Reupholster tired old furniture to give an entire room a new lease of life. Howe at
(Picture: Howe)Investing in your home is a way of investing in yourself. Screw the diets and gym memberships – if you want to get off on a good footing in January, a few smart principles and doable projects can set you up for success all year.
Here’s 10 ways you can use January to set good habits for your home in the year ahead.
1. Out with the old, in with the new
Not just my dating motto from back in the day, but a rallying cry to get rummaging through all the bits and bobs you accumulated over the course of last year. Sort through those piles of newspapers and magazines you’ve been waiting to have time to read and be ruthless: glance through if you must and then chuck in the recycling.
Burn through the old scented candles that are close to the end of their natural life, you can treat yourself to a new one as a reward for your sorting – Vyrao’s ‘Ember’ is a great winter scent.
2. Give away unwanted presents pronto
Don’t let a misplaced sense of guilt make you cling on to gifts you’ll never use. Take them straight down to the charity shop, or list them on a resale or freecycling site.
3. Do those five-minute DIY jobs you’ve been putting off
Do those five-minute jobs you’ve been putting off. Hang the picture that’s been leaning against a wall for so long that it’s become part of the furniture; patch up your paintwork; fix that wayward window blind. Make seizing the day your habitual mode and feel your mood improve.
4. Bring in some new cushions or blankets
It’s such an easy way to introduce a jolt of colour or some super cosy texture into a room that might otherwise be lacking. Cesca Dvorak and Saved NY both do brilliantly graphic designs.
5. Buy some new bedding
January should be a gentle month for resting, hibernating and reflecting so it is a perfect time to take stock of your sleep situation. Consider cleaning your mattress, pillows and duvet, use the January sales to replace anything that’s no longer up to scratch and invest in new linen if your current set is getting tired, grey or threadbare.
I’m a huge fan of Tekla, which has lovely contemporary colours and a user-friendly buying experience. If your bedside table has got a bit cluttered sort, rationalise and reorder.
6. Pick one piece to reupholster
Buy a few metres of gorgeous fabric, find a local upholsterer, and splash out on giving one key item a new lease of life.
7. Give houseplants a little love
Now the Christmas tree is no more (seriously, take it down) your home might feel a little devoid of life. Re-pot any houseplants that could do with a size up, start some new cuttings and pop down to Conservatory Archives for a new plant or planter. It’s a good way to inject the house with a bit of energy.
8. Do some guilt-free shopping
Spend that gift card your nan got you in the January sales rather than doing my favourite trick of digging them out in a years’ time when they’ve just expired.
9. Get a head start on the spring clean
It might be as simple as buying a few Muji boxes to stick in a wardrobe, or a set of containers for those random boxes of Paxo in the pantry. Posh houses are always super well organised – it’s one of those things that immediately improves the quality of a space.
10. Look at your home through new eyes
So many of us inherit a furniture layout from previous owners or tenants, but you can completely change the flow of a room by moving your furniture around. If you’re working from home, why not move your desk for a new view. A change is as good as a holiday.
