When we first got the keys to our home (that we purchased virtually) we were so excited to get inside and check it out. Once inside, there were many things we liked. However, we quickly realized that it was going to take a lot of work to make it “our home”.
As we looked around, we quickly became overwhelmed. We needed new light fixtures, flooring and a fresh new coat of paint on every wall. And that was just scratching the surface. I was planning on doing all the work myself, at least those that I could, and it was going to take time.
The first thing we did was make a list of what we knew needed done first. Everyone’s list is going to look different based on the needs of that house. Once that list was complete we decided to prioritize the order, keeping in mind costs and timeframes.
We knew that new flooring and freshly painted walls were the priority. I decided that I would start with the flooring. All of the baseboards were going to need to be repainted (or replaced) and I wanted to do all the painting at one time. That made starting with the flooring an easy choice.
We decided that we wanted to lay porcelain tile that resembled the look of wood in the main level the house. We went to the store, ordered what we liked and waited for it to be delivered. And this is the moment I knew I was in over my head!
When this truck pulled up with all of our tile on the back, I knew that the task before me was a big one!
The first step in this process was removing all of the old tile. This was a BIG job! I did discover that using the correct tools definitely helped. The tool that helped the most was my DeWalt Rotary Hammer Drill. I purchased a chisel set to use with it and went to town tearing up all of that old tile. The big box stores also have a tool you can rent that will move the process a lot faster and save your back a little bit.
The next step was laying down the new tile. This was a much bigger job than I had anticipated, especially when doing it by myself. I had to learn how to mix up the mortar, cut tiles with a tile saw and use spacers! I learned so much about how to lay tile and got better as I went. Grouting was probably the part I disliked the most. It was so messy! But the end result was so worth it! There is something so satisfying when you learn something new and you can see the impact it has on your home!
As you can see, changing the flooring had a major impact on this room. Without even adding furniture, it already has a warmer, updated look!
Now, the tile was definitely a lot of work. However, if you want to have a big impact without redoing the flooring, try a fresh coat of paint and swapping out the light fixture. The fresh paint brightens the room and the light fixture makes it feel more up to date. I definitely have some other plans for this space, but everything takes time. Start small. You can continue to add on as you have time and as you learn new skills!
