Chances are you had plans when you first moved into your home – plenty of them. Perhaps you wanted to revamp the backyard, add another guest room or expand the kid’s kitchen. Whatever it was, some of them may have been forgotten once you get comfortable in your home.
Fortunately, the New Year brings new chances of sprucing up your home. From small projects, such as refreshing your room’s paint or wallpaper, to major projects such as putting a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SPPP) or growing a privet hedge to improve your yard, there are many ways to revamp your home for the New Year.
Here are simple resolutions you can make in terms of home improvement.
Invest in Smart Home Devices
Outfitting your house with smart devices is one of the best ways to improve your home as they can improve your home’s security, save more money in energy bills and make your life easier, overall. Consider adding automated window shades, a robot vacuum, a smart doorbell or a better thermostat to improve your home’s comfort and function.
Update Your Light Fixtures
If you are still living with the original light fixtures that came with your home, it’s time for an upgrade. Personalize the electrical lighting outside and inside the house. Start with the lights in your entryway, as well as in the bedroom and kitchen. You can find many stylish yet affordable lighting options at your local Home Depot, Lowe’s or other home improvement stores.
Revamp Your Entry
From the porch to the foyer, your home’s entrance is one of the most important areas of the house. It’s the first thing you or your visitors see when entering your home. Find creative ways to make your porch or foyer enticing or interesting enough that your guests couldn’t wait to see the rest of the house. Needless to say, it should be welcoming and homey.
Make the Most of Your Floor Plan
Shake things up by rearranging your furniture and optimizing rooms for better use of space. With an open and modern floor plan, you’d be surprised with the flexibility at hand. Through this small change, you can improve the mood of your house.
Service Your Chimney
Prepare your chimney for the next winter by having it serviced in the New Year. Regular chimney maintenance prevents soot buildup, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. To check this off your list, hire certified and qualified chimney sweep professionals. Check their BBB rating and online reviews.
Organize Your Closet
One of the best ways to warmly welcome the New Year is to finally get organized. Kick off thede-clutteringpurge by sifting through your closets and drawers. Go through your belongings and ask yourself: how many times have I used this? Does it have sentimental value? Have I used this lately? If the answer to any or all of these questions is no, place the item in a sell, donation pile or trash pile.
By eliminating excess shoes, clothing and accessories from your drawers and closets, you’ll be making more room for other belongings or space.
Clean Your Home
There are three things you can clean in your home:
- Clean out your pantry.Cleaning out the pantry involves throwing out expired foods, old spices and unused cookbooks. Most of the time, kitchen drawers are filled with worn-out dish rags, old receipts and old utensils. Cut down on clutter by throwing out anything that no longer serves a purpose. Keep your kitchen drawers organized by limiting each drawer to an item category or two.
- Clean your windows.Chances are, it has been a while since you cleaned your windows. Welcome the New Year with sparkling windows. Mix liquid soap with cool water and use a sponge to thoroughly wipe down the frame and the window. Finally, spray the window with a cleaning product or a mixture of vinegar and water.
- Clean the grout.Improve the look and feel of your mudrooms and bathrooms by cleaning the grout. If your grout needs a deep clean, hire professionals. But if it only requires a simple touch-up, clean it yourself with baking soda, water and a toothbrush.
This year try focusing your New Year’s resolution on improving your home. Through a few simple tasks, you can save money, improve your home’s value andde-clutteryour life. Also, these resolutions are easier to stick to when you work with other members of your home. By doing these home improvement resolutions, you can set up your home for a grander New Year.
