9 Simple New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
Start 2017 as you mean to go on with these quick fixes to instantly reboot your interior
When you’re thinking about your New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to include your home. Get 2017 off to a good start with these easy tips to revamp your space and make it work for you.
Streamline your wardrobe
Aim for a double whammy of being both stylish and organised by giving your wardrobe a New Year detox. Take everything out and put each item into one of three piles: items you want to get rid of, things that need repairing, and garments that can go straight back in the wardrobe.
Be realistic and don’t feel guilty about bad purchases. Don’t worry that you never wore that zebra-print jumpsuit. Donate it to a charity shop and someone else might really love it.
Aim for a double whammy of being both stylish and organised by giving your wardrobe a New Year detox. Take everything out and put each item into one of three piles: items you want to get rid of, things that need repairing, and garments that can go straight back in the wardrobe.
Be realistic and don’t feel guilty about bad purchases. Don’t worry that you never wore that zebra-print jumpsuit. Donate it to a charity shop and someone else might really love it.
Do some quick revamps
Start the year off by giving your home a refresh. Aim for minimum effort but maximum impact by focusing on quick fixes. Easy ideas include painting a feature wall or changing the colour of your kitchen units. This black-painted island has given this white kitchen an instant style update, and makes a dramatic feature in the room.
Start the year off by giving your home a refresh. Aim for minimum effort but maximum impact by focusing on quick fixes. Easy ideas include painting a feature wall or changing the colour of your kitchen units. This black-painted island has given this white kitchen an instant style update, and makes a dramatic feature in the room.
Treat yourself
How about making this the year you invest in that gorgeous sofa you’ve always wanted? Discuss it with the rest of your household and decide together on one item you’d all like. Give yourself a budget and aim to save up for it over a few months.
If you really think about the investment beforehand, you’ll buy something you really need, and by taking time to do your research, you’ll ensure it’s a purchase that lasts a lifetime.
How about making this the year you invest in that gorgeous sofa you’ve always wanted? Discuss it with the rest of your household and decide together on one item you’d all like. Give yourself a budget and aim to save up for it over a few months.
If you really think about the investment beforehand, you’ll buy something you really need, and by taking time to do your research, you’ll ensure it’s a purchase that lasts a lifetime.
Print and display your photos
If you’ve got hundreds of digital photos languishing on your computer, make a resolution to finally get them printed. Set aside an evening to sort through them, then send them off to an online printer. As soon as your photos are ready, make time to lay them out in albums.
You could also pick a selection of your favourites and put them in frames to display around the house. This welcoming hallway has a lovely mix of large photographs, plus smaller ones displayed on narrow shelves alongside other trinkets.
Not sure where to hang your photos? See these great ways to display your pics
If you’ve got hundreds of digital photos languishing on your computer, make a resolution to finally get them printed. Set aside an evening to sort through them, then send them off to an online printer. As soon as your photos are ready, make time to lay them out in albums.
You could also pick a selection of your favourites and put them in frames to display around the house. This welcoming hallway has a lovely mix of large photographs, plus smaller ones displayed on narrow shelves alongside other trinkets.
Not sure where to hang your photos? See these great ways to display your pics
Curate your collections
If you have collections of objects hidden around your home, make a feature of them by displaying them together. This collection of ceramics would look good dotted around the home, but the pieces are even more stunning when placed together in front of an inky-blue wall.
If you have collections of objects hidden around your home, make a feature of them by displaying them together. This collection of ceramics would look good dotted around the home, but the pieces are even more stunning when placed together in front of an inky-blue wall.
Save money on bills
Resolve to save money this year by making your home more energy-efficient. As well as major jobs, such as installing insulation and new radiators, there are some quick fixes that can help you to conserve energy.
Seal doors to stop draughts, replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs or flourescent lamps, and install some smart technology. A thermostat you can control remotely, for example, will ensure you don’t have the heating on when you’re not at home.
Want to go green? Here’s how to have an eco home
Resolve to save money this year by making your home more energy-efficient. As well as major jobs, such as installing insulation and new radiators, there are some quick fixes that can help you to conserve energy.
Seal doors to stop draughts, replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs or flourescent lamps, and install some smart technology. A thermostat you can control remotely, for example, will ensure you don’t have the heating on when you’re not at home.
Want to go green? Here’s how to have an eco home
Create a healthy kitchen
If your New Year’s resolution is to be more healthy, get your kitchen involved. Declutter your cupboards and fridge to make way for healthy ingredients, ensure you have easy access to small appliances, such as juicers and bread makers, and keep a bowl of fruit handy.
A good way to ensure a balanced diet is to organise meals at the beginning of the week. Put together a meal plan and display it prominently in your kitchen. Here, magnetic scrabble tiles are cleverly used to hold simple white notes in place.
If your New Year’s resolution is to be more healthy, get your kitchen involved. Declutter your cupboards and fridge to make way for healthy ingredients, ensure you have easy access to small appliances, such as juicers and bread makers, and keep a bowl of fruit handy.
A good way to ensure a balanced diet is to organise meals at the beginning of the week. Put together a meal plan and display it prominently in your kitchen. Here, magnetic scrabble tiles are cleverly used to hold simple white notes in place.
Make room for a hobby
Take time out for yourself this year and do something you really love. Whether it’s writing, gardening or sewing, it’s important to carve out an area at home for you to enjoy a hobby.
You don’t necessarily need a whole room – with some clever organisation, you can fit a hobby area into the smallest of spaces. This sewing and craft desk is surrounded by storage, but the pretty design ensures it doesn’t encroach on the rest of the room.
How do you refresh your home for the New Year? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Take time out for yourself this year and do something you really love. Whether it’s writing, gardening or sewing, it’s important to carve out an area at home for you to enjoy a hobby.
You don’t necessarily need a whole room – with some clever organisation, you can fit a hobby area into the smallest of spaces. This sewing and craft desk is surrounded by storage, but the pretty design ensures it doesn’t encroach on the rest of the room.
How do you refresh your home for the New Year? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
You know the drill: a bulky item needs a home, it won’t fit anywhere else, so it’s added to the unruly pile of other bulky items under the stairs. Organising this space is a big job, but once it’s done, you’ll feel fantastic.
The main problem with an understairs cupboard is access, so it might be worth investing in some joinery to make it easier to put things in neatly. Here, three doors have been fitted to offer access to all areas of the cupboard. You could even think about having pull-out drawers installed, or opening it up completely and fitting shelves instead.
Once you’ve redesigned the space, you can declutter and organise your storage. Don’t forget to include small containers to keep screws, lightbulbs and fuses tidy.