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?
Prepare the Home to Entertain Guests
The experts at HGTV.com suggest you prepare your home for a party even if you do not have one planned. Make sure the home is clean, tidy and ready to receive visitors at any time. Designer McCormick offers affordable suggestions for remodeling a kitchen. There is no need to purchase all new appliances and accessories at one time. Create ways to organize your current possessions and add a handful of updated items. Houseplants serve the dual purpose of looking nice and cleaning impurities from the air. Select an accent color and purchase throw rugs or new window curtains in that shade to brighten up the room. Place furniture pieces facing each other in a conversational group instead of making the television the focal point of the living room. An interesting wall painting or piece of artwork is an ideal conversation starter when company calls.
*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.
Choose Decorating Storage Systems
One suggestion by Briar Cliff Village is to make visible storage more attractive. IKEA and the Container Store sell decorative baskets in a variety of designs and colors to contain clutter and add style to any storage system. Use bookends to organize books by size or subject.
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.
Do Chores Daily - Do not let dirty clothes and dishes pile up. Make a point to fill the dishwasher and put dirty laundry in the hamper every night before going to bed. Putting everything in its place will give you the freedom to relax and get a good night's sleep.
oOne Thing At A Time: Don't overwhelm yourself. Focus on one type of cleaning at a time - Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that's done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.
Ask for Help - Cleaning can be a team activity if you ask family members or a roommate to help. One person can clean the bathroom while the other vacuums all the rugs. With some coordination and planning, you can have the whole house cleaned in an afternoon leaving free time for fun activities during the weekend.
Prepare the Home to Entertain Guests
The experts at HGTV.com suggest you prepare your home for a party even if you do not have one planned. Make sure the home is clean, tidy and ready to receive visitors at any time. Designer McCormick offers affordable suggestions for remodeling a kitchen. There is no need to purchase all new appliances and accessories at one time. Create ways to organize your current possessions and add a handful of updated items. Houseplants serve the dual purpose of looking nice and cleaning impurities from the air. Select an accent color and purchase throw rugs or new window curtains in that shade to brighten up the room. Place furniture pieces facing each other in a conversational group instead of making the television the focal point of the living room. An interesting wall painting or piece of artwork is an ideal conversation starter when company calls.
*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.
Choose Decorating Storage Systems
One suggestion by Briar Cliff Village is to make visible storage more attractive. IKEA and the Container Store sell decorative baskets in a variety of designs and colors to contain clutter and add style to any storage system. Use bookends to organize books by size or subject.
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.
Do Chores Daily - Do not let dirty clothes and dishes pile up. Make a point to fill the dishwasher and put dirty laundry in the hamper every night before going to bed. Putting everything in its place will give you the freedom to relax and get a good night's sleep.
oOne Thing At A Time: Don't overwhelm yourself. Focus on one type of cleaning at a time - Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that's done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.
Ask for Help - Cleaning can be a team activity if you ask family members or a roommate to help. One person can clean the bathroom while the other vacuums all the rugs. With some coordination and planning, you can have the whole house cleaned in an afternoon leaving free time for fun activities during the weekend.
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