Each New Year, millions of Americans resolve to change something in their lives. From fitness and nutrition to career changes, the New Year is all about starting and accomplishing new goals. This year, we encourage you to not only set a New Year’s resolution for yourself, but also your home.

So what does that mean? How do you set goals for a home? HGTV recently came out with its list of five New Year’s resolutions that you should set for your home. Here is the breakdown:

1. Streamline the Stuff – The first step to feeling better about your home and starting the year off fresh is to clear the clutter! Go room-by-room and start sorting through items that you have. If you haven’t worn it or used it in the past year, then it probably can be donated to charity. Additionally, clearing clutter doesn’t mean just getting rid of things. It also means organizing! Stash those lose items such as books, DVDs, remotes and more in baskets that will hide the clutter while adding some design to your home.
2. Make it Safe and Sound – Don’t forget about the dryer lint! We know that you probably clean the little lint trap after each load of laundry, but are you remembering to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer? Many of us fail to understand how combustible dryer lint is, but according to the U.S. Fire Administration, dryer lint accounts for more than 15,000 building fires a year. Better to be safe than sorry, so don’t forget to clean the vents and ducts!
3. Shrink Your Bills – Even if you don’t live in a green home, there are things that you can do to help save on your monthly energy bills. Examples include switching off lights when you leave a room, installing fluorescent light bulbs and low-flow showerheads, turning off your air conditioner when you leave your house and dialing your heater down to 55 degrees at night. Also, don’t forget to turn off your power strips when they aren’t in use.
4. Work Out a Weekly System for Keeping your House Clean – You don’t have to spend money on a cleaning service to enjoy a clean home every day. Set guidelines for the entire family, so that cleaning becomes more of a habit and less than a chore. Everything has its assigned place and the key is returning items to that place each day. For example, dirty dishes go into the dishwasher and dirty clothes go in the hamper. Outside of the daily cleaning tasks, get the family involved to tackle bigger projects such as taking out the trash, dusting, vacuuming and more.
5. Get your Place Reading for Entertaining – Our homes are perfect for entertaining with gourmet kitchens and open layouts, but you definitely want to make this house look its best before guests arrive. Without breaking the bank, spruce up your home with plants or add more color with new pillows or a throw. Also, take a moment to rearrange your existing furniture into conversation groups, so that guests have the perfect opportunity to socialize.

Freshening up your home for the New Year, does not have to be a strain on your wallet or a waste of time. These easy New Year’s resolutions are sure to make 2015 a success in your home.

If you New Year’s resolution includes purchasing a new home, we invite you to stop by one of our metro Atlanta communities today! For more information on our available homes, visit the Traton Homes website.