New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
Cut down on your energy use
- Seal & insulate your ductwork
- Extend the life of your furnace, heat pump, and air conditioner
- Turn off lights when you leave a room
- Monitor heat & AC – adjust only when necessary
- Wash & dry full loads of both dishes and laundry
Create a healthy kitchen
- Go through your pantry and refrigerator – throw out expired items and donate canned foods
- Make the kitchen more welcoming by adding a kitchen table that seats more guests
- Add new cookbooks and mix fresh recipes into your rotation of meals
Clean your indoor air
- Maintain HVAC
- Change furnace filters
- Use low-VOC paints
Replace old with low-maintenance new
- Use fiber-cement siding
- Weatherproof, stable, fire-resistant and will last up to 50 years
- Replace traditional light bulbs with LED that will last for years
- Use long-lasting ceramic tile flooring
Check-in on the safety of your home
- Test fire detectors
- Test for Carbon Monoxide and Radon
- Clean our dryer lint
- Check ventilation in all areas of the home and ensure vents lead to outside to prevent mold
- Ensure your home meets safety standards for any children in the home
Organize
- Get rid of anything you no longer use or enjoy
- Only add things you need or love
- Create extra storage – get creative!
- Add shelving, baskets and other storage options
- Consider unique storage options such as ceiling shelving in the garage
Do small home improvement projects
- Update your décor, even small changes go a long way
- Adding house plants will liven your space and improve air quality
- Get outside! Plant a tree, start a garden, begin composting
- Prepare a home emergency kit
Create a plan for your household
- Budget
- You will continue to see the benefits of budgeting all year long and finish the year on a financial high
- Put some cash back for home improvement
- Make a plan to keep clean!
- Schedule tasks – break them down by days, weeks and months to keep from feeling overwhelmed
- Divide tasks among family members
Make your space welcoming
- Begin in spaces where guests meet such as the living area, kitchen and guest bedrooms
- Add small pops of color such as throw pillows, wall art and accent rugs
- Ensure guest bedrooms and baths are cozy and comfortable