Let's face it—we all need help achieving our New Year's resolutions
New Year's resolutions are long overdue for an upgrade, so why not focus all that fresh January energy on the place where we spend the majority of our time? Gathering the right team of collaborative and inspiring professionals can help us reach our #homegoals.
Harvard Health says that if we want to complete our lofty resolutions, we need to break big goals into small, measurable steps. Here are eight goals for the new year and the home service expert team you'll need to make it a success.
When we transition our homes away from the holidays, it's normal to crave a fresh start that’s free of string lights and tinsel. If you're ready to clear out your home’s clutter and adopt a more minimalist lifestyle, book an appointment with a professional home organizer. These pros charge an average hourly rate of $55 to $200 an hour and can do everything from creating new storage systems to advising on changing long-term home habits.
If your closet isn’t sparking joy, call a professional closet designer and organizer. These experts can add new shelving, closet lighting, and, most importantly, an organized system, so you don't have to dig around for your lost boot.
Have you checked out the paint colors of the year for 2022? The highlighted hues cover everything from a rich periwinkle to a misty green-gray. Since paint colors play such a significant role in the mood of our homes, pick a room and make a plan to repaint it by a specific date.
Are you worried that you won't stick to your plan? Get an appointment with an interior painter on the books and spend your energy focusing on which shade of blue is the most inspiring for your home office.
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After too many hours staring at a screen, there's nothing quite as healing as a mindful few hours in the garden. But if you've avoided planting bulbs or pruning your azaleas because of a not-so-green thumb, you don't have to do it alone. Speak with a local landscaper to discuss monthly visits for general upkeep or help designing a new garden from the ground up.
Excellent air quality is not just a priority for allergy sufferers. Dust, dirty air ducts, and even hazardous gases can cause headaches over time—literally. Gather a team of experts to keep irritating smells and pollutants at bay by deep cleaning your upholstery, carpets, or your whole house from top to bottom. You can also call in a home air quality specialist to help cover all your bases, from carbon monoxide to off-gassing furniture.
After years of watching cooking shows like The Great British Baking Show and Chopped, you're finally ready to clear the way for your own home culinary debut. But first, you need a kitchen that can handle your dinner party dreams. Sit down with a local kitchen remodeler and make a plan to choose new appliances, redo your countertops, and even add an island to prep and host like the pros.
We all play a role in the mindful use of energy and fossil fuels. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a calculator to estimate your carbon footprint and tips on lowering it. If you're new to your home—or tackling the project for the first time—call in a pro to perform a home energy audit to see where you could make easy energy improvements.
For example, a high-functioning and regularly cleaned HVAC system is one of the top ways to keep your furnace and AC unit running efficiently. Plus, since the start of the new year includes cold weather in many parts of the country, ensure your home has the proper insulation and winterizing support.
It may not be a glamorous goal, but this is the year you're going to get all your home-related inspections done on time. Earn the "safe homeowner of the year award"—at least in your household—by scheduling your chimney sweep, roof inspection, and HVAC inspection far in advance. Determining what needs fixing is the first step in writing up your annual home repair list, so get on top of it before we blink and it's suddenly June.
If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that being able to safely gather with loved ones isn’t always guaranteed. With that in mind, design a home that’s ready for the next impromptu barbecue, birthday party, or when your best friend is in the neighborhood and needs a cup of coffee. Keep companies that offer emergency cleaning services on speed dial if your home is turned on its head when you make last-minute plans.
Dream a bit bigger by reimagining your outdoor hosting space. Is it time to finally install a swimming pool, redo the patio pavers, or add an outdoor kitchen? Remember, the sky's the limit when it comes to New Year's resolutions; we just have to break things down in manageable steps—often with the assistance of experts who can help us along the way.
