Well hello out there and happy new year! For almost 8 years now, I’ve welcomed in the year by jumping into a month long home project. Today kicks off Week 1 of the New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge and I’m taking a slightly different approach to the challenge this year and I’m making over Stairwell in our Entryway. I’m calling it a Stairwell Spruce Up and I’m taking you along each week as I chip away at this mini makeover.
I’ve participated in this January challenge since way back in 2016 alongside our fearless leader and challenge host, Stephanie of Casa Watkins Living and 15 other extremely talented bloggers this year.
Its wild to think this is the 7th challenge [and 3rd home] I’ve tackled at the start of the year. Last year, I completed our Relaxed Formal Dining Room and since we’ve only been in our home for 17 months, I still have a long road ahead of me before I’ve worked my way around the entire house.
You can see all of my recent Room Reveals in our Arizona home here:
STAIRWELL SPRUCE UP // NEW YEAR NEW ROOM REFRESH CHALLENGE WEEK 1
I do love participating in the One Room Challenge each Spring and Fall and since that is a longer [8 week] challenge, I thought the NYNR was the perfect opportunity to work on our Stairwell. It is literally a blank slate.
But I have a ton of fun ideas to spruce it up and give it some personality! I can’t wait to get started!
Today, I’m going to share the Before photos of the space and give you a project punch list for the month. Next week, I’ll share the design plans and then there will be 2 weeks of progress posts / updates before the big reveal on Tuesday, January 30th!
Come take a look at how the stairwell looks today…
STAIRWELL BEFORE PHOTOS
As you can see, there is not much going on in here. This staircase is directly to the right when you enter in through the front door and leads down to the basement [which has been under construction since last Summer when our sump pump failed and flooded the basement. We’re hoping its wrapped up soon, but at this point, I’m not holding my breath.]
We did have the stairwell painted when we had the other main areas done when we first moved into the house in the Summer of 2021. But that’s the only aspect we touched. We’ve left it alone until now.
The railing is simple, the carpet is old and tattered, the niches are empty and the light fixture is just meh.
I did set that vase in the niche last year to gauge sizing for a larger one I had planned to buy and put in its place, but it somehow managed to stay there this long! It is quite obviously too small, so I’ll be working on another idea to fill the niche instead.
Here is what I’m hoping to accomplish over the course of this challenge…
STAIRWELL PROJECT TO-DO LIST
swap out light fixture
replace or paint railing
paint or wallpaper niches
add art or other wall décor to both niches
replace carpet
add light source to other niche??
window treatments??
MISCELLANEOUS DIY PROJECTS:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Its a small space to work on, but I definitely believe there are enough elements to update or spruce to keep me busy for the month!
Next week I’ll be back with a design board to give you an idea for the style and aesthetic I’m going for. I’ll be sharing a NYNR update each Tuesday all month long. And if you have a space in your home you’d like to tackle this month, feel free to join us! Just use the “#newyearnewroomchallenge” on Instagram!
We are going to have so much fun! I hope you’ll stick around and see how this space comes together each week!
Now, be sure to stop by the other participants’ blogs today to see what they’re all going to be up to in January.
I redoing a stairway too but you have a lot more real estate in yours, Love the idea of wallpapering the niches. Sometimes new houses have weird unused space that you have no idea what to do with. Excited to see the results.
Kathy
January 5, 2023 at 10:03 AMWhat a great space to work with! Can’t wait to see the end result.
Maggie Overby
January 3, 2023 at 7:41 AMI redoing a stairway too but you have a lot more real estate in yours, Love the idea of wallpapering the niches. Sometimes new houses have weird unused space that you have no idea what to do with. Excited to see the results.