If you’re anything like me, the start of a new year brings a fresh list of resolutions and a lot of thought about how to spend your time and energy in the months ahead. This year, let’s set realistic and attainable goals. Rather than chasing a “New Year, New You” mindset, focus on small, actionable changes. That same approach applies to our homes—the spaces where everyday life unfolds.

Here are 12 New Year’s resolutions for your home to help create a space that feels calm, organized, and welcoming the moment you walk through the door.

1. Clear out unwanted goods. Focusing on one room or area at a time, go through your things and clear out clutter. You don’t have to do this all in one day, but spend, for example, thirty minutes cleaning out your bathroom cabinets. Then, the next day or the next week, pick something else and focus on getting rid of items you no longer want or need. Once you start clearing things out, the next challenge is figuring out where everything goes.
2. Maintain a donation box. As you clear out clutter over the next year, it’s helpful to have a designated place for items you plan to donate, rather than letting them pile up around the house. Think of it as a “ready-to-donate” box—a simple way to keep things organized until they make their way out the door.
3. Give new items proper places in your home. Oftentimes, we organize what we already have, and then when we buy something new, we tend to shove it in a random place. Spend half an hour focusing on one area, such as your bookshelves, to shift things around and allow new items a proper place. Once everything has a place, the real key is keeping it that way.
4. Follow a realistic cleaning schedule. You can’t be expected to clean everything perfectly every day. That will simply overwhelm you and not be sustainable. Instead, create a plan and map out what needs to be done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. And, if you want to take it a step further, assign weekly chores to specific days of the week. For example, dusting on Mondays and vacuuming on Tuesdays. Spreading tasks out keeps them from piling up and makes upkeep feel
   manageable. A clean home isn’t about perfection but consistency.
5. Improve air quality. You can do this by changing your furnace and AC filters regularly—perhaps even adding these tasks to your new cleaning schedule—and by maintaining your HVAC system.
6. Check your home’s safety features! Beyond what you can see, there are a few resolutions that protect your home and your peace of mind long term. Read my blog linked here about maintaining your home’s safety features. Ensuring everything is up-to-date and functioning properly is crucial for both living in the house and selling it.
7. Cut down on energy use. This will not only reduce your carbon footprint but also lower your energy bill. You can start small by using LED lights or smart power strips—you wouldn’t believe how much energy phantom loads consume. For more information, read my blog linked here about smart home sustainability and how you can take steps in that direction.
8. Create a special nook for yourself. This could be centered on anything you love—coffee, reading, skincare, whatever makes you happy. This can be your space to decompress and relax because a home isn’t just about maintenance, but also restoration.
9. Upgrade your sleep set-up. After all that housework, quality sleep matters. Think about investing in a new mattress or bedding to enhance your sleep quality.
10. Stay on top of seasonal decor. With busy schedules and holidays coming and going in the blink of an eye, seasonal decorating can get pushed aside. For each holiday or season you wish to decorate, blocking off time on your calendar can make all the difference.
11. Prepare for guests. Finally, a few resolutions to make your home feel more welcoming to both you and your guests. No one enjoys the time-crunch cleaning scramble before the company arrives: running around trying to get the house ready while also getting yourself ready. By prioritizing the spaces where you spend the most time hosting, you can avoid that frantic, last-minute feeling altogether.
12. Boost your curb appeal. There are many ways for you to enhance curb appeal, including updated exterior lights, additional potted plants, a new doormat, shaped hedges, a fresh coat of paint on the door, and revitalized grass. You don’t have to do all of these things; even simply one or two will give your home a refreshed look.

These resolutions don’t need to happen all at once. In fact, they work best when they don’t. Tackling one resolution a month allows for thoughtful and manageable change. Each step will progress you towards a home that feels calm, welcoming, and entirely your own.

Happy New Year!

Until next time,
Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes

Sources:
https://lombardohomes.com/13-new-years-resolutions-for-your-home-2/
https://news.remax.com/12-new-years-resolution-ideas-for-homeowners