While you may have spent January 1st thinking about New Year’s resolutions for yourself, why not focus on the place where you spend the most time—your home. Even the newest homes can use a renewed commitment to ongoing care, preparation and focus, so why not make it a priority this year and ensure the biggest purchase of your life stays in the best possible condition. If the last two years have taught us nothing else, we know that home, and spending time together there has become more important than ever before. So in the spirit of new beginnings and fresh starts, try these five New Year’s resolutions for your home.
1. Focus on regular maintenance.
From saving you money to increasing your home’s value, committing to a regular home maintenance schedule is one of the biggest investments you can make in your home. Some reports say that for every $1 you spend on preventative maintenance in your home, you’ll save $100 in future repairs. So make sure you are doing regular appliance checks, changing those air filters, unclogging drains and checking your HVAC systems and you’ll soon find a well-maintained home will save you time and money (not to mention a few headaches too) in the long run.
2. Clean on a schedule.
While it’s good to declutter and organize, your home will quickly show wear and tear if you don’t look at creating a regular cleaning plan. This way daily and bigger tasks won’t pile up and you can easily stay on top of things. It can also be the difference between being chained to your home with a million chores or being free from worry about getting things under control. Creating your own schedule means that you can design it around what works for you – and you then don’t have to think about it. Start by going room to room and figure out all the ideal tasks that need to be done then organize those by daily, weekly, monthly, annual tasks then group the tasks by frequency.
3. Update a room.
If you’re ready for a change in the living room, kitchen or dining room, it’s possible to update that space easily and inexpensively. Try a mini makeover by repositioning furniture, replacing wall decor, adding new accessories, purchasing plants or painting or adding wallpaper. Some of 2022’s biggest interior design trends include looking for ways to emphasize a calm environment with natural lighting, ventilation and bringing the outside in. Other trends include creating “mindful spaces” which is all about having a deeper awareness and connection to the spaces in our home and understand the impact they can have on our well-being.
4. Improve your air quality.
Indoor air quality is one of the most important indicators of the environment you’re living in. Make it a resolution to maintain your HVAC system and change furnace filters regularly. Using localized ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens can help you get rid of smoke, cooking fumes and humidity. Invest in air filters around the house to improve overall air quality and breathe clean air. Air purifiers move air through filters to help remove particles such as allergens, dust mites, and bacteria.
5. Commit to cleaning out one area of your home.
Is your garage a hot mess? It’s time to get that space under control. Typically used as the home’s dumping ground for all the things we can’t quite throw away, dedicating a day or two to cleaning out and organizing your garage will make room for the items that really belong in there. Take Martha Stewart’s advice and start the process with a plan, figure out your storage system and then be sure to be honest with yourself while evaluating what to keep, donate, or throw away. If you haven’t used or looked at it in a year, it’s time for it to go.
