House Resolutions

Eleven days in. How is your New Year? Resolutions in check...Christmas decorations dismantled? January, the month of new beginnings. There is so much hype about clearing the clutter, organization and new beginnings. All wonderful ideas but it can be a lot of pressure to accomplish in those first days of a new year or, like a new diet/exercise regimen, maintain consistently. We hear so much about self reset with "clean eating" and workout challenges, but I'm here to tell you the new year is a perfect time to get some "home resolutions". What does that mean exactly? I'm so glad you asked. Here in the Northeast anyway, we are settling into our "home" season. The weather is often cold, raw and unpredictable. It gets dark early and the end result is copious amounts of time spent inside. Now that the holiday decor is put away,we embark on that time of year where I spend a lot of time thinking about the things I want/need to change here at home.

Every year I like to make what I call my "house resolution" sheet. It is just what it sounds like. A list of all the house projects that I want to accomplish in the coming year. They can be as grand as a total redesign/renovation or as minor as switching out a light fixture. What I find so helpful about the list is that I take the time to take design inventory of my house and put it all down on paper. It makes me accountable to remember all the stuff I need to purge, rearrange or what I may want or need to purchase. Once I have compiled my list I am able to see the bigger picture and prioritize. With this list I find I get some much more accomplished. The closet that needs reorganizing happens and the bulb that has been out since November actually gets replaced! I'm also able to create a realistic budget for the larger and loftier projects and determine if they are feasible in the next twelve months or if it is an idea that will be better addressed another year.

Design goals, like any other, push us to get things done. Sharing the list with your partner also helps to get everyone on the same page and can serve as a great tool to get a dialogue started about any impending project. The true beauty of this list is that it allows you to dream. These ideas that you write down for your house may never come to fruition. I am willing to bet however that because you allow yourself to imagine new ways to change and enhance your home, you are very likely to come up with some new ideas and create new rooms in ways you would not have otherwise.

Be realistic with your list. Love the house you're in, but don't be afraid to be bold. Prioritize your list in a way that will bring you new joy and also allow you to feel accomplished. You may surprise yourself, and your home, in the most beautiful of ways. Happy New Year from my house to yours...get dreaming!