January 1 has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to make a New Year’s resolution or two, especially if one of your goals for the year is to give your home some much-needed attention. Home improvement ideas can range from small changes that make a big difference in terms of your home’s cleanliness and efficiency to major projects that completely overhaul part of the house. You might also resolve to take care of some financial matters involving your home, such as getting a better rate on your mortgage. This year, take the time to focus on the needs of your home. Sound daunting? Use these home improvement ideas as a roadmap.

1. Clear Away Clutter

Who hasn’t, at one time or another, resolved to clean their home and make it more organized? Clearing away clutter should be where you begin before diving into any resolutions. You can’t really redo your kitchen or bath if both spaces are full of stuff, after all. There are two major approaches to effectively decluttering your house:

• Move room to room, clearing out each space as you go.
• Sort through things by category, such as clothing, books, kitchen items, and so on.

Getting rid of extra stuff should be your primary objective. Once you’ve cleared out the clutter, resolve to keep it from building up again. You might stick to a one-in-one-out rule, or decide only buy things when you absolutely need them.

2. Pick One Project At a Time

When brainstorming home improvement ideas, it’s easy to go overboard and pick more than you can reasonably complete in a year. Instead of resolving to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to focus on replacing or resealing your windows. Replacing the gaskets in your windows can help you save about $30 per month in heating costs, according to This Old House. Choose the project that will provide the greatest benefit you and your home, with the least amount of effort.

3. Improve Your Home’s Financial Picture

If you’re still paying the mortgage on your home, one useful resolution might be to explore your mortgage options when it comes to refinancing, especially if it means you can end up paying less in the long run. You don’t want to jump into refinancing without doing some research first, though. Shop around and see what various lenders have to offer. It might turn out that refinancing ends up costing you more in the long run, or it might be the ideal option for you.

4. Bring Some Life In

Improving your home doesn’t have to involve a major renovation project or upgrade. In some cases, adding a small decorative touch is enough to brighten up a space. One way to do that is to purchase a houseplant or two. Houseplants are relatively easy to care for and can help filter the air in your home. Philly has several garden shops that specialize in the needs of urban homeowners, such as Urban Jungle in South Philly and City Planter in Northern Liberties.

It’s never too late to resolve to fix up your Philadelphia home. As you check your home improvement resolutions off, consider adding new ones as the year goes on, so your space gets the love and care it deserves.

Image Source: Flickr/Paul Sableman

[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]