10 New Year's Resolutions For Your Home

At this time each year many of us aremaking a list of resolutions forthe new year. Here's a list of 10 ideas for your 2012 list.

1. Take down your holiday decorations soon after the holiday season.

2. Before you put your holiday decorations away, plan a holiday decoration swap party your friends and family. You can recycledecorations youhave grown tiredof and exchange for a friends holiday decoration you have admired for years. Also makes a fun get together during the post holiday seasons blahs.

3. Would you like to be more organized? Professional organizers always suggest to start small. Think of making a resolution to organize one drawer or cabinet, and promise yourself to keep it organized.

4. If you want to do a large scale organization of your closets or rooms, a professional organizer will save you time and budget. Contact Vicky at www.chicagoorganizing.com.

5. Update your decor instantly and inexpensively with a change in throw pillows on your sofa, a new entry floor mat, a different size area rug, new shades on lamps, add a tablecloth onto a table that you usually do not have a cloth on.

6. To make a big visual impact with minimal time and budget, paint one wall in a room with a bold, dramatic color.

7. Give your home a makeover.Change furniture placement within rooms, move pieces of furniture from one room toanother in your home, move artwork on to different walls and into different rooms. If you think you need help with this, most interior designers will work on an hourly basis to help you redecoratewith your own furnishings.Using the experience of a professional interior designer can result in a new look at little cost.

8. Proper lighting can change the look of a room. Check out the lighting in all your rooms and determine if you should have more light or to add a dramatic effect with special lights.

9. Add green leafy plants and blooming plants to your home to bring nature inside during the winter months in a cold climate.

10. Tangerine tango has been named the color of 2012 by the Color Marketing Institute. You can add this color into your home in small doses with a vase, pillows, throw rug, candles, lamps, throws. Check out the selection of furnishings in this color at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture at www.mgbwhome.com.

Tagged as: interior design, home decor, decorating and new year 2012

Karen Carpino is an interior designer and founder of Chicago-based Karen Carpino Design. A professionally registered interior designer with over 25 years of experience, Ms. Carpino's clientele includes both residential and commercial projects. She brings you techniques, trends and tips in “Style At Home.”