Time and again, our house tour participants have taught us that big spending isn't the key to a healthy home; it's the small things like regular decluttering, taking care of repairs, and adding personal touches that make a great home. As we enter the new year, we've compiled a list of things anyone can do to make their home better if they take the time. To ensure that a resolution is kept, we recommend starting small and choosing just one or two tasks. If you've got your own ideas, add them to the list in the comments below...
Do one DIY project in the new year. Reconnect with your creative side by making something for your home, whether it involves reupholstering a side chair or painting your kitchen cabinets. See our how-to archives for ideas and inspiration.
Have people over more often. One of the best ways to keep your home clean and comfy is to invite guests over regularly. Small parties are also a cheap alternative to dining out.
Declutter. To avoid overwhelming yourself, start with a small area (like a closet) or a single room (like the bedroom). Set manageable, bite-sized goals for decluttering and use an Outbox as you go. With each of your posessions, ask yourself, Do I use it? Do I love it? Do I need it? If the answer is to any of these questions is no, it can go in the Outbox.
Clean something daily. If you're a messy person and you want your home to be cleaner, try the One Day/One Room Plan. Each day, spend half an hour cleaning one room. By focusing on daily, concentrated tasks your home will gradually become cleaner and you can stop dreading the weekly-to-monthly binge clean.
Go green(er). We've all become more conscious of ways to minimize our impact on the environment, but there's always room to go greener. Use the new year to take a step you've been considering, like going paperless, greening your bedroom, or composting at home.
Cook more at home. Eating in is one of the most effective ways to save money. It can also improve the health of your body and your home. For easy recipes to try in your kitchen, check our site for home cooks: The Kitchn.
Improve your home's air quality. Poor indoor air might not visibly detract from your home, but it has a serious impact on your quality of life. To get started, use these tips from green guru Danny Seo, or check out these ideas from Conscious Choice.
Organize one area. Whether it's your closet, a junk drawer, or the cords on your desk, bringing order to just one chaotic area can set your home on a path towards calm.
Fix something that's been broken. We all have to-do lists for repairs around the apartment. Why not start the new year by checking off at least one? Your home will thank you for it.
Seal your windows and doors. If you haven't already insulated your windows or fitted your doors with draft stops, you've still got a few months of winter left to reap the money-saving benefits of an insulated, energy-efficient home.
Deal with junk mail. Get rid of the unwanted catalogs and junk mail that have been piling up over the past year by canceling your unwanted subscriptions. Less junk coming in your front door equals a healthier home.
Do more [fill in the blank with whatever you love] at home. Choose one thing you love to do at home, and make the time to do it. Want to spend more time reading in your living room? Set up a reading nook, and schedule an hour an evening to sit with a book.
Add your ideas for low-cost, high-impact resolutions in the comments below.
Photo: Jacob and Laurie's House Tour
It is amazing how a resolution to keep the kitchen sink clean leads to a clean kitchen.
view Francesca's profile
can you post a how to for that excellent night stand? i have an old drum stand i want to do EXACTLY that to--its adorable!
view kittehcat's profile
I completely agree with tip #2. There's so much motivation in a dinner party for you (and sig other) to clean things that you might normally avoid
view Hollie's profile
Thanks for the links on insulating windows and doors. I'm in the process of doing this as we speak. :)
view girlonthem00n's profile
If a task would take less than two minutes to complete, do it now!
view miep747's profile
I'd love to see more articles like this on AT.
Plants do so much for improving indoor air quality! Also when we pulled out our carpets HUGE air quality difference!
view Rachel@oneprettything.com's profile
I added a lot of things to my to-do list article so I spread this one around a bit!
view Rachel@oneprettything.com's profile
This is the heart of AT - less product stuff, more stuff like this please!
An article in the Boston Globe described the possibility of a coming depression that would be widely private - with more folks turning inwards to their homes rather than seeking external entertainment (since movie tickets top out at $15 a pop!)
Be a realist: Hope for the best but plan for the worst - if the recession is going to be held inside, you might as well have a clean, happy home! :)
view Modfan's profile
Loved this article ~ it gave me so much food for thought ~ most welcome at the start of a new year!
view JoJenks's profile
Agreed that we need more of this on AT. Also loved the better sleep resolutions post
view ce_pelle's profile
Where can I get that side table?
view Allsunday's profile
the table looks to be a DIY. Old drum stand or drum seat, and whatever you want as a top. This looks to be plywood cut at a couple angles and washed with color, but i could be wrong. Can't tell in the photo much.
view jmorey's profile
I've been trying to do a little tidy-up at night before bed, where things don't have to be perfect, but they have to be at least as clean as it had started in the morning. Like a "leave it how you found it" but for myself!
view tam-tbag's profile
great post! my home related resolutions are
1. learn to sew- to make things like pillows, curtains, table runners, and chair covers, etc. i got a machine recently for my bday and a couple good sewing books so im excited!
2. cook at home more- first of all to help me learn how (lol) and to save some money- we eat out way too much!
3. keep up with my quick-night-time cleanings- so i can wake up to a clean house.
4. de-clutter the things we no longer use and donate
5. actually paint the things ive been keeping in hopes that a coat of paint will help.
6. use ebay/craigslist first if we need to buy something for the home
view eribear12's profile
eribear- I have the EXACT same home resolutions! I have so many pieces I need to paint that I've been holding onto for ages. I also just got a sewing machine for my birthday so I can learn to sew curtains, pillows etc, and I've also forced myself to check craigslist and ebay first before buying something new!
view cassielynn's profile
the photo is from the house tour: jacob and laurie do it themselves in west ridge (chicago). and yes, jacob made the table himself!
view crockedteeth's profile
My resolutions too:
1. Leearn how to cook; use LOTS of vegetables instead of meat
2. Sew; I need to buy a machine :D
3. Paint a wall on the balcony, arrange the plants and see what happens
4. Set up a reading nook
5. Re-arrange the closet
view mihaela's profile