I have such a big list of things I want to do in our rental cottage to make it feel more like home. (I have an even larger list of projects I would do if I owned the cottage.) If you have home projects yourself, you know that not everything will get done this year and I expect that I will not complete this list myself due to my budget or time. When I make a list for myself, it’s important that it is there for inspiration and goal setting, and not for strict guidance. Lists can be fun and motivational. Some of these things might ever be completed. Our budget and our time will have the biggest impact on what we can accomplish. And finding the right items doesn’t always happen when you’re thrifting or shopping on a limited budget.
I’m also a renter and I do not own our home, but we did just renew our lease and I’m feeling like putting down some roots. I’m hoping we will stay here for a long time (maybe even buy it one day if that is an option for us) and I feel ready to finally have a place that feels like home, settled and unboxed. I want to decorate. I’m yearning to have a home that feels comfortable and inviting, less like a temporary space and more like a home you can cozy into.
My goal for this year is to make our home cozy. I want to see our art and photos on the walls and buy curtains for the windows. Instead of seeing renter white walls, I want to add some color and maybe even some renter friendly peel and stick wallpaper. The few boxes we still have not unpacked I want to put away, everything we own to have a place. No clutter. I know that nothing in life is permanent, especially as a renter, but I so deeply wish to feel at home and have my space feel lived in and settled. I’m a list girl and I like to make lists to keep myself focused and inspired. This is my list to turn our cottage into a cozy home this year:
The Kitchen
- Make or thrift a baking table to use as a kitchen island and cooking station.
- Switch out the knobs on the cabinets for white and blue porcelain knobs.
- Add two mini lamps for cozier lighting.
- Decorate the mini wall that separates the kitchen from the living room with peel and stick wallpaper or painting with a stencil.
- Hang some shelves and framed oil paintings.
The Dining Room
- Put a rug under the table (The rug in the living room is too small for the space, but it might fit well here).
- Thrift two chairs, one for each end of the table.
- Add some blue and white chair cushions to cozy the space and add comfort.
- Hang a small wall basket to hold flowers.
- Add a floor lamp for cozy lighting.
The Library -Our rental has a spare bedroom that we use as a home library
- Declutter and tidy the bookshelves and floor.
- Repair Matthew’s mother’s old desk to use for my home office.
- Thrift a desk chair.
- Find two cozy wing-back chairs to create a reading nook for us to enjoy.
Living Room
- Find a basket chest to use as a small coffee table and for storage.
- Hang curtains on the living room window.
- Thrift a rug that fits the space.
Master Bedroom
- Tidy and declutter the whole room and closets.
- Paint a wall or an accent wall.
- Remove the broken shades and hang light blocking curtains.
- Hang our framed paintings.
The Stairway
- Hang photos and art to make a small gallery wall to view going up and down the stairs.
The Upstairs Hallway
- Make another gallery wall for the hallway to display our art and photos.
- Frame the painting I made of my childhood cat Mister and hang it with the gallery wall.
Downstairs
- Declutter all spaces.
- Add an extra lamp for cozy lighting.
The Tea Room
- Thrift a tilt-top tea table and four chairs so that I can host tea parties.
- Hang curtains.
- Hang some more art on the walls.
- Thrift a cabinet to hold tea party supplies.
The Front Porch
- Put out an outdoor rug.
- Thrift two rocking chairs and paint them white.
- Hang outdoor lighting.
The Garden
- Make a garden patch below the barn for squash, pumpkins, potatoes and garlic.
- Plant more wildflowers in the meadow.
- Make a seating area in the lower garden for hosting small dinner parties.
- Plant flowers on the hill by the driveway.
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