Oh gosh, Julie, I hope your budget runs into a few thousands, because this home is a real challenge. The wood paneling in the living room and dining area will either have to be ripped out or painted over in the same color as your walls. I would also remove the window treatments in the living room, and consider whitewashing the fireplace. To start with, in the kitchen, I would remove the two top cabinets that face the dining area and get rid of the lighting. There's lots more to do there, but let me just say that after living in my 1980 house I still haven't updated the kitchen except to replace the stove top, even though I've done everything else that needed it in the house. Oh yes, the popcorn ceiling also has to go. Fortunately we didn't have that. How old is the rug? Is there wood underneath or just a concrete slab? If the carpet is in good shape I would leave it for now and buy some pretty area rugs later.

First.....Are you and hubby doing the work yourselves? Pulling permits as you go?

Parts of it we are...the flooring is our biggest problem right now...what we save on cost of materials is more than made up in labor costs but that is one task we cannot do because my hubby and I are both disabled vets...if we got down to lay the flooring we'd need emergency services to get us back up

What's your budget?

You mention flooring. What are your plans? Is the carpet relatively new? What's underneath?

I'd be bugged by the popcorn ceiling, so I'd tackle that before dealing with the floor and the walls, other than painting the walls above the paneling.

I'd also update the light fixtures.

Can you paint yourself?

Is that wood paneling real wood or those fake panels? If you search in the forums, there are several threads about wood paneling and whether to paint or not. Honestly, unless they are the fake panels, I'd leave for now and just paint a fresh creamy white above.

Well......before you put down flooring....I'd rip out the wood paneling. Decide how to handle the dated brick fireplace...and scrap popcorn ceilings. Have the room finished ....before putting down flooring.

Nosoccermom, our budget is roughly 2000 right now, we're still renting for the next couple of months so that's a pain in our side too. I think the panels are real they're just cheap...we're going to paint those and I'm planning on whitewashing the fireplace also. The carpets show their age (37years) and need to go. the bedrooms aren't so bad but the living areas are horrible...those are my main concern. the kitchen linoleum, though dated, is still in very good condition. and yes, that popcorn ceiling must go but the contractors round these parts are pricey...we would do it ourselves but our little broken bodies couldn't handle it...we'd be back in physical therapy for at least a year

Are you doing the painting yourselves? Even if you have to go very slowly, it will enable you to spend your cash on professional installation for new sheet vinyl and new carpet when you are ready. Having carpet and sheet vinyl professionally cleaned can make a huge difference if you want to postpone those purchases.

If you have not done much DIY work yet, one option many people prefer is to concentrate on one room at a time. Finish that room, then go on to the next. Setting a budget per room is also a good idea.

I see another comment from Julie appeared while I was writing this.

You can replace just the most worn carpets in the living areas now, save the bedrooms for later. Ask the local carpet dealers to show you any remnants that are big enough. Remnants can be a great bargain if you are flexible on your colors.

The house looks like it has GREAT bones! A budget of $2k? Just go slowly remodeling when you have the cash, would be my advice.

Sounds like ceiling and flooring are the top priorities.

Do you know what's underneath the carpeting?

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be relatively easy but messy, or a huge undertaking. I'm assuming that you're not dealing with asbestos here.

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I wouldn't be bothered by the wood paneling if it's as nice in real life, nor by the brick fireplace.

Not to sound insensitive, but if you don't have much of a budget, you may just have to settle for having things painted, floors sanded or new carpet layed for now. If the kitchen flooring is in good shape and it's only a matter of you not liking it, live with it for now and save to replace it. Feel blessed that you were able to purchase a home, don't feel like you have to keep up with the "Jones's". I do think if you have the money, tackle the popcorn ceiling first, it will be hard to deal with once you move in.

nosoccermom- The paneling is actually very nice that's why I'm conflicted as to whether to paint it or not. the reason I want to try and get as much done as possible now is because the goose is empty...I can live Ruth the popcorn ceilings and the vinyl floors but even to replace the carpeting is expensive...we're going to go pricing and shopping more this weekend so I'll let y'all know what happens... Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

haha...the house is empty, not the goose, LoL.

and with not Ruth...sorry :)

Popcorn ceilings may not be ideal, but I've had then before and no one called the decorating police. I would definitely price getting them removed so you know if you can afford it now because it's easier before you move in. But if it's not in the budget, I think you can still enjoy the home.

For budget option with the paneling, paint it. You could always remove it later, but painting it a light color will freshen up the room. I like the beams so I'd keep them as they are.

Bathroom looks like it needs a light fixture, a mirror, and a recessed cabinet for the wall. Otherwise it looks quite nice.

I'd be inclined to replace light fixtures in dining, living room, and kitchen. Light fixtures are fairly affordable and can really update a space.

You might look at stick on vinyl tiles for the kitchen floor. They're easy to install and cheap. I would look at putting some cabinet hardware on the kitchen cabinets. Again it can be pretty affordable. Maybe save up and at some point you can replace the appliances if you'd like.

What is under the carpet? Wood or concrete? I would want that old carpet out just for your health.

I could see keeping the paneling and the vinyl in the kitchen while you do other things. Is there a Habitat Restore near you? You may be able to get lighting and sheet vinyl at a good price there.

popcorn is an easy, cheap DIY. in the bathroom it's simple. mist it w/a spray bottle of water, let it soak, scrape off w/a large, wide scraper, taking care NOT to gauge the drywall underneath. once it's all off, if it's nice and smooth, prime and paint. if it's not smooth, get some spray texture and lightly texture the surface. let dry, prime/paint.

look on Craigslist for all sorts of deals. small lots of left over tile could do your bathroom floor. paint, wood, faucets, appliances, mirrors,,,everything...just check daily for what you need. You can even find an intact bathroom vanity for a few hundred on craigslist. even an oak one you may have to paint. look for granite remnants on there as well.

what big city are you near to?

I think it’s a great house and you have good ideas. Take yr time with a lot of the decisions and look for deals for materials. I have popcorn ceilings. They don’t bother me. I’m a diy kinda girl but haven’t been inclined to tackle them

Taking off popcorn ceilings is not necessarily cheap because statistically it is likely that there is asbestos in the ceiling.

I just had my popcorn ceiling removed and it cost me about $6000 with the necessary inspections for about 1000 square feet.

At the very least have the ceiling tested for asbestos before doing ANYTHING to it. I believe there are DIY tests on the market but I don't know anything about that since I was required to get the testing done by a certified testing agent in order to pull permits.

With your budget, paint is the obvious solution and a paint job that you do yourself. It's not rocket science and really anyone who is careful and reads or watches youtube can pull it off - unlike some other projects that require real skill.

Not sure whether you would be able to change flooring on that budget. In my experience, when moving just paying for all the stuff you don't think about - hardware - curtains - shelves - that are necessary to make the place semi-habitable costs more than one can imagine.

1977 asbestos was out lawed.

I did one like yours a year ago. I dry scrapped popcorn ceilings, then sanded, then painted. It left a tiny bit of texture, just enough to cover sheet rock joints. Mine was built in 1981 & is 4 levels. Raised the ceiling in the kitchen, gutted it, gutted 2 of the 3 bathrooms. All THAT'S just not in your budget. It's still a nice house.

Before: My old kitchen.

At the point you are at, you need to get the bathroom skim coated and painted and livable. Finish it with flooring towel bars new towels etc. This will give you luxury while you are saving to do the rest of the house....which looks great to me.

This bath was probably all sourced from Home Depot or Lowe's and they can arrange for installation too or give classes on how to do it....something to consider.

Everything else can wait. Do not rip everything out; that way leads to madness....find someone to finish the walls and ceiling and paint in your bath. It is a small area and when it is finished it will be encouraging for you to look forward to the rest of the house. Strange question but why are you fixing up a house you are renting?

Please take care of yourselves and do not do any more damage; be kind and take it slowly!

Susan, I think they rent elsewhere and just bought this house. They are fixing it to move in. I agree with you - fix the bathroom and make a bedroom livable so that the basics are covered.

I think carpet,where the old must be replaced,some paint to make it yours, and a usable bathroom are the priorities. I would not paint the panelling in the room with the fireplace because I think the room can be made absolutely lovely without doing so. As for the popcorn, removing it in these circumstances would use up too much of the budget.

What hollybar said but I would paint the paneling. I like wood but it's a lot of wood. I also don't care for it with the color of the brick. I wouldn't paint the brick. I'd get other stuff done and then you could always come back to the brick and reevaluate if you want to white wash or paint it later. Nice home!

I agree, definitely paint the paneling. Having this painted will bring a lightness and freshness and it will make it "yours", new carpet and it's a beautiful room! maybe in the future, if you don't like the brick, you can have it wrapped in shiplap which would give the room a whole new feel.