The clock finally ran out and surprise! It is a new year again already. Sure, you may have accomplished every goal & task on your list and are going into the new year feeling ready to tackle new projects and set even bigger goals for yourself. On the flip side, you may be fretting those last minute unfinished projects, kicking yourself for not managing your time and space better all year, and feeling overwhelmed to start a new year off "right" because you can't see past the heaping pile you already have in front of you. No matter which side of the coin you are on, or perhaps if you're somewhere in the middle, undoubtedly your home space could always use some revitalizing energy and a fresh look or at least a deeper clean to help you feel refreshed within your day to day living quarters. But depending where you land on your "task list" can have a major effect on your ability to bring a fresh outlook and new atmosphere into your home. That's why we came up with 10 solutions that are simple, quick, and pretty budget friendly for refreshing your home this new year (or anytime of the year!)
1. DECLUTTER: THE TRASH BAG METHOD.
Yep. Grab the large yard-waste sized garbage bags! The bigger the better, seriously. You'll be using this as your sack to haul around your home as you pile into it all of the clutter you simply don't need to overthink. And with this bag, when full, you will bag it up and THROW IT AWAY. You won't be rummaging through this bag at a later time. You won't be donating this bag to your local thrift, church, or consignment shop. This is your JUNK REMOVAL bag and that is why I say a yard-waste bag, typically thicker material to prevent ripping when heavy and full, and typically BLACK so you cannot see through it! This tactic allows you to rid the old, shed a layer, and not think twice! And a roll of these bad boy bags is less than $5 at your local dollar store or hardware store.
First, go through your designated "junk drawers" or "junk cabinets" or even your "out of sight, out of mind" spaces where non-used items might accumulate, such as under your bed or stuffed into the back of a coat closet. If you have useful items, such as working pens, paper clips or safety pins, etc. feel free to compile these items into a large clear ziplock storage bag to save for later (you will revisit these items and eventually shed some if you have too many. We don't truly need 358 pens in our house at any given time, scattered in 4 different non-sensical locations) The rest, such as random items that you don't have any use for or don't have matches to (think: old hardware screws and nails, old or loose batteries, a tape roll with maybe one strip of tape left, an old notepad with bent pages, random manuals or receipts to appliances or tools that you may not use or even have anymore, random outdated electronics, duplicate charging cords or outdated electrical cords such as RCA cables, an old cookbook that never gets opened, mismatched lids to tupperwares, broken parts that are missing other parts, etc.) THROW IT ALL IN THE TRASH BAG AND SAY GOODBYE.
You won't use the manuals or recipe books if you typically resort to quick finds using your smart phone or tablet. GOOGLE can literally find any manual or warranty you may ever need. That one loose battery that you'll probably never test to see if it is working? BUY A NEW SET and be done with it! The screws? Do you even know what they go to? Chances are when you need the right size screw for something you'll go to your proper tool set or run up to the store to buy ones that you know will work for your project. STOP STORING JUNK THAT YOU WILL JUST RE-PURCHASE LATER WHEN NEEDED! I am telling you. Once I got this concept, I was unstoppable with my cleaning!
2. GRAB A FEW CLEAR PLASTIC DURABLE STORAGE BINS.
READ BELOW # 3 for the explanation: you will see that you'll be using these bins for storage of seasonal household decor and/or clothing that is no longer worn due to the weather changing. I recommend CLEAR as you can easily label these bins, and SEE THROUGH THEM! Meaning it makes it much easier and quick to find/sort through when you are storing items away for longer terms.
Pro Tip: if you have the extra space, I recommend buying uniform bins that are stackable, as you can fit them all inside one space dedicated to storage easily! If you have a standing-space attic, stacking bins are incredibly useful to make the most use of your attic storage space.
Pro Tip (for your wallet!): Stores such as Big Lots, Goodwill, and other discount stores like Ollies or Save-a-lot, have much cheaper LARGE bins with locking lids compared to your average Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Home Goods stores.
3. SEASONALLY SWITCH OUT CLOTHING & DECOR.
You may live in a very seasonal state where winter rolls into spring which rolls into summer and you enjoy a lovely breezy autumn, too. Or, you may live in Florida, like me, and have one speed all year: HOT. Okay, it gets *chilly* here, but only for a very short time. Therefore, I HATE taking up closet space with bulky items such as my sweaters, large winter coats, heavy sweatpants, and boots. Why? Because as much as I LOVE these items, I barely wear them outside of the months of December - February (if we get lucky to have a cooler season at all!) Therefore, every winter I roll out my ONE TUB of seasonal cold weather clothes, and as soon as spring creeps in, AKA early March, I know at best I will get away with a light jacket (which I do keep in my closet all year long) so I pack away the bulky sweaters once again in my clear rubbermaid bin, and I tuck that bin away upstairs or in the attic until next season!
The same can work for home decor. Of course, most families accumulate Christmas or Hanukkah decor or whatever their customary holiday celebrations may entail, over the years. Some people even have family relics that have been passed down that are important to display seasonally. I know I do! Naturally, us Christmas tree decorators know the drill: tree goes up sometime after Thanksgiving, and comes down sometime closer towards the New Year. But what about the other decor that may or may not be serving your home? Take a walk around and look at the items that are simple to swap out:
- vases & planters
- mirrors/frames
- welcome mats or smaller throw rugs
- bedspreads / couch blankets and quilts
- linens / bathroom & kitchen towels
- catch all bowls, jars, holders, etc.
- candles
- flowers
- throw pillows
- knick-knacks (for those who may have displays on your mantles, on top of your kitchen cabinets, in a hutch, on shelves, etc.)
After Christmas, try sprucing up your easy swap items for any other lighter & more neutral colored items. Example: you may have a dark blue vase holding your beautiful poinsettia plant. But that plant will be going after the holidays, right? Instead of just replacing the plant in the dark blue festive vase or planter, perhaps you have just a plain glass clear vase tucked away under a cabinet instead? Or maybe that Clay pot outside that you've been meaning to fill with something could serve as a nice replacement in side your home! (Pinterest has many cheap ways of reusing household items in varieties of ways!)
The best part is, by rotating your decor and stashing seasonal looks away, each year, you get to reuse them and they will feel like brand new items that excite you and bring a fresh look into your home each season!
4. DUST, DUST, BABY!
Nothing makes your home feel refreshed like a good old fashioned deep clean. But instead of spending HOURS or DAYS scrubbing, start with a good dust. Move bigger items to get behind them if needed. A vacuum with a hose & attachments is a quicker way to dust hard to reach spots. After dusting you should always vacuum your floors for removing any fallen dust particles (think: baseboards, shelves, TV stands, speakers/electronics/computers, book cases, behind the couch or nightstand, window sills, corners of walls, door jams and door frames, slider door tracts, top of cabinets in kitchen, power outlets, any crown molding edges or lipping, ceiling fans etc.)
Pro Tip: If you are allergic to dust like me, take an allergy pill at least 30 min PRIOR to doing this chore! Thank me later! Another trick: if you don't want the dust flying around, use an old rag but get it damp first with water. This helps trap the dust vs. making it fly everywhere (just to resettle later).
5. MAGICALLY ERASE YOUR WALLS
After the dusting is completed, now it is time to touch up your walls and remove any marks, scuffs, and miscellaneous fingerprints you can find around your house using a magic eraser! These things truly are... *magic*! You can buy any brand in most stores and even the Dollar store carries them now. If you run them through cold water and gently wring it out, you can get multiple uses out of one sponge. You don't need to "scrub" hard (this disintegrates the sponge fast) but a little buffer with a tiny bit of water/dampening on the sponge will easily remove most markings and stains on a normal drywall -- and is safe for the paint.
In an instant, your walls will appear brighter and therefore your home will feel much cleaner and refreshed! (think: doors, frames, baseboards, light switches, window sills, cabinets, vanities,)
6. RUN AN AIR PURIFIER & LIGHT UP SOME FRESH CANDLES!
Nothing helps your home sing like a fresh scent when you walk through the door. I find that cotton or linen scents do best for carrying throughout the home with a clean smell. If you are not a candle fan, try using Glade or Air Wick wall plug ins, or even spray some febreze fabric refresher or light some incense. All of these can also be purchased cheaply at the Dollar Store. If you aren't crazy for the cotton or linen laundry smells, opt for YOUR favorite scent! I do recommend staying away from the holiday smells post Christmas, ie. avoid cinnamon, apple, vanilla, pine, etc. Try a light floral or fruity scent instead to bring in the new season vibes! If you want to avoid burning harsh chemicals and aren't sure what is in your candles or plug ins, try boiling water and adding a few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil for an overall fresh home scent. You can also use organic essentail oils in many diffusers or add the oil drops into a steamy pot of water too.
These can get more pricey, depending on what you purchase, but I recommend running some sort of air purifier machine in your home, ESPECIALLY after dusting. Even using the damp cloth method to dust, you cannot prevent particles floating around from being stirred up and falling back into the hard-to-reach areas of your home. Most Air purifiers do a good job at sucking air in (meaning the floating dust in the air gets sucked in, too!) and purifying air that goes out by whatever technology used, whether it is a filter system, or what I recommend, a water filtration system.
Pro Tip: OK this is a huge investment and I am not sponsored to sell/profit their products in any way, but I use and HIGHLY RECOMMEND INVESTING IN the Rainbow Air Purifying System. I have the Vacuum/Air Purifier and it has changed my life. I don't need to dust then vacuum as this is an all-in-one tool (I even have the mop attachments to it's even more multi-functional). Learn more here: https://rainbowsystem.com/
7. GIVE YOUR WALLS A FRESH COAT OF PAINT.
This option can be skipped depending on the age of your home, or quality of your interior paint job. For me, I have been meaning to repaint all interior cream-colored walls to be a fresh white with a slight hint of blue to it, as it would match my newly painted accent walls and bedrooms better, adn brighten up my home in general. Yes, this can get expensive and can be quite labor intensive if you DIY paint (like I tend to) but you can always tackle one area at a time and if you dedicate just an hour a day to it, you'll be surprised how much you can accomplish in a week! Start by taping off the ceilings and baseboards, removing any outlet covers and light switches. Next day, paint one coat. Day two, paint your second coat (if needed). Day three, remove tape and clean up area. Move to next area and repeat (or, finish!) You can also look into hiring a painter. Sometimes, you can find great discounts post holidays from service providers looking for work. Especially if you have multiple rooms to paint, they may offer special deals if using all one color of paint! A fresh coat of plain simple paint goes a LONG WAY for your home's interior face lift. You may just feel like you bought a brand new house!
Pro Tip: Brands like Behr marquee are guaranteed by the manufacturer to be just a one coat! I personally only use this brand when DIY painting my interior walls. Shop for your favorite colors at Home Depot!
8. BRING IN SOME GREENERY!
I love adding fresh plants to my home. Did you know there are many air purifying plants that grow indoors? Not only do they make your interior design pop, but they help to eliminate dust and odors in the air, and help you breathe better. Plus, living plants are economically better than fresh cut flowers because -- they don't die! (Well, not unless you don't care for them!) Use this list to see which plants are right for your home!
https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/interior-remodel/10-best-plants-for-cleaning-indoor-air-pictures
You may not have the floor space or table space or even any shelving available to give to your plants. So, get creative! Hang plants from the walls or ceilings using hooks, command strips, macramé plant holders, or even create a floating plant wall!
9. PRACTICE YOUR FENG SHUI
Ready to try out your interior home designer zen? Start by moving simple and light objects. For example: Place a piece of pottery or a photo frame on a crowded shelf onto a less crowded table top. Step back, take a look from a distance, and see how it looks and feels. Now you may start to notice how many overcrowded spaces you have in your home. Do you really need 8 decor pieces on display? Or can you reduce them to 3 or 4 tasteful complimentary items, and move the remainder to another area or perhaps, *gasp*, part ways with them if not needed any more? (Remember: you can store for later use too!) Less is more when it comes to home design and decor. Opt for one statement piece surrounded by two complimentary pieces. For example: if you have a bright colored couch, opt for a muted area rug and a neutral more basic coffee table. If you have a beautiful blown up family portrait hanging in your entry way, maybe remove the oversized mirror right next to it, or keep both, but remove all of the surrounding smaller photos in frames that also are hanging on the wall. Simple is always more elegant and makes your space feel larger when less is hung and crowding your wall space.
If you have the help and the floor plan to allow it, try moving around some furniture next! Example: we have an open floor plan so we "flip" our living room and dining room often, as we don't have anything permanently fixed into the walls, such as a mounted TV or built in entertainment center. This is not always feasible for every household, so don't worry if this is simply not going to work for you. There is plenty of other ways to refresh the vibe by arranging different patterns with your throw pillows, adding in a new quilt draped on your couch or favorite reading chair, angle your coffee table in a different way (if it is a square, try making it a diamond!) or simply change out your area rug for a fresh look to any room!
Always vacuum or dust behind and under furniture when moving it to help your air quality! You never know when you'll reach that space again, might as well clean it out now!
10. WIPE IT DOWN!
You might be surprised to learn how much grime accumulates on surfaces within your home, such as TV screens, coffee tables, entryway tables, the tops of sound bars or floor speakers, mirrors hung throughout your home, kids play areas/play sets, dog crates, kitchen cabinet faces and countertops, washer and dryer machines, door handles, bathroom and kitchen sink faucets and knobs, shower heads, glass shower doors or shower curtain liners. Wiping these things down frequently will help keep your home clean, smelling fresh, looking more appealing, and minimizes the spread of germs and bacteria. Give everything a nice healthy wipe down using variety of cleaning products depending on your surface, ie. wood cleaner for wooden surfaces, glass cleaner for glass, and special dust/scratch free cleaners for TV screens, etc.
Pro Tip: using vinegar diluted with water is an EXCELLENT solution and cleaner safe for most household uses...and, is much less expensive! It also doesn't leave streaks on glass! I Buy a big jug on Amazon that is stronger than normal vinegars purchased in the grocery store, and I mix 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water into my own spray bottles for cleaning! DON'T FORGET TO LABEL YOUR BOTTLES! Always store your chemicals safely from pets and children.
Check out what I get on Amazon & buy it here!
