Living Well In The New Year

At the beginning of a new year, many people feel the desire to set New Year's resolutions. Most often you hear about a desire to lose 10 pounds or to exercise every day. Some people express interest in taking up a new hobby. At Pinewood Estates we propose that new or improved surroundings can also improve your quality of life. It can be something as simple as cleaning and organizing your closets and shelves or as large as remodeling the entire house. For the purposes of this blog we are going to suggest you start with cleaning and organizing. 

Start with the obvious and just clean everything. Dusting and vacuuming to remove dust to build up is a refreshing start. Don't forget to vacuum the tops and backs of draperies to remove cobwebs and built-up test. Additionally, cleaning carpets or waxing floors will add an inspiring freshness. Removing fingerprints and smudges on the walls can give a fresh new feelings to your home.You might go so far as to remove light fixtures and wash them so the light sparkles through. 

As for the organization of your home, everyone will have different needs. Start by taking a section of your kitchen and simply go through each drawer cabinet removing unused or underused items. It is most helpful to have a single category in each drawer or shelf so that your storage makes sense. For example dedicate one drawer to flatware used on your table, and another to serving pieces such as spoons, ladles, or meat forks. In your cabinet you may choose one dedicated to the use of plates, bowls, and platters, and another for glassware. Place items in cabinets near the area where they will be used, for example, a drawer near the oven is a great place to put oven mitts, spatulas. Make sure to wipe each area out. It might give you a visual lift to choose a liner in a bright color or fun print. And don't forget the pantry. There are many ideas available on interest or other websites for fun ways to organize your food storage.

Once the heart of your home is cleaned and organized, consider areas such as your home office or desk and repeat the same process, beginning with cleaning the area, removing clutter and trash, and organizing essential materials. Utilize baskets or tins for organizing mail, stacks of books or magazines, or projects. The old adage a place for everything and everything in its place makes life much simpler when practiced throughout your home.

You may want to tackle a craft room, children's bedroom, or garage as well. The same principles apply — begin with de-cluttering and thinning out unneeded items, finding appropriate containers and reorganizing the items you choose to keep in such a way that they are easily used and easily put away .

Now you're off to a better new year.