Many individuals use the beginning of a new year to make resolutions about improving their lifestyle and breaking bad habits. Some people vow to eat healthy meals, quit smoking, cut back on drinking or volunteer time to charitable organizations. Most people quickly forget those resolutions and resort back to the same bad habits they had the year before. It is never too late to make new resolutions, especially if they involve cleaning up the house and restoring order to the chaos. Organizing is easy to do and it does not cost a lot of money if you make the most of what you already have. We have assembled some tips to help you achieve your goals of having a neat and orderly living environment. What could be easier?
Ready Your Home for Company Even if You Are Not Expecting Any
One handy tip from HGTV.com is to clean your house as if you are throwing a party and expecting guests. This way you are always ready to entertain friends and family members. Designer McCormick points out there is no need to spend a lot of money on remodeling the kitchen. Instead, organize the items you already own and purchase a few updates. Houseplants will clean the air of impurities and add a nice decorative touch at the same time. Choose an accent color and purchase throw pillows or an area rug in that color. Rearrange furniture pieces into conversation groups instead of having all the seating facing directly toward the television. Adding an interesting visual element to a wall will draw the eye and become a conversation starter for visitors.
*Small Changes Make A Big Difference
There is no need to change everything in the house. Small changes can make a big difference. Start redecorating one room with a coat of fresh paint. Choose one wall to paint and hang artwork or cherished family photographs. It will cost a fortune to buy all new energy efficient appliances. Start with one and make plans to replace the rest at a rate of one per year. It is often possible to take tax credits for those appliances you replace with more energy efficient models.
*Make Visible Storage Beautiful And Show Off Your Style
According to experts at Briar Cliff Village, visible storage systems should add to the aesthetics of a room. Retailers, including the Container Store and IKEA, carry decorative bins and baskets that are useful for containing clutter. At the same time, they can add style to the room. Bookends help keep books organized by subject matter, author or size.
Manage the Mess Daily
Jeff Campbell founded Clean Team in San Francisco and authored the book, Speed Cleaning. He offers the following tips for eliminating clutter in the home.
oKeep It Consistent: Make sure you put the dishes in the dishwasher every night, dirty clothes go in the hamper, and clean clothes go in the closet or dresser. Everything should go to its assigned place daily. Sunrise to sunset all is in its place and you can relax.
Keep Chores Manageable – Do not try to do everything at once. Choose one chore at a time and stick with it. Start by wiping down every surface to remove fingerprints. Use one session to clean all the appliances. Schedule another session to address all the windows. After that, turn your attention to sweeping, mopping and vacuuming.
Ask Others to Assist You – Enlist a roommate or family members to team up for a cleaning session. One person can vacuum while the other tackles the bathrooms. It will take only half the time to get everything done.
Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about alphabet photography and get excellent tips on how to incorporate family photos in your home decor, right now.