As the New Year approaches, many of you are probably racking your brain for what exactly you’re going to change about yourself or your habits, and as the day grows nearer, you’re panicking a little more because you’ve yet to find that perfectly resolution. However maybe the reason you’re struggling with your New Year’s resolution is because there isn’t anything about yourself that you want or need to change – and that’s perfectly fine! But take a look at your home: are there repairs you keep promising you’ll make but that you never get around to? Is there clutter in all the corners? Do you struggle to stay on a strict cleaning schedule? Or are you paying way too much in bills and keep promising yourself that “this will be the year” that you cut back?
Most people don’t think about changing their environment when making a New Year’s resolution, but maybe this year you should think outside of the box, and make your home a happier, more environmentally friendly and safer place to be. After all, doing so could be your ticket to a happier and more stress free life…
Here are 5 things you can do to improve your home this New Year:
1.Get Rid of The Clutter
Most people have stuff in their homes that they simply don’t need or use, but when it comes time to throw that stuff out, they balk. I understand this more than most, as I’ll hold onto something for years before admitting to myself that I’ll never use the item. However, holding onto clutter affects you more than you think. Studies show that clutter negatively affects how you focus and process information, and is actually equivalent to a toddler standing in front of you repeating, “I want candy. I want candy. I want candy.” Annoying, right? To get this petulant toddler off your back, simply clear out some of the clutter.
Start small, like maybe with that junk drawer in your kitchen. Place a garbage bag beneath it, and two bins above it. Start sorting the trash from the stuff you need from the stuff you want to donate. If you want to get uber organizational on me, start three piles up top: one for the stuff you want to keep but need to relocate, one for the stuff that should stay in the junk drawer, and one for the stuff you want to donate. Then go from drawer to drawer, cabinet to cabinet, closet to closet with the trash bag, donate bin and keep/relocate bin and do the same at each stop. For some people, this chore might take a few hours; others, it will take a few days. However, it’s well worth it, as clearing out all that unnecessary junk will not only make your home more beautiful, but it will increase your ability to focus and greatly improve your mood. After all, that repetitive toddler will finally be abated.
As the year progresses, don’t allow yourself to collect things anymore. Think about what you bring into your home, and before you give it a home within your home, ask yourself if that object is really useful, and if it adds a positive vibe. If the answer is no, then chances are it will only be an energy sucker, and you’ll be tossing it out next year on your next purge.
2.Make Your Home Safe & Sound
You hear these stories on the news about homes that blew up because of a little friction from the homeowners socks on the carpet (happened in Defiance, OH, 2013), or about a family that died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the middle of the night. Your home may seem like a lovely place to live, but is it safe?
To be sure, check your house for everything from Radon – a colorless, odorless gas that causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year – to carbon monoxide. A radon detector costs $20 at your local hardware store, and a carbon monoxide kit will run about $40. Both are a small price to pay if it means protecting you and your family from potential and grave danger.
Furthermore, watch out for dryer lint. It may seem like a silly thing to be afraid of, but dryer lint is actually very combustible, and causes more than 15,000 fires each year. Don’t just clean out the lint trap though—check the vents and ducts behind the dryer for any that may have collected there over the years.
Also, make sure your bathrooms, attics and any other locations that accrue a lot of moisture are well ventilated, as these areas are prime candidates for mold.
Last but not least, if your home was built before 1978 and you haven’t done any work on it, consider testing for lead paint and asbestos. Many older homes contain both, and both pose a great health risk to their occupants. Get your home tested, and if it does turn out you have either or, hire a professional paint or construction company to come and remove it.
3.Lower Your Bills (And Shrink Your Carbon Footprint)
You don’t have to drive a hybrid or install solar panels to make a difference—all you need is some good old common sense. And the best place to start making a difference is in your very own home. You can cut energy usage by doing the following:
4.Establish A Cleaning System
With work and kids and all the other obligations you have going on, it’s hard to clean your home, much less keep it clean. But hopefully with these tips, we can help you keep your home clean this New Year…
Daily: Put your dishes in the dishwasher every night, no excuses! If you don’t have a dishwasher, do the dishes nightly. I know this can seem daunting, but trust me: a night of dirty dishes is much easier to tackle than two days’ worth, or even a week’s worth.
Put all of your dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, and make sure everyone in your home does the same.
Don’t leave your stuff lying around. When you’re done using something, put it back where it belongs. When you get home from work, put your shoes and coat away. Have your kids put their backpacks in a designated place every day. Ask your family members to put all of their stuff away when they’re done using something too. A concerted effort to keep items in their proper homes will help considerably!
Weekly: It’s not practical to clean the bathroom daily, or to mop daily, or to dust the shelves daily, but if you assign one or two cleaning tasks to each day of the week, it’ll make cleaning that much easier. For instance, clean the bathroom on Sundays, sweep and mop on Mondays, and dust on Tuesdays. Clean the kitchen on Wednesday, and do laundry on Thursdays. Relax on Friday, and do one of your “monthly” chores on Saturdays. Which brings me to my next point…
Monthly: Some cleaning jobs don’t need to be done all that often, but should get done at least once a month. These chores include:
5.Get Ready To Entertain
Now the your home is clean and clutter free, take a good look around and ask yourself: would you invite people over now? If the answer is ready, well, then, what are you waiting for?! However, if the answer is no, figure out why, and then fix those problem areas. Is it the unfinished drywall patch above the door that’s deterring you? What about the half-assed paint job? Or maybe you just don’t like your furniture? Whatever it is, there is a way to fix it, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
If the problems are with your home itself, contact Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC to see how we can help you get your home entertaining-ready on a budget. Or, if the problems are more cosmetic (furniture, accent pieces), hit up some estate sales, antique malls or heck, splurge on some brand-new items! Whatever you do, make sure the changes are changes that will provide you with continuous happiness throughout the New Year.
Remember, the New Year isn’t so much about changing who you are as it is about figuring out what’s going to make you happy through the new year and doing that. Sometimes, the thing that will make you happy is a change of environment.
That being said, Happy New Year!
Most people don’t think about changing their environment when making a New Year’s resolution, but maybe this year you should think outside of the box, and make your home a happier, more environmentally friendly and safer place to be. After all, doing so could be your ticket to a happier and more stress free life…
Here are 5 things you can do to improve your home this New Year:
1.Get Rid of The Clutter
Most people have stuff in their homes that they simply don’t need or use, but when it comes time to throw that stuff out, they balk. I understand this more than most, as I’ll hold onto something for years before admitting to myself that I’ll never use the item. However, holding onto clutter affects you more than you think. Studies show that clutter negatively affects how you focus and process information, and is actually equivalent to a toddler standing in front of you repeating, “I want candy. I want candy. I want candy.” Annoying, right? To get this petulant toddler off your back, simply clear out some of the clutter.
Start small, like maybe with that junk drawer in your kitchen. Place a garbage bag beneath it, and two bins above it. Start sorting the trash from the stuff you need from the stuff you want to donate. If you want to get uber organizational on me, start three piles up top: one for the stuff you want to keep but need to relocate, one for the stuff that should stay in the junk drawer, and one for the stuff you want to donate. Then go from drawer to drawer, cabinet to cabinet, closet to closet with the trash bag, donate bin and keep/relocate bin and do the same at each stop. For some people, this chore might take a few hours; others, it will take a few days. However, it’s well worth it, as clearing out all that unnecessary junk will not only make your home more beautiful, but it will increase your ability to focus and greatly improve your mood. After all, that repetitive toddler will finally be abated.
As the year progresses, don’t allow yourself to collect things anymore. Think about what you bring into your home, and before you give it a home within your home, ask yourself if that object is really useful, and if it adds a positive vibe. If the answer is no, then chances are it will only be an energy sucker, and you’ll be tossing it out next year on your next purge.
2.Make Your Home Safe & Sound
You hear these stories on the news about homes that blew up because of a little friction from the homeowners socks on the carpet (happened in Defiance, OH, 2013), or about a family that died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the middle of the night. Your home may seem like a lovely place to live, but is it safe?
To be sure, check your house for everything from Radon – a colorless, odorless gas that causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year – to carbon monoxide. A radon detector costs $20 at your local hardware store, and a carbon monoxide kit will run about $40. Both are a small price to pay if it means protecting you and your family from potential and grave danger.
Furthermore, watch out for dryer lint. It may seem like a silly thing to be afraid of, but dryer lint is actually very combustible, and causes more than 15,000 fires each year. Don’t just clean out the lint trap though—check the vents and ducts behind the dryer for any that may have collected there over the years.
Also, make sure your bathrooms, attics and any other locations that accrue a lot of moisture are well ventilated, as these areas are prime candidates for mold.
Last but not least, if your home was built before 1978 and you haven’t done any work on it, consider testing for lead paint and asbestos. Many older homes contain both, and both pose a great health risk to their occupants. Get your home tested, and if it does turn out you have either or, hire a professional paint or construction company to come and remove it.
3.Lower Your Bills (And Shrink Your Carbon Footprint)
You don’t have to drive a hybrid or install solar panels to make a difference—all you need is some good old common sense. And the best place to start making a difference is in your very own home. You can cut energy usage by doing the following:
- Turning off your air conditioner when you leave the house, and dialing down your heater to 55 degrees at night and during the day;
- Installing compact fluorescent bulbs and low-flow showerheads;
- Drying your clothes on the line during the warmer months, and waiting for the dishwasher to be full before running it;
- Turning off your power strips when you’re not using anything plugged into them, and setting your computer to sleep mode when not in use;
- Unplugging all unused appliances;
- Watering your yard less;
- Composting.
4.Establish A Cleaning System
With work and kids and all the other obligations you have going on, it’s hard to clean your home, much less keep it clean. But hopefully with these tips, we can help you keep your home clean this New Year…
Daily: Put your dishes in the dishwasher every night, no excuses! If you don’t have a dishwasher, do the dishes nightly. I know this can seem daunting, but trust me: a night of dirty dishes is much easier to tackle than two days’ worth, or even a week’s worth.
Put all of your dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, and make sure everyone in your home does the same.
Don’t leave your stuff lying around. When you’re done using something, put it back where it belongs. When you get home from work, put your shoes and coat away. Have your kids put their backpacks in a designated place every day. Ask your family members to put all of their stuff away when they’re done using something too. A concerted effort to keep items in their proper homes will help considerably!
Weekly: It’s not practical to clean the bathroom daily, or to mop daily, or to dust the shelves daily, but if you assign one or two cleaning tasks to each day of the week, it’ll make cleaning that much easier. For instance, clean the bathroom on Sundays, sweep and mop on Mondays, and dust on Tuesdays. Clean the kitchen on Wednesday, and do laundry on Thursdays. Relax on Friday, and do one of your “monthly” chores on Saturdays. Which brings me to my next point…
Monthly: Some cleaning jobs don’t need to be done all that often, but should get done at least once a month. These chores include:
- Washing the walls
- Washing the baseboards
- Dust on top of cabinets
- Wipe down the inside of cabinets
- Clean the refrigerator
- Clean the oven
- Steam the carpets
- Clean the doors
5.Get Ready To Entertain
Now the your home is clean and clutter free, take a good look around and ask yourself: would you invite people over now? If the answer is ready, well, then, what are you waiting for?! However, if the answer is no, figure out why, and then fix those problem areas. Is it the unfinished drywall patch above the door that’s deterring you? What about the half-assed paint job? Or maybe you just don’t like your furniture? Whatever it is, there is a way to fix it, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
If the problems are with your home itself, contact Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC to see how we can help you get your home entertaining-ready on a budget. Or, if the problems are more cosmetic (furniture, accent pieces), hit up some estate sales, antique malls or heck, splurge on some brand-new items! Whatever you do, make sure the changes are changes that will provide you with continuous happiness throughout the New Year.
Remember, the New Year isn’t so much about changing who you are as it is about figuring out what’s going to make you happy through the new year and doing that. Sometimes, the thing that will make you happy is a change of environment.
That being said, Happy New Year!