1.  Upgrade that old bathroom.  Again, from personal experience, a big improvement to our home was a new primary bath.  Our renovation included a large, comfortable shower, radiant floor heat, and extra room by our sinks with plenty of storage.  The only downside was that our children loved the new bathroom so much that I had to compete for bathroom time.

2.  Cook more family meals (In a kitchen you love). Out of all the renovations I have done to my home, no renovation has changed my home and how we live more than our kitchen renovation.  Suddenly, it was a pleasure to cook and spend time in that space.  The difference can be dramatic, whether you completely rebuild your kitchen or simply reorganize and upgrade.

3. Create a pantry that works for you.  A great pantry can be the perfect complement to the ideal kitchen.

4. Organize your hall.  It doesn’t take much to turn chaos into calm.  You can transform an entry into a mudroom by adding a bench that doubles as shoe storage, some hooks, and cabinets.

5. Create and enjoy a bright sunroom no matter the season.

6.  Spend more time cuddled up in front of a good fire.  We have had a lot of good fires this year in our living room fireplace.  If your home does not have a great fireplace, or if the one(s) you have need work, it is worth the effort to create a special place for the family to gather.  The fireplace in our home seems to attract family members like moths to a flame.

7.  Create a laundry room that turns a chore into a pleasure (almost).  An efficient, well-designed laundry room can change the way you go about this task and can even encourage family participation.  At least, the time spent there will be more pleasant and enjoyable.

8.  Spend more time on a porch.  As soon as it warms up a little, spend some time on a porch.  I am out on my porch from early spring to late fall.  No place in or around my home is more relaxing than our porch.