Resolve in 2015 to make your home more appealing, organized, well-maintained and efficient. The resolutions costs are reasonable, with priceless rewards.
Plant Edible Gardens
Growing what you eat is a purposeful way to landscape your yard and a practical way to eat healthy.
Add Personality
Adding personality to your home does not require a complete makeover. It can be as simple as adding a few new pillows to the sofa, adding glass vases to a table top or replacing generic furniture with vintage pieces. It is fun to go on a “treasure hunt” for these places, try Urban Southwest at 1016 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
Get an Energy Audit Energy-efficient homes save money on utility bills while keeping homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Companies that sell electricity offer advice to help homeowners spot the vulnerabilities and fix them. Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service offer $99 audits. An audit will examine insulation, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning and look for construction issues and hot spots in the house.
Declutter
Make a conscious commitment to simplicity, that means it’s time to declutter. The best part of decluttering your home is that it’s free. Avoid trying to tackle the whole house at once. Go slowly, room by room, drawer by drawer. Create three piles labeled toss, keep and recycle. Place the toss items in the trash. Bag donation items and put in your car to drop off at your local donation collection.
Paint
Painting continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to give a room or entire house new life and character. Painting can be time-consuming and labor intensive, so do it right the first time. Wash walls, spackle any holes, tape the baseboards with painter’s tape and film, and cover floors and furniture. Splurge on a nice brush, the fibers tend to fall out of cheap brushes. First, paint the ceiling, followed by the walls, the trim, cabinets, doors and baseboards.
