Small Home Refreshes for the New Year

Another year on the books, and another chance to start fresh. Perhaps this year, you’ll upgrade your home office or make a few changes in your kitchen to make it easier to cook and eat at home! Or, this will be the year that you really step up your back patio. Here are a few thought starters.

First things first — make sure your desk is near a window. Natural light is key to soothing your soul. Switch your chair for a stability ball or a standing desk for comfort. Paint one wall in your favorite color. Hang special artwork that makes you smile.

Make cooking easier when you prep your meat and veggies on Sunday so they’re easy to throw together on busy weeknight. Or better yet, batch cook on Sunday and freeze individual meals for a quick reheat and eat. Utilize that crockpot to cook meat while you work, or fire up the air fryer for quicker cooking.

Start with a seating area, add string lights and some potted plants of various sizes and voila! You’ve got a backyard party started. Turning an outside space into an extra “room” is easy when you add an outdoor carpet, a big overhead umbrella and maybe a chiminea. Use extra tile to create a walkway. Repurpose containers as pots for plants. A crate or tree stump makes a fun side table. Be creative — the sky’s the limit!