I don’t like making resolutions…. who does?  I only break them, say, one maybe two weeks into the new year so think of these bits of design advice not as “resolutoions” per se but as good old lifestyle changes.  Something to live by.  We all want our homes to be beautiful, comforting and livable.  We want our surroundings to inspire, invigorate or relax us. So maybe these “design resolutions” will help.  One of my favorite blogs/websites is Apartment Therapy.  They inspired me to talk about these five “Happier House” resolutions.

1:  Carefully consider what you bring into your home. We should all be more aware of how we purchase and what we use.  So many closets, basements and storage units filled with things we haven’t touched for years.  If something comes in, something must go.  Good for any size home but especially good if you live in a smaller space.  Edit, edit, edit… we don’t need the clutter, do we?

2: Cleanliness is next to Godliness.  Isnt’ that how the saying goes? A clean and organized home makes for a clean and organized life.  Or at least more orgnanized. It’s not just about making things clean but keeping your spaces useable for years. Care for furniture properly and watch what cleaning products you use.  Honestly, water is often the best solution.  Shoes cause HUGE damage to floors.  Maybe a shoeless home is a good idea? Organization means storage, bookcases and files. Keep it organized and keep it accessible.

3: My home… my sactuary!  We ALL have busy lives at work even those of us who work from home or maintain ALL the family goings-ons.  So why should we be uncofortable in our homes?  Make sure that you treat your home as a place of refuge and beauty.  Small touches, like flowers or beautiful soft towels, sheets that you can snuggle into or that perfectly laid out room where you can prop your feet, sip your wine and relax.

4: Be the entertainer!  There’s NOTHING better than enjoying our friends and family around our table and in our homes.  Invest in good everyday dinnerware and seasonal centerpieces and invite people over!  That’s right… bring people into your home and enjoy their company.

5: Deffered maintenance.  You’ve been putting it off for years… NOW is the time.  Don’t wait for the economy to come back and don’t wait until you decide to sell your home.  I’m not talking about big fancy design changes but making sure your home runs effeciently.  I’ve been at plenty a residence where we have “deferred maintenance” to contend with and it’s not fun and it’s not pretty and often it costs more than it would if we had nipped it earlier.  Check your water heater.  Check your furnace. Check your elecrical box.  Make sure it’s all to code and working properly.  Check your lighting.  Can you make it more energy efficient? Can you make it better lighting?  Make sure the home is running efficiently and it’s half the battle.