Instead of repeating New Year’s resolutions that you’ll never keep, this year try setting a few home improvement goals. You’re certainly aware of the typical “paint your front door” advice for a quick home improvement, but you can save the prettying-up for spring and address the basics now. These resolutions will have an immediate impact on your daily quality of life and help you go into the new year worry-free.
Kitchen
If you consider your kitchen the beating heart of your house, cook up some ways to perform preventative maintenance on your appliances. Machines that receive the brunt of day-to-day use (the refrigerator, dishwasher and stove) deserve a deep cleaning and a checkup. Make sure to thoroughly clean behind and underneath them and address any operational issues so you can plan for necessary repairs or replacements.
Improvement Idea: Give your kitchen a little TLC by having the countertops resealed and installing a backsplash.
Living Spaces
There’s nothing quite like settling into a room that’s refreshed from top-to-bottom with spotless windows and floors. Consider renting a floor cleaning machine or scheduling professional services. Furniture with upholstery should get a good steam treatment, and walls could likely use a wipe down to erase months (or years) of smudges and stains. Once you’re finished, your home will look, and more importantly, feel as good as new.
Improvement Idea: To keep floors clean and cut down on the amount of dust particles, irritants and floaters in open areas, consider using air purifiers, entryway shoe racks and robot vacuums/mops.
Garage
Whether it’s your hobby space, tinkering spot or storage for miscellaneous items, the garage is often looked over when it comes to home upkeep – so bring this “out of sight, out of mind” space into the spotlight. Take inventory of everything inside your garage. If you have any unwanted items, set them aside for donation or get rid of them. For everything else, reorganize and declutter by prioritizing items you use often and storing away items that are used sparingly.
Improvement Idea: If you have a bare garage floor, consider having a professional coat it with paint, concrete sealant or epoxy.
Exterior
Think about a big project that you haven’t had time to get to or have been putting off. Are there leaves or debris still sitting in the gutter? Should a pressure washing be scheduled in the upcoming months? Could the landscaping use a touch-up? Once you have a game plan, you can buckle down and tackle these projects one by one.
Improvement Idea: If now isn’t the best time to deal with outdoor projects, calling around to gather info/quotes and set dates is a simple first step to getting these chores taken care of.
To-do lists for home are never exciting, but by setting aside a time allotment for each area, grabbing some help (with the promise of a reward) and setting up your favorite music playlist, you can lighten the load. You’ll finish up with the pride of knowing your home has been renewed and well-kept for the months to come and be proud that you actually kept your New Year’s resolutions this year!
