I’m going to start with real intent and address the elephant in the room – New Year’s Resolutions. Have you made any yet? Are you planning to make any?
It’s the question everyone seems to ask (but dread answering) as we approach January. The pressure, the mixed feelings and the unavoidable progress updates are the price we pay for good intentions. But they can really pay off.
Starting a new year fresh with a personal goal or two does wonders for the mind and soul. I've always believed in making resolutions, but it’s important to remember they aren’t written in stone and not get bogged down and frustrated. Sometimes you just have other priorities. The whole point is to feel motivated by setting goals or resolutions, not pressured by them.
Personally, I've pledged to take more family photos in 2024. This is a resolution we can all enjoy and, quite frankly, when a camera comes out in our home, it almost becomes a competition of who can strike the best pose.
So, let’s set some goals for your home. Setting interior design or home-focused New Year's resolutions is just as important as setting personal ones. It helps you to remain focused and stay the course when planning any renovations or redecorations for the year ahead.
Here are my top five interior design New Year’s resolutions to help you improve your home and help you keep on track.
Put your wellbeing first
Your environment has a direct impact on your wellbeing and mental health, so it’s important that your home has a positive effect on your life.
Tune into nature by adding at least one plant to each room and use soothing neutral colours to create a calming, zen-like space. Where possible, let natural light in; I guarantee this will have an instant uplifting effect on your mood. Remember, your home is your sanctuary, so it’s vital that you treat it like one.
It’s about quality, not quantity
Buying furniture for any of your rooms is a key investment. Compare similar pieces, look at online reviews and do some research before you reach for your wallet.
Be sure to invest in furniture you love. If you can walk out of the shop and never think about that item again, it’s not worth buying. Trust your gut and be on the lookout for that piece of furniture which catches your eye and will add joy to your everyday life. If you’re buying a new sideboard or dining table, it needs to stand the test of time and still look good in years to come, so take your time.
Get organised
Have you ever started the New Year off promising to declutter? The idea is to freshen up and organise your home, but some of us (I'm guilty!) don’t quite manage to achieve that big clear out. This means we simply end up accumulating more ‘stuff’ which never finds a set place. This inevitably leads to confusion, mess, and all-round frustration. To help you stick to this resolution and get organised, invest in good storage solutions to kick start the process. Having a place for everything is not only good for the home, it’s also good for the mind.
Style, style, style!
An easy way to keep your home feeling in sync with the current season is to refresh your interior accessories. You can introduce colour and mix patterns and textures within your decorative items to make a space feel refreshed without having to completely redecorate.
Changing accessories like cushions, rugs, curtains and artwork will change the whole feel of the space; little changes really can make a big difference. To keep costs down, you can reuse items in other areas of the home when you change the style.
Opt for sustainable design options
The future for interior design is sustainability. There is a fast-growing range of innovative design options offered by interior designers and architects that satisfy our eco-friendly needs. Investing in energy conserving methods, or choosing products which use reclaimed wood, are good examples of this, and, if included in your renovation/redecoration plans, could make a perfectly sustainable New Year’s resolution.
Keep these tips in mind, and you won’t go far wrong when setting your home intentions for the New Year. I wish you health and happiness for 2024. Happy New Year!
ABOUT KIRSTIE
Kirstie Smith is an interior designer, living space organiser and all-round interior expert. She is the face of Iconik Interiors and her mission is to help you create a place you can really call home; where you feel safe, relaxed and organised. Whether you’re looking for design inspiration, layout options or even someone to guide you through a renovation project, her experience and ideas, along with your thoughts and desires, can help create the perfect living space.
iconikinteriors.co.uk
