6 Resolutions For a Happier Home in the New Year

It’s a brand new year and it’s time to rethink how you look at your home. You might have already crafted the perfect New Year's resolution to become a better, more organized, more giving, and less stressed person in the new year. But what about your home? Creating a home environment that calms and inspires is a smart way to start the new year off on the right foot.

 Here are some quick resolutions to improve your home in the new year: 

1. Simplify 

(Photo credit: karine.do) 

The new year is a great time to take stock of what you really want and need in your home and what's just filler. Streamline your belongings and you'll have less clutter to deal with. You might find that letting go of the clutter in your home helps you to focus on what’s actually important. 

If you need some help figuring out where to start on your decluttering journey, you can check out the work of Marie Kondo. The “KonMari” method, as outlined in Kondo’s books “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy,” is a smart strategy for how to keep the things you love while still eliminating clutter. 

2. Think About Energy Efficiency 

Keeping energy efficiency in mind doesn't just help save the planet, it can also save your wallet! By scheduling your motorized window coverings with the Somfy myLink™ app you can let in warm daylight or close the shades against the whipping winds, creating a more energy-efficient home. 

Create schedules for your home so that your shades open or close during the hottest and coldest times of the day to insulate your home and save energy. By connecting your motorized shades to voice control like Amazon Alexa, you can even enable schedules using just the power of your voice. Improving your home’s energy efficiency and saving on your utility bills has never been easier!

Check out this video from FOX where Money Pit host Tom Kraeutler chose the myLink app as a top way to stay warm and lower your energy bills:

Connect with a Dealer to get started with Somfy-powered solutions, including myLink!

3. Create a Cleaning Plan

Do you find that the only time you really clean your home is when company is coming over? Instead of dashing madly around your house battling dust bunnies only when guests are on the way, create a cleaning schedule to keep things orderly. Sit down and create a schedule you feel you can follow not just for a week or two but for the entire year. 

Decide what the cleaning priorities are in your home, how often you need to clean certain areas and be realistic. If you tend to let things pile up, don’t create an unrealistic cleaning plan where you clean every room daily. Instead set reasonable goals for yourself to make your home cleaner and organized this year than it was last year. If you need a little help, check out tips from blogs like The Spruce and Morning Chores about how to create a plan you’ll stick with.

4. Commit to a Home Project

Whether you're a DIY wizard or totally inept, choose one home project you can tackle this year. No matter your skill level, you'll learn something new and feel accomplished once your project is complete. If you need inspiration for where to start, check out this list of easy DIY home projects on Buzzfeed.  

5. Improve Your Outdoor Space

It might be winter now, but is your outdoor space ready for when the sun starts shining? It's time for your great outdoors to live up to its full potential. Commit to soaking up more Vitamin D this summer by creating an outdoor space you’ll actually use. 

You can make a resolution to clean up your garden, install a retractable awning, create an outdoor seating area, or invest in motorized insect screens so you can better appreciate your time outside. When the warm months roll around you’ll have an outdoor space you’ll actually want to spend time enjoying. This means more time spent outdoors with family and friends without burning up or being eaten by bugs. 

6. Make Your Home Smarter

With home automation taking off, this is the perfect year to get in on the smart home trend! Whether you're looking to save energy, increase privacy, protect your home, or just add a little convenience, there's a smart home gadget out there that's perfect for you. From doorbells and thermostats to cooking tools, refrigerators, and light bulbs, the smart home revolution is changing the way we interact with our homes. 

You can even control many of your smart home gadgets with the power of voice control. What's easier than opening your shades or closing your draperies with just a simple phrase? You can automate tasks through IFTTT Applets, closing your shades with voice control through Google Home. If home automation seems overwhelming, choose one or two smart home gadgets to start. Somfy works with Making your home just a little smarter can mean more peace of mind for you.

What are some resolutions you have for your home in the new year? Share in the comments!