How to Give Your Home a
Fresh Start in the New Year

It’s a new year! Thank goodness! 2020 was definitely a challenge. I’m pretty sure we could all use a fresh start! Believe it or not, our homes play a huge part in that! With everyone spending so much time at home this past year, thanks 2020, I think we’ve all realized how important our home actually is. It really needs to function well with everyone in it. It should be comfortable AND comforting. And we also have to LIKE it! Whether your home needs a deep clean, a remodel, or just some new accessories, we’re going to walk you through it!

The first step is to assess what you need. Does your home function well with everyone in it? By that I mean is it ever difficult to complete a task in a room, or do you ever wish you had a spot to…? Sometimes it can be as simple as rearranging furniture. There are ways to make the most of the space that you have. Does your living room feel choppy, like you’re not sitting together when you’re in the same room? If that’s the case, check out our Furniture Arrangement Solutions eBook! Or maybe it feels too crowded and you need smaller or less furniture. Do you have your home office in the same room that the kids play in? Maybe it’s time to carve out a space that’s quiet and away from any chaos. If you’ll be working from home for a while, this blog post is for you. Another great place for a home office spot is in a formal living room that doesn’t usually get much use. You can add a desk or even just a console table behind the sofa (like above) and create your own work space.

Other times there’s no way around it and your home may require a remodel. If you walk into your kitchen and it says “Welcome to the 80’s” then you need a remodel. If you walk into your living room and the cushions are all flopped over and your rug looks bare, then you need a redo. If you keep bumping into each other in the kitchen, think about making it bigger or more open. Maybe your breakfast nook can become an island with stools. Whatever it may be, there is most likely a solution for it. Maybe 2021 is the year you plan to remodel your bathroom so it feels like a spa. For tips on surviving a renovation, take a look at this blog post.

If your home functions well already, maybe it just needs a good, deep clean to feel fresh. Decluttering will also help. We all have things that we don’t use anymore that we can get rid of. I created a Declutter Challenge that would be perfect for the new year. It’s all broken down to one task per day, and it will help you get organized in one month. It even includes a 100 Things You Can Throw Away Now handout! You can feel good donating the items to charity or someone that can use them. At the end of that month, you’ll feel lighter! It will also make it easier to clean your home without clutter.

Lastly, sometimes all a home needs is some new accessories to help it feel new again. My first recommendation is flowers and/or plants. One of the best things to bring into your home in the dead of winter is life! Some fresh flowers or a plant can brighten your day and bring some life to any room. Put a little succulent in the bathroom or some flowers in a vase on your kitchen table. Or, give us a call. Did you know that we can come in and just do an accessories package for you? We’ll refresh your existing furniture with new accessories that’ll give your room a whole new look! Check out our Interior Design Services here.

The next thing to bring in for winter is some soft, luxurious throws and/or pillows! Faux fur, flannel, sherpa or wool will bring some warmth and comfort into your home (your pets will love them just like Chevy does!). You can also change out your pillow covers for new ones in those same textures! Changing out your accessories will give your home a new look as well. Not sure what to use? Bring in items that are white! It’s the perfect clean, crisp color for the winter season. Then you can warm up your home by bringing in some wood accents. Baskets, trays, or candle holders would be perfect. Finally, candles. Candles can make your home smell fresh and clean. Get some clean white candles in varying sizes and bunch them together. Or get one that you LOVE the smell of and light it when you sit down to read a book.

My biggest tip of all – don’t forget to put away the accessories you’re replacing. If you just keep layering them on, it will look like a cluttered mess. Put the items in a tote labeled “accessories” in your basement or repurpose them somewhere else in your home.

I think this past year has really taught us all how important home is. We’ve learned why it’s crucial for our home to function for different purposes, like work, school AND family. We’ve learned that it’s really necessary for our home to be both comforting and comfortable. I mean who didn’t want a little comfort in 2020?
We’re asking a lot of our home lately, but that’s ok, as long as your home is up for the challenge!