With the New Year, it is time to set some goals for your design. And while the New Year does not mean you need to revamp your design completely, it is time to start taking proactive steps in your home’s design. Educating yourself on design tips and tricks to use in your home can only go as far as you allow it. So, you will need to start by setting goals. For instance, do you have a room that does not have the most functional layout? Or, do you have a space that feels like you have not designed it? Perhaps, you have been talking about remodeling your kitchen, yet never got to the task. Well, this year is going to be different. We are going to set achievable and obtainable goals to help our design theme reach the next level, and here is how:
Types of Goals
Before you can make a goal, you need to understand the three types of goals. You can have long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals.
- A long-term goal may be something like a kitchen remodel or an addition to your home. It can take a significant investment, incorporate many mini-projects, or consist of a long period of time to complete.
- A medium-term goal may be redesigning your master bedroom’s theme. Perhaps, you need to invest in a new bed frame, mattress, furniture, and bedding. You may be able to complete this within a week.
- A short-term goal is almost just daily maintenance. Doing your dishes or cleaning up after yourself.
SMART Goals
Now, it is time to create your goal with a plan. The SMART acronym is designed to help you easily obtain your goal with structure. Some refer to this method as the oars and rudder. Your goal is your oars to your boat. The plan of how you are going to carry out this goal is your rudder. Without the rudder directing your boat, you are meaninglessly paddling and will not reach your destination.
Specific
Make your goal specific. Having a goal like “remodel my kitchen” is not very specific. A goal that says, “I want to have new cabinets, countertops, and flooring in my kitchen by May 1, 2020.” This goal has specific actions and deadlines.
Measurable
A good goal is trackable. Make sure you can measure the progress of your goal. If your goal is to have your home’s flooring all redone, you can measure this goal by how many rooms you complete. If you have three out of four bedrooms’ flooring redone, you are 75% of the way complete.
Attainable
Make sure your goal is obtainable for you. If remodeling a bathroom is not in the near future budget, do not set this as a goal. Setting an unattainable goal can set you up for failure.
Realistic
Likewise, you do not want to make an unrealistic goal. If your home has zoning laws or limited property, do not set a goal to add to your home. This goal . is not realistic because your home cannot have this addition feasibly.
Time-Bound
Lastly, set time boundaries. You can use short-term and medium-term goals to help you obtain your long-term goals. If you are looking to finish your basement, setting aside a budget from each paycheck can be your short-term goal, while each project in and of itself could be a medium-term goal. Perhaps one month, you put up drywall and paint it. The following month you add flooring. These medium-goals can help move you along to the grand scheme plan, so make sure to set dates.
Setting these goals can help you obtain and achieve them. What are some of your design goals? Let us know below in the comment section. Remember, they can be all different sizes. Sometimes, stacking goals can actually make you stay more focused, so try not to overwhelm yourself.