so expensive! Instead of buying all new flooring maybe consider painting your current flooring or adding peel and stick tile. You would never be able to tell the difference.
Lighting – stressed about changing out lighting because you may not know how or its too expensive right now? Maybe consider painting an existing fixture. It brings all new life to your space!
Furniture – Don’t run out and buy all new furniture before you have rearranged what you already have! please! haha. Most of the time your current layout just needs to be rearranged to create that vibe you are looking for. Consider adding a piece from another room or taking some furniture away. Also what else is paint good for than transforming an old piece of furniture into something beautifully new!
Decor – There are SO many less expensive options for finding decor rather than your local Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel, don’t get me wrong I love those stores, but for some things check Hobby Lobby, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and your local goodwill. There are great finds at these stores, you might just have to hunt a little.
7. B E F L E X I B L E
As you begin your project remember to be flexible with your design. Don’t be afraid to choose a slightly different shade of paint color that you found at your local recycling center, peel and stick flooring instead of all new flooring, or a light fixture that is similar but a little cheaper. Being flexible where you can allows you to save money for the items you are not willing to budge on so you can stay on budget. If you have picked out the perfect free standing tub and that is most important to you, be flexible with your hardware or lighting to make it all work. It will all come together!
Dream it, plan it, price it all out, shop smart for it, and execute! I hope this helps you with your next home project! These steps help me every time to stay focused and on budget.
