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This 2021 home projects recap looks back at a year of room makeovers, practical updates, and changing ideas about how a home should feel. The projects ranged from small refreshes to plans for a future renovation, with plenty of inspiration for making existing spaces more useful and personal.
At the beginning of the year, the project list included several spaces that were later completed. The year also brought a change in household routines and a new decorating vision. After initially leaning toward warm, 1970s-inspired colors, the direction shifted toward a more traditional feel with green and neutral tones. Living in a home before committing to major changes helped clarify which ideas suited it best.
2021 home projects: closets, pantry, and office
The closet makeover focused on improving the space without removing much of what was already there. This low-waste approach made better use of the existing layout, and the finished closet continued to meet its needs a year later. The husband’s closet was also completed.
The pantry received a pink update and better organization. It may be reconfigured during a future kitchen remodel, so treating the work as a first-phase renovation made sense: the space became more useful now without requiring a long-term layout decision. Before refreshing a room that may change later, consider which improvements can be reused or easily adapted.
The office was a favorite makeover, with floor-to-ceiling wallpaper transforming it into a creative space for work and crafts with the children. For a bold wallpaper project, measuring carefully and planning the pattern before installation can help create a more cohesive result.
The guest bedroom was completed in January, creating a welcoming place for visiting friends and family. The children’s bathroom received a smaller refresh, including thick stick-on tile that showed no wear at the time of the recap. Small updates can make a bathroom feel more finished while postponing a full renovation.
Kitchen updates and family spaces
Two first-phase kitchen projects changed the look of the room without a full remodel. A stick-on backsplash added a focal point to the large kitchen and provided a chance to live with patterned tile before choosing it for a future renovation. The second update was a faux-painted marble counter. After six months of heavy use, the counters had a few small wear marks. This type of weekend project can make a noticeable visual difference, but it is worth considering how much daily use the surface will get.
The children’s bedroom was decorated to feel special and settled. When moving with young children, prioritizing their room can help make a new home feel familiar sooner. The family also enjoyed its first season as pool owners, working to prepare the pool as warmer weather arrived.
Other projects included a pink arched buffet and wallpaper in the breakfast room. The wallpaper added personality and contributed to the shift in decorating preferences. These projects show how a few distinctive choices can help shape the mood of a space without changing its entire layout.
Two major changes in plans
One major pivot was buying a smaller, already renovated pink house in the family’s hometown instead of pursuing a larger, more demanding historic renovation. The home was painted pink and furnished in the fall, and the family first stayed there over Halloween weekend. Furnishing it with antique and traditional pieces also introduced a new appreciation for historic decor.
The second major change was revising the mood board for the Tennessee home remodel. Spending more than a year living in the house before beginning significant renovations gave its owners time to understand both the home and their evolving preferences. Waiting can be useful when a project involves many rooms: everyday experience may reveal which changes matter most.
What these 2021 home projects show
The 2021 home projects included finished makeovers, temporary improvements, and decisions to wait before remodeling. Across the closets, kitchen, bedrooms, and new pink house, a common theme was adapting each project to the space’s current needs. Planning in phases, testing a style before making a larger commitment, and living in a home before renovating can all help make future choices more considered.
— Elsie
