I love making New Year’s resolutions, but much like everyone else, I tend to break more than I keep. January is a time to start with a clean slate, but it’s tough when nothing around me is clean. This year, instead of swearing I’ll lose 10 more pounds or drink those eight glasses of water a day, I’m resolving to make my house more of a home and less of a clutter heap. Want to join me? Here are a few cheap and easy ways to make 2010 the year of home-sweet-home.

#1 – Throwaway & Giveaway

As you’re packing up your holiday decorations, make a throwaway and giveaway pile. We had a 10-foot tree this year and still didn’t have room for all of the ornaments we’ve collected. Even worse, we couldn’t find a single strand of lights with more than half the bulbs working. Toss the junk! Give away anything that isn’t special to you. Not only will you have less to shove back into the attic or basement, but you’ll make somebody else’s next holiday season a little brighter with your old decorations.

#2 – Sprinkled With Zen Peace of Mind …

While you’re at it – start loosening your grip on other clutter. Donate the clothes you haven’t donned all winter, old office equipment you no longer use (dead technology, perhaps?), books you’ve read and don’t intend to reread, and anything else that’s taking up what my husband calls, “valuable real estate.” You’d be surprised how much brighter your outlook on the world becomes when there are clear surfaces and empty spaces in your home.

#3 – We All Want More Space!

Many of us, however, don’t have the time or money to put up an addition. You can create more space by reassigning rooms, double-tasking a room or just generally making better use of the space you have. Do you have a living room that never sees any living? Or perhaps a room that’s just underutilized? My pet peeve is the dining room that is used for dining about three times a year.

Here’s how we got smart:

We rearranged the room so that the dining table (sans expansion leaf) is carefully covered, and can now double as a craft table. There’s space on one side of the room where the kids can practice their instruments and take lessons as well. We can easily move it back for our few holiday feasts, but in the meantime, we have a functional craft and music room for the majority of the year.

#4 – Bring the Bathroom Back to Life

For those who are remodeling, one of the first things people think about is the kitchen, but last is usually that outdated bathroom. You may be the only one who uses it, but what a difference it can make to bring your bathroom back to life!

Consider a few simple and inexpensive updates:

• New light fixtures
• New faucet
• Sleeker and more useful medicine cabinet
• Bath accessories

On the higher end, a new tile job, flooring, bathtub, toilet and vanity could be just the trick. If you don’t quite have the funds right now, start collecting money and ideas and hang them in an inspiration board in plain view in your home. Work toward the bathroom (or other feature) you’ve always wanted. Who knows, maybe it can be your Christmas 2010 present to yourself!

Photo Credit: Good Housekeeping, Purly Qs, & Hallmark

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