Guest Blogger: 5 Home Design Resolutions to Consider for 2012

Guest Blogger #316, Entry #881, January 5, 2012

If you’re like most people, you see the New Year as a time to remember your goals, examine past failures, and resolve to do more and better in the coming year.  For most of us that entails weight loss, decreasing debt, and making more time for family, friends, and personally-fulfilling pursuits.  But if you’re personal and professional goals are on track, perhaps you’d like to resolve this year to make some improvements on the home front, whether that means sticking to a cleaning schedule or remodeling every room in the place.  So if you’re looking for a few home design resolutions for 2012 that are completely doable, here are some that you’ll definitely want to try.

What home resolutions will you keep this year?

Image via: House of  Turquoise

1.) Save money

Just about any upgrades you make to your home are going to cost you a few greenbacks (to say the least).  Even steam-cleaning the carpets or painting your cabinets to change the look of your kitchen is going to cost a little, and if you are planning more intensive renovations, you’re going to need some cash on hand to pay for materials and labor.  While you can resolve to do a lot on your own to save some funds, you should also plan to sock some money away for the upgrades that you can’t handle without help.  Setting a budget is a good place to start.

2.) Consider return on investment

You may not be aware that certain home upgrades will give you a lot more bang for your buck when it comes time to sell.  The kitchen and master bath may be amongst the most expensive areas in your home to renovate, but they also tend to show the most return on investment (providing you make them modern and livable).  If you’ve got your heart set on creating an open floor plan and you’d rather spend your money there simply for your own enjoyment, there’s nothing wrong with that (in fact, most buyers prefer this look, as well).  But keep in mind that you may not see the money you spend coming back to you when you list your house on the market.

The master bedroom and kitchens get the top return on investment

Image via: The Inspired Room

3.) Look at current trends

Whether you’re looking to sell in the near future or you simply want an updated look, the current trends for home design are something you’ll want to consider.  These days, it seems like bright colors, clean lines, and mix-and-match wood tones are in (along with options that are eco-friendly and support conservation).  On the way out?  Blah grays, granite countertops, and the neutral palettes that make a home look more like generic showroom.

4.) Increase your usable space

Nearly everyone would like to make their home a little bigger, and you can easily do so by turning previously wasted spaces into usable rooms.  Consider upgrading areas like the garage or attic to turn them into playrooms, offices, man caves, or yoga retreats, and look for potential in outdoor spaces.  Your backyard could provide the expansive dining area you’ve been dreaming of or a place to spend a pleasant evening playing games with the family or entertaining guests.

Check out the current design home trends

Image via: BHG

5.)Upgrade furnishings

If you just don’t have the budget to mount major renovations in your home, then think about spicing up your space with some new (or new to you) furnishings.  Old couches and chairs can get instant facelifts through reupholstering, kids bedrooms can benefit from modular computer desks for home use (or even standing desks if their rooms are small), and adding some storage with reclaimed cabinets and shelving (that you paint or re-varnish on your own) can mean a lot less clutter in your home.  Throw in some new drapes and a few well-placed throw pillows and you could completely reinvent your space for very little cost.

For more interior design ideas on Stagetecture, click here.