New Year, Fresh Home: Tackling the Small Fixes That Make a Big Difference
“If you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done"-James Clear (Author of Atomic Habits)
This quote has been rattling in my brain for the past month. Not only does this apply to you as a person, but your home! If you can make your home look 1% better than it looks now by the end of the day, you have achieved improvement! Yes, this can apply to picking up clutter, wiping counters, etc. , but it also applies to the more semi- permanent items in your home. Think wall color, hardware, switch plates, light bulbs. If you can improve these parts of your home just a small percentage better every month, you will still see and feel a notable difference this time next year! Today, I am sharing with you exactly how to enjoy such progress in an attainable way.
Walk your house and start by noting ALL the little things that you have put off that drive you nuts. Note every little thing that has become a paint point, no matter how small. Maybe it is a burnt out bulb in double height room, or even a outlet plate that needs tightening. Could it be a stack of artwork that has yet to be hung? Mine is a toilet paper holder that has yet to be installed…oops. Make your list of every single item and do not leave anything off! Nothing is too small.
Take your list and realistically prioritize. Anything you can fix yourself within a few minutes with little to no money should be listed in January. Distribute the rest of the items accordingly, based off time commitment and skill level.
Review your budget for this year and realistically select the items that can be done this year. If it requires a handyman or other tradesperson, begin searching for contacts.
Reach out to vendors, and request quotes for the work you are wanting. This will give you a more accurate depiction of what the expenses will look like. Important Note: Please note that quotes from construction based vendors typically have an expiration date due to fluctuation of construction material pricing & availability. Know that if you wait a few months to hire, the quote will probably go up from the original price you were given.
Gather your tools or people and get to work. This is where the fun begins! If you have people in your home doing the work for you, be patient, and ALWAYS mentally add additional days or weeks to whatever end date they give you. If you are wanting to tackle some of the projects yourself, I am linking my shop page here with a few helpful tools straight from Amazon.
Take before & after pictures. You invested a good amount of time and probably your money, too! Remind yourself where your space started, and be proud of the finished product! Enjoy your refreshed home!
I hope this motivates you as much as it does for me! This weekend we are going to tackle an outdoor light bulb that needs changing. Easy, but I will be happy to be able to see better at night. Small change, big impact. Go forth, and conquer, my friend! Just one percent better.
Is one of your upcoming projects a paint refresh? We offer hourly paint consultations! We will bring our paint fan, along with our binder of larger paint samples to your home and recommend colors. Contact us here to inquire.
