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New Year, New Home
Phew, this year has been a big one! So let’s start next year off right and get our homes in order. Not sure how to get your home ready for the new year? Here is a handy list to get you started with some ideas!
2. Streamline the stuff
One of the best and least expensive ways to instantly improve your home and how you feel about it is to clear it of the clutter.
It is a great time of year to organise and clear the clutter that tends to collect in those areas like the: entrance, kitchen table, bedside tables, closets etc. If you can’t bear the thought of doing it all in one go… Make the resolution to go room-by-room each month clearing anything you don’t wear, use or love and donate it to charity or sell it (I usually find it easier to give it to charity personally because the things I am going to sell never actually make it out of the ‘to sell pile’).
3. Deep clean
Many of us do sporadic deep cleans or even spring clean, however our homes definitely could use concentrated TLC more than once a year. Check out our printable New Year Cleaning List HERE
Need a little inspo? Have a look at the Home Edit or Tidying Up on Netflix both are wonderful, it just depends if you want heartwarming and helpful tips vs bubbliness, celebrity closets, amazing transformations and next-level organisation.
4. Find a home for all your things
They say, don’t put things down, put them away. The only way to do this is to make sure everything has a ‘home’. i.e. a hook for keys, a bowl for wallets at the end of the day, hooks for handbags, racks for shoes etc.
Head into Target or Kmart and get yourself some storage boxes. Getting all your things into cabinets and storage baskets means they are hidden from the eye and you will be surprised how calming this is. Plus it saves you so much time. Less of the ‘Hey hun, have you seen my keys? And my wallet actually? Oh and my shoes?’.
Get some beautiful labels made, so every family member knows what goes where. We love the ones over at Pretty Little Designs but there are so many wonderful options out there.
5. Sell unwanted items
When you have bits and pieces lying around they are taking up space in your home and mind. So get rid of them and sell them. If they aren’t quite sellable, charity shops are great options. This means you clear your clutter and give to a good cause at the same time.
PRO TIP: Don’t think about the money you spent on the item X years ago. Because if you don’t use it or love it, then it doesn’t actually have that value anymore. So really it is actually worth what someone else will pay for it.
6. Have a good fridge, pantry and freezer cleanout (it is surprisingly cleansing)
- More specifically, the fridge, pantry and freezer.
- Chuck away foods past their expiration date: Herbs and spices have an expiration date, as do baking products. HERE is the difference between best before and use by
- Chuck away food with freezer burn
- Chuck away food that has been in the freezer forever, despite some beliefs food does indeed spoil in the freezer eventually. Check out a helpful guide HERE
- Replace things you are going to use again but they are past their best. But really think about it. Unless you need it ASAP sometimes it is better to wait and see if you actually use that item again… ahem treacle anyone??
7. Create a monthly/quarterly meal plan
Save yourself time, effort, stress and money. It will be the best thing you ever do!
We have one here for you which you can download into excel HERE
8. Work our a weekly system to keep your house clean
Pick something to do every day, this reduces your weekly/fortnightly cleaning significantly! If you can keep this up, it is a game-changer!
An example might be:
- Monday – Dust all the surfaces in the house
- Tuesday – Clean the toilet/s
- Wednesday – Clean the shower whilst in it
- Thursday – Vacuum floors
- Friday – Clean the bathroom & kitchen basins
- Saturday – Any unfinished cleaning
- Sunday – Nada! Rest Day!
Try to utilise your time – clean the shower while you have your conditioner on your hair, I wash my face with a flannel and so I wipe the sink every couple of days to reduce the weekly clean. I dust the surfaces of the rooms as I am going through for other things i.e. when I put the washing in each of the bedrooms.
9. Save the planet, even just a little bit helps.
If you have been thinking you really want to make an effort to be more environmentally minded, then good news, any one thing, or three things will make a difference. Here are some ideas for your home:
- Change your cleaning products to more eco-friendly alternatives
- Switch over to LED light bulbs
- Wash your clothes in cold water
- Start a compost bin/worm farm there are some great options for every kind of household plus some great people making the whole process less scary like the fine folk over at The Compost Collective.
- Ditch the dryer where possible and try stylish and functional airers like this or this, otherwise Verity Jayne an Interiopr Design has loads of ideas HERE
- Turn off lights when you leave a room (yep what your Mum said is actually kinda useful)
- Make a vow to not buy botted water anymore. Buy reusable bottles and get yourself a water filter (jug, tap, fridge – all work well).
- Make a decision to buy quality over quantity when it comes to consumer goods. Buy something made to last.
10. Make your home more welcoming
Those finishing touches are called that for a reason. Those finishing details make all the difference, add the below to your home and you will see what we mean
- Greenery – If you suck at keeping things alive go for succulents they are super interesting, lovely and low maintenance.
- Cushions – These are lush and wonderful ways to add colour that don’t break the bank.
- Art & photos – Add some interest in your home with some art and prints. Plus don’t forget some lovely photos of loved ones.
- Bedheads – Bedheads are the frame to the bedroom. They make such a wonderful statement. You can go subtle or bright. Check out our current customer favourites HERE
- Throws & Rugs – Add texture, colour and warmth to your home (sometimes literally when it comes to throw blankets!).
Happy New Year, from our family to yours
Erin Smart owns Martini Furniture with her husband Leif. Together they make one amazing team. She does the marketing and more intricate sewing and he makes the wonderful products you see in their online store. Erin loves colour and helping customers realise their perfect room.
