The New Year is upon us and with it brings a fresh new start for 2020 and the question as to whether or not to create a New Year’s resolution for yourself. You may ask yourself if you want to travel more, or if you want to expand your business. Resolutions can be tricky at times, and ultimately if you’re unable to keep them you may be disappointed in yourself. So why not come up with some resolutions for your home instead? Here are a few ideas to improve your Chicago home for the New Year.

Get Organized

What better way to start the New Year than in a clean and organized home? After all, a cluttered home can lead to a cluttered mind. But understandably, trying to clean and organize your home all at once can become a bit overwhelming. There is no rush, so go room by room and take your time. Determine which items you use regularly and which items haven’t been used at all or in several years. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used it in a year, give it to someone who will. Create an area for items you would like to donate, or store the items in the garage for a spring yard sale. Just make sure to follow through or you will be organizing the garage in 2021.

Be More Energy Conscious

Aside from the obvious financial benefit, conserving energy in your home and creating greener practices benefits the world we live in. You don’t necessarily have to break the bank by installing new windows or solar panels (that can be a long term goal), but there are other easy and cost-efficient things you can do on a daily basis to become more energy conscious. Create a recycling area in your pantry or garage, seal exposed pipes, conserve water by using your washer or dishwasher only when you have full loads, and conserve electricity by changing out your light bulbs to LEDs. Each little change you make will benefit your wallet and your planet.

Safety First

Your home is your sanctuary, a place for you and your family to be comfortable and safe. The New Year is a perfect time to make sure your safety precautions are in solid working order. Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed and if so, have the batteries been changed recently? Do you have enough lighting on your porches and outdoor pathways? Are your vents clean? Is the home free of mold? These are all relatively simple and quick projects that will most certainly assure the safety of your home.

Chore Chart

Let’s face it, no one likes to do chores, but a clean home is a happy and welcoming home. It’s time to devise a system to motivate you and the family to keep your home clean. Some items need to be done daily such as dishes, sweeping, and putting clothes away, whether it be in a hamper or hung in the closet. Other chores can be done on a weekly basis such as dusting, laundry, and vacuuming. It really depends on your home and the areas that have the most wear and tear. It’s important that all those living in the home do their part. Create this system in agreement with family members or roommates to assure that everyone is chipping in.

Redecorate

Redecorating doesn’t necessarily mean going out and buying all new furniture or doing a remodel. You can rearrange, swap furniture from one room to another, paint a room, or paint your cabinets. Basically, create a new look for the New Year. Add some new art, colorful pillows, plants, or fresh flowers. Sprucing up your Chicago home will make it fun and fresh for entertaining or a cozy happy place for you to relax.

Resolutions don’t have to be solely for your person, and by creating resolutions for your home you will be able to start 2020 motivated and comfortable in your space. What are your New Year’s resolutions?