{"id":3626,"date":"2017-01-06T10:19:16","date_gmt":"2017-01-06T15:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/creeksideblog\/?p=750"},"modified":"2017-10-04T14:36:37","modified_gmt":"2017-10-04T18:36:37","slug":"3-new-years-resolutions-for-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/2017\/01\/06\/3-new-years-resolutions-for-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"3 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lg-reserve-wissahickon-4\"<\/p>\n

Every year when January rolls around you vow to get in shape, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home?<\/p>\n

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Here are our three\u00a0picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:<\/section>\n
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1. Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean<\/strong><\/p>\n
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  • Keep all of your cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths – in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room.<\/li>\n
  • Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder’s apron that you wear when you clean. Hook your glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaning spray on the loops to keep your hands free as you work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)<\/li>\n
  • Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. It’s faster, Campbell says. 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.<\/li>\n
  • For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least three parties: One of you can do the dusting\/vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do the bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes, Campbell says, leaving more time on the weekends for the park or the movies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    2.\u00a0Streamline the stuff
    \n<\/strong>One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter. Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most.<\/p>\n

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    This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in, says Antoinette Nue, an Atlanta consultant who specializes in helping people simplify and go green.<\/section>\n<\/div>\n
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    “Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken,” she says.Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVDs, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Group similar items together on sleek trays, says Stuart McCormick, a designer with Liz Levin Interiors in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n
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    Clear your counters of everything you don’t use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home.<\/section>\n
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    3.\u00a0Get your place ready for entertaining
    \n<\/strong>Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update?<\/section>\n<\/div>\n
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    You don’t have go for broke here and invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates says designer McCormick.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    One easy update that makes your home seem more “finished” is the addition of plants, she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “They bring in new energy and help clean the air,” she says. “And it’s a great way to decorate if you’re on a budget.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

    A couple of dramatic presentations like a large flowering agapanthus or potted palm in a bright ceramic planter that complements your existing color scheme will do the trick.<\/p>\n

    Pulling out a new accent color from your existing decor can make the whole room seem fresh. Pick an underused color in the room and add more of it in the form of a new pillow or throw to update your look, McCormick advises. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor your space.<\/p>\n

    Lastly, take some time to rearrange your furniture so it is oriented in conversation groups and not just facing the television. That just might up for chances for real conversation and connection in the New Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Every year when January rolls around you vow to get in shape, save money or spend more time with family and friends. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,62,2],"tags":[88,29,47,53],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3626"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3709,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions\/3709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juddbuilders.com\/juddbuildersblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}