The Key to Actually Finishing a Reno, According to 100s of DIYers
Now that summer is over and your regularly scheduled programming is more or less back on track, you might be looking at your to-do list and thinking, Where do I even begin? Full disclosure: I’m not the best person to turn to for help with your organizing projects (for advice on that, check out our 14-day Decluttering Cure), but I do have some experience with ticking through my home improvement checklist. What I’ve found, over and over again, is that if you have a big project among your to-dos, the best way to tackle it is by breaking it down into smaller pieces and giving yourself a realistic timeline to accomplish those.
That’s why I’m such a big fan of the One Room Challenge, a completely free virtual program that tasks participants with making over just one room of their home over eight weeks. The One Room Challenge isn’t a frenzied two-day renovation sprint you might see on makeover TV shows; instead, it’s paced out to give you a realistic deadline, with an end goal that you set yourself. Sound fun? Great news: The Fall 2024 One Room Challenge starts today, October 2, and registration is open until next Tuesday, October 8.
The One Room Challenge has been running for over a decade, with one spring and one fall session per year, and it’s helped hundreds of DIYers finish making over hundreds of rooms in that time. Registration is now open on the site, and all you’ll need to join is an Instagram account, a TikTok account, or a blog where you can post updates alongside other participants.
If you’re not quite ready to dive in this time, you can still get plenty of inspiration from past One Room Challenge participants by checking out our collection of One Room Challenge Before and Afters. That’s where you’ll find stunning projects like the stately bedroom redo from Tiffany Tcheng shown here.
For those raring to go, you can register here; then, you’ll post weekly progress of your room makeover by tagging @oneroomchallenge and hashtagging #oneroomchallenge to check in on Instagram and TikTok. Apartment Therapy is the official media partner for the Fall 2024 One Room Challenge, so make sure to tag @ApartmentTherapy and use the hashtag #ORCAT to show us your progress. And don’t forget to share your results with us once your project’s complete! We can’t wait to see what you create.
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
