Happy 2024! Today I’m sharing home project ideas and plans for 2024 and hope to inspire other retirees to take on a few home projects of their own.
When approaching retired life, one thing Bill and I strongly agree upon is our desire to keep a well-maintained and updated home. It seems like something around the house is always in need of repair or updating. One of our goals as retirees is to stay on top of repairs year-round, as well as make annual updates to our home, thus avoiding needing a major overhaul down the road.
We sat down recently (in front of the fireplace over a hot cup of coffee) to discuss home project ideas for 2024. And after coming up with plenty of ideas, we narrowed our 2024 list down to five projects: 1. something undone, 2. something fun, 3. something creative, 4. something big, and 5. something practical.
Before jumping ahead to 2024 and our home project ideas for retirees, let’s take a quick look back at a few of the home projects we’ve tackled as retirees.
Retired Life and a Look Back at Home Projects
If you follow along with us on Instagram @pennypenningtonweeks then you know that we’ve taken on two big projects since our retirement: 1. our kitchen and 2. our porch ceilings. Both projects snowballed and included much more than originally planned, but we’re thrilled with the end results.
Our Kitchen Remodel
Our first major home project as retirees was updating our kitchen. It seems like we spend more of our waking hours in our kitchen than any other room in the house. So, it made sense to the two of us to update our kitchen as a retirement gift to ourselves (rather than taking a trip of a lifetime like so many new retirees do).
The kitchen counters and backsplash needed to be updated. And our Saltillo tile floors were in dire need of repair. The project quickly expanded to include new hardwood floors rather than repairing the Saltillo tile, new countertops in not only the kitchen but also the laundry room and mudroom, new paint on the cabinets and walls, new farmhouse sinks and fixtures, plus so much more.
The end result was not only a remodeled kitchen, but also a remodeled laundry room and mudroom plus 1200 square feet of new white oak floors and new paint in the corresponding spaces.
Updating Our Home’s Exterior
Now that our favorite space in the house was updated, we decided to take on the exterior of our home. Our plans started with an interest in upgrading our porch ceilings on both the front and back porches and expanded to include repainting (and repairing) the exterior.
As the project evolved into a complete exterior paint job, we realized that all of the fascia and soffit needed to be replaced before the exterior could be painted. So, in addition to replacing the porch ceilings, our carpenter replaced the rotted wood on the exterior of our home.
At the end of the project and after several hiccups, delays and project additions, we had replaced the porch ceilings as originally planned, added 4 new ceiling fans to the back porch, new lighting on the front porch, replaced all of the rotted wood on the exterior, stained the new porch ceilings, had the exterior of our home painted and all of the exterior doors sanded and stained.
We are quickly learning that our initial project ideas can quickly become a can of worms.
A Look Ahead: Home Project Ideas and Plans for 2024
1. Something Undone: Furnishing the Front and Back Porches
Our exterior has good bones again, fresh paint, new ceilings and new light fixtures. But the project is a bit undone. We still need to update the furnishings and take care of a few details on our front and back porches.
To complete the project, Bill is planning to tackle storm door selection for the front porch, and I plan on having a bit of fun deciding on furnishings, mostly needed for the back porch. We also plan to work together to create container plants for the area.
Regarding furnishings, I plan on keeping the front porch simple, mostly plants and our current teak seating. And on the back porch, we plan to keep our large dining table and potting bench. I would like to add a seating area (or porch swing) to the back porch plus a cabinet for Bill’s fishing tackle. And of course, more plants.
Action Item: If you’re planning to tackle a project or two this year, start your list with something undone…a project that you didn’t quite finish.
2. Something Fun: Adding Color to the Half Bath
I have been wanting to update the smallest room in the house, our half bath. We have a half bath in the foyer at the foot of our stairs. And it’s boring. It feels empty to me.
The half bath is this year’s fun project, the project is not necessary, it’s not too big and it shouldn’t be too expensive. I’m also determined that it won’t get out of hand.
The good news is we recently replaced the toilet and the sink faucet. Plus, I love the current sink. So, the project doesn’t require a complete overhaul of the space.
I also have a vintage chandelier that a friend gave me in trade for part of my Fire King jadeite collection (that’s a story for another day). I’d like to use the chandelier for lighting in the half bath and as my inspiration piece in the space. And to add color, I plan on wallpapering the room and updating the artwork with a few vintage pieces.
Action Item: Even the smallest project can be fun…updating your pantry or spice drawer, painting your laundry room or using a vintage piece to inspire a home project. Pick something fun to get you started as you work to update your home.
3. Something Creative: Creating a Gallery Wall in the Foyer
Our foyer is two stories and includes stairs up to the second floor. At the moment the wall, up the stairs, is completely blank. I’d love to add artwork to this space and possibly create a gallery wall.
In the past, I’ve considered creating a gallery wall with vintage artwork, but my plans have changed in light of a recent discovery about Bill.
During our trip to Maine last fall, Bill and I visited the Farnsworth Museum, and we discovered our mutual love of American artwork. I have always enjoyed paintings by Grandma Moses and Edward Hopper. And Bill is drawn to art by Andrew Wyeth.
But we had never shared our love of American artwork with one another. I’m hoping to take this new tidbit of information and create a gallery wall that both of us will enjoy.
Action Item: Choose a home project that lets you get creative with artwork, vintage pieces, textiles or something else that you love.
4. Something Big: Refreshing the Master Bedroom
The potentially biggest project for 2024 is refreshing our master bedroom.
We could keep the project simple with a new paint color and new bedding.
But during our brainstorming session (remember the cup of coffee in front of the fireplace?), Bill shared that he would like to explore adding hardwood floors to the master. And I shared that I would like to hire a carpenter to rework the outdated built-in in our bedroom.
To get the project rolling, I’ll start with getting an estimate on hardwood floors. We’re thinking white oak floors stained in a neutral color. The same floors we had installed during our kitchen remodel.
I also need to chat with our carpenter about the built-in. The same carpenter that redid our porch ceilings. These two bits of information should help us decide if we should GO BIG or keep the project small.
After that, I’ll do a little digging for inspiration photos to share with Bill and create a mood board before moving forward on the project. I’ll keep you updated!
Action Item: It’s time to put your thinking cap on…and do a bit of brainstorming. What space in your home needs to be updated? And what step do you need to take to get that big project rolling?
5. Something Practical: Creating an Office Space for Me
Finally, I need a new desk. Actually, I need a dedicated office space. As I’m typing now, I’m sitting in a corner of our master bedroom at a desktop computer on a folding table.
I have been searching for a vintage desk on Facebook Marketplace but have not found the right piece. This is the year that I either find a vintage piece or replace this piece of plastic with a brand spanking new piece of furniture.
I have also considered taking over one of the bedrooms upstairs and creating a dedicated office space for me. Bill thinks I won’t like being upstairs and should just update my corner (of the bedroom) office with a new desk, but I would love having a real office.
So, my plan is to find a desk AND test the waters by creating a temporary office upstairs during the master bedroom refresh. Walking the stairs a few times daily might do me good!
Action Item: Identify a practical project in your home, something that would make your life easier if you took the time to tackle it.
A Closing Note: Retired Life and Home Project Ideas for Retirees
I hope that our list of home project ideas for retirees encourages you to tackle a project or two in your home during 2024.
As a retiree, I spend more time at home than any other place. I’m not a constant traveler and adventure seeker. I prefer the quiet and comfort of home.
And, I want to create a home that is beautiful, comfortable and welcoming. It’s a continuous process, it’s a slow process and it can be an enjoyable process. Some of the projects we’re dreaming about will require us to hire help and some of the projects we can complete on our own.
Each contributes to a comfortable retired life at home.
Cheers to Retired Life, and as Always, Happy Gardening!
X Penny Pennington Weeks
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These are great suggestions coming at just the right time for me. So many home projects live in my head at any time, it can become a bit overwhelming. So, I’m going to take your advice and make my list, possibly in front of the fire with my cup of hot tea over the next day or two of bad weather.
Hope you’re list is coming along! Be sure to add a simple project to the list, even the little changes can make a big difference.
I love your project plans for 2024 and look very forward to seeing them come to life. I think the office upstairs is a fantastic idea and will be a fun space to design and decorate. Great post!
Yes! I think you’re right…an office upstairs is the way to go.
I love following you and your ideas. The new projects will be amazing. You and Bill have inspired me to try my hand at making Sourdough bread this year. Have fun with your projects!
Have fun with your sourdough project! It tastes so good, even the loaves that don’t look so great. Enjoy!
I’m sure 2024 projects will be as beautiful as the others. We share a home office and I’d love my own. Go for it!
Your powder bath ideas sound lovely.blue is my favorite color. Before it was cool, I painted ours black and it was gorgeous! Gold fixtures etc. This was back in the late nineties for that. 😂 It’s so true, what’s old is new again.
Thanks for the encouragement. I’m looking forward to setting up my own office and tackling the half bath. I love gold fixtures, too!
I planted paper whites for the first time! Thanks to you!!!
I planted paperwhites for the first time! Thank you!
You’re so welcome. It’s so nice to have winter blooms.
-Penny
Thank you for your “first” newsletter and your plans for this year . Speaking of sitting by the fire planning all this; I have decided to add a fireplace-to-be for our living room . We can’t have a real one but some of the electric ones are quite pretty. We will add a real one to our backyard dream list. We moved from California to Tennessee with a bit of real property so have a blank slate yard wise. Your newsletter is giving me a boost to get at it! Starting our list! Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by the blog and for sharing your ideas about creating a fireplace! It sounds very exciting! One of my friends has an electric fireplace and it is beautiful.
-Penny
Hi Penny!
First time reading/devouring/enjoying all the posts you’ve written about Retirement Living.. wonderful from start to finish..everything.
I do have a comment regarding whether to devote a room for your “office” or whether to carve a corner of your bedroom for a desk/workspace..
My answer from personal experience.. take the room and make it truly your office..
a place for inspiration.. here you can have your mood-boards.. a table for planning projects ..bookcases for reference/inspiration..No need to keep everything bottled up on the computer!
In my office I have designated work spaces as well as storage for implements and reference.. Not only do I write, I also paint, craft and sew..but my passion is photography.. Also included is my CD player for music.. there is a TV..altho rarely watched.. If i’ve works in progress, no need to put away.. ready at a given moment when inspiration hits! Also the door can be closed for privacy when i’m away from home (4 Feline rescues reside with me)
The purpose of my office is to accommodate my creative ventures.. whereas, my bedroom is for sleeping and relaxation period. This is where I read to my heart’s content in a cozy, comfy chair in the corner near a window..
I truly hope you choose the upstairs bedroom for your office.. I’m glad I did!!
Thanks so much for reading and for the kind words about my posts. And, thank you for sharing your thoughts about creating an office space out of one of the rooms upstairs. Your words are very encouraging, and I can’t wait to get started!
I’m retiring at the end of March from 30 years of being the director of a non-profit. Following your Instagram has already helped me picture future life and I will enjoy your newsletters too! Thank you!
So exciting! Congratulations and thanks so much for stopping by the blog.
I loved reading about your retirement. I also retired early – 57. My husband had been retired for 2 years at that time I thought “why wait?”. I just want to pass along what we have done for artwork in our home. We have traveled a bit in our marriage, and my husband always takes a lot of photos. Almost every picture or print in our home has been created from pictures he has taken when we have traveled. I also pick out the subjects to use with the color of the design interior in mind. Either that or we shop for pieces of art in antique stores when we travel. The house has art from Italy, Ireland, our home state, Adirondack Mountains, all of New England, and Asheville, NC. Several are from my parents’ home. They all mean a great deal to us. It’s just a reminder of all we have done throughout our marriage. A number of the pieces have art lights over them which I love.
Thanks for the note and your tips about artwork. It sounds like you have a beautiful collection filled with lots of wonderful memories. I’m off to an antique store today to see if they have any new pieces in that would look great in our foyer. Congrats on your retirement!