 he new year is a great time for renewal, and there's no reason why your home shouldn't share in this time of rejuvenation.Here are a few ideas to give your home-and your spirits-a lift as you move forward in 2008.
Get organized.
One change that might make a big difference in your life is organizing your space. Like most projects, the hardest part is getting started, so start small. Decide which one area would make you feel the best to have organized. Kitchen wraps and unruly pot lids driving you crazy? Start there. You may just feel so good afterwards that the next area won't seem so daunting!
Here are some strategies to help. Contain it. Seasoning packets, magazines, rubber bands... they're easier to locate and cause a lot less mess when they're all in one place. Just choose an appropriately sized container-be it a jar, box, basket or drawer-and consolidate.
Consider a container that's both attractive and durable, particularly if your items will be in view. Decorative baskets come in many sizes, shapes and materials, from fabric to wicker and solid wood. They're pretty and versatile enough to corral magazines in the living room or toiletries in the bathroom cupboard. Office supply stores carry metal mesh accessories that are great for gathering pushpins or pens. Stylish glass jars are good for colorful items such as buttons. You can even buy premade junk-drawer organizers or order custom drawer inserts to straighten messy drawers.
Make the most of the space you have. You probably have storage space that's not well utilized because it's inconvenient. For deep corner cabinets, you can install lazy Susan shelving so you can actually get to the items in your cupboard. Sliding storage racks hold pan lids, cleaning supplies and more, pulling out for easy access. Stairstep shelf organizers let you see (and reach) what's in the back row of a cupboard. And shelf-helper platforms double your shelf space and help you separate fragile items to keep them from breaking.
Look for space in new frontiers. You may have more room in your home than you think you do. There are lots of storage options designed to make use of hidden space. Under-counter paper towel dispensers and spice racks. Kitchen-wrap organizers that hang onto the bottom side of shelving. Bike risers and ceiling-mounted storage shelving for garages. Walls can also offer an alternative to precious counter space, with magnetic strips to hold knives, scissors, tools, jars with metal lids and more.
Create additional space. You can give yourself even more room by doing away with some traditional pieces of furniture. For instance, a fold-down ironing board frees up space in a closet or laundry room. A wall bed lets your guest room double as an office or craft room. A desk armoire gives you an "office in a box" that fits right into your living room after-hours. And bed risers can give you extra space under the bed.
Reinvent your space.
With a little imagination, you can give your space an entirely new look and feel for the new year. And even small changes can work wonders to rejuvenate your home.
Introduce new colors or patterns. Winter is a time for deeper hues and richer colors. You can transform your home by adding slipcovers, switching shower curtains and bedding, adding a new area rug or changing out throw pillows.
If you don't want to change the room's color palette (if your living room is white on white, for example), you can still mix things up by incorporating textures such as jacquard, quilting, animal patterns, faux fur, chenille, mohair or velvet. |  |  | Home Pricing Guide | Shake things up. Sometimes just changing things around can make a huge difference. Try rearranging the furniture, and maybe even take out a piece to give the room more space. Shuffle the items on your mantle, the books on your coffee table, potted plants and pictures. By featuring items with a winter color palette, you can make your home warmer and more inviting.
Dress up the walls. Not everything that hangs on a wall has to be in a frame. Consider something different-maybe a metal sculpture, small rug or tapestry, decorative dishes, masks, antique items such as old keys... the list is only limited by your creativity.
Accessorize. Area rugs make your room or hallway cozier and add a touch of sophistication. Plants not only add a nice decorative touch, but research shows they're also good for your health. Spice up your entrance with a shiny new doorknob and knocker. Add some stylish light switch plates, or new drawer and cabinet hardware in the kitchen.
It's amazing how much changing our personal space can change the way we feel. Coming home to an organized, comfortable and attractive house is something you can appreciate all year long.
TIPS
Small, simple changes with big impact.
When you rearrange furniture, remember to leave at least two and a half feet (preferably four feet) for walkways, and avoid having traffic flow through a conversational grouping.
When positioning furniture, place the largest pieces of furniture first. And keep chairs no more than eight feet apart in conversation areas.
Wallpaper can make a decorative statement without overwhelming a room. Try papering just the part of the wall between the shelves of a shelving unit, or replace the white mats in your picture frames with matching wallpaper mats. You can also cover a paper lampshade for a custom look.
Group small items on a wall so that they form a single visual unit. To add focus to a collection of items or pictures, tape off and paint just the area behind that section.
Some things may not take up a lot of space, but they are unsightly. To cure the loose-spaghetti look of computer cords, get a computer cable organizer, also called a cord management solution. These bind all those cords together in an attractive way.
Accents such as lamps, mix-and-match lampshades and even light bulbs with color-enhancing benefits can change the ambiance of a room. You can even change a chandelier or use rose-tinted bulbs.
To add a touch of sophistication to bookshelves, remove the dust covers from hardcover books.
Let colors flow from one room to the next when the rooms are visible from one another.
A family message center can be a great planning tool. Hang a whiteboard, chalkboard or bulletin board in a central location, or paint a section of wall with chalkboard-magnetic paint.
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