Did you give your home the love it really deserves in 2018? Instead of focusing on the usual fitness, finance and family goals why not make some New Year’s resolutions for your home, too?
Here are eight ways to make your home a space to be proud of and somewhere you want to be, all of the time. Say hello to an organised 2019.
1. Find a permanent spot for your keys and other transitory items
Are you forever losing your keys or putting down your handbag in mysterious places? Take note.
Find a convenient – somewhat hidden – place to keep those on-the-go valuables and your life will change for the better.
For security reasons and to discourage intruders, it’s best if this spot is a little deeper into the home than a visible place in the entryway.
A drawer, hook or a bowl (rather than a table surface) will ensure keys and valuables don’t get lost beneath a pile of mail.
2. Try to keep some indoor plants alive this year
The interiors industry continued its love affair with indoor plants in the past year, but in reality, it’s not always an easy trend to take on.
There’s no doubt greenery adds life and colour into a space, however many people struggle to keep the plants actually looking green for extended periods of time.
Healthy house plants require the right amount of light, water and fertiliser, as well as pest protection, dusting and (small) stints outdoors.
Why not start with some low-maintenance options? These 9 indoor plants you can’t kill (so easily).
3. Finally take that upholstery/pottery/woodworking course
Are you the type of person who sees a carefully crafted mug and thinks: ‘I could make that’?
Now’s the time to put your money where your mouth is because the maker movement continues to grow.
Trend forecasters from all over the world were correct in their predictions about the rise of handmade goods and artisan-created pieces in the homewares industry.
If you’ve got an itch to occupy your hands with an honest craft, then find a class or course, pick up the tools and get cracking.
At worst, you’ve broken out of routine, met some new people and escaped the screens for an hour.
At best, you could discover a new passion or hobby and create a new piece (or two) to display in the home.
4. Stop buying things you have no place to keep
Most of us have just enough space in our kitchen cupboards and on the kitchen bench – so why buy that expensive ice-cream maker that gets used once a year (if that)?
If you want to embrace a de-cluttered existence in the new year, you’ll need to become a cut-throat shopper.
The new item either needs to have an empty space waiting for it, or it has to be purchased to replace an old item in the pecking order.
With that said, the new item also needs to have a clear purpose or function in your life.
It’s no use throwing away old things you never use if you’re only going to replace them with new things you never use.
5. Get more fresh flowers & place them around the home
What a fun and easy resolution.
At this time of year, it’s highly likely your rose garden is in need of pruning.
So why not pick some fresh blooms to display while you work on the garden?
No flowers in the garden? Pick up a bunch from the local market. Most fruit shops sell fresh flowers and you can usually find a simple bunch of native florals.
Read more: How to grow hibiscus plants
6. Declutter your life… for real this time
The trick with decluttering is to not attempt the whole house in one go.
Grab some empty boxes and try sorting room by room, bookshelf by bookshelf or cupboard by cupboard.
Give yourself a set amount of time with regular breaks slotted in. You don’t want to burn out, otherwise you’ll only do a half-hearted job.
Read more: Keep vs throw: decluttering the bedroom
7. If there’s more than one of you, set a cleaning roster
Now you’ve gotten rid of the clutter, cleaning should be a breeze.
Remember 80% of cleaning is putting things away so you actually have a surface to clean.
You’re then left with regular tasks such as dusting, doing the laundry, taking out the rubbish, wiping down the bathroom and sweeping, mopping and vacuuming.
Read more: 6 spots you’ve probably missed when cleaning your home
In a family or shared household, these jobs shouldn’t be the responsibility of one person. Creating a cleaning roster will help ensure everyone is accountable.
Also, remember people tend to prefer certain cleaning tasks over others – so be sure to assign accordingly.
8. Get cooking
The saying goes ‘the kitchen is the heart of the home’ – not the couch, where many of us have been chowing down on Uber Eats in front of the box lately.
Fast-paced lifestyles have encouraged eating on the go and sit-down dinners in many households have become a thing of the past.
If you do spend more time in your kitchen – rather than admiring it from afar – you’ll probably find you naturally start eating healthier and spending less.
Then there’s the forgotten ritual of actually sitting down to the table with your family (or housies), turning off the TV and enjoying the meal you’ve prepared.
If we can’t switch off for meals, when can we?
This article was originally published as 8 New Year’s resolutions for your home by www.realestate.com.au and is written by Alice Bradley.