New Years Resolutions for the Home

I know. We’re all sick of making goals in January that we give up on by March. But if you’re anything like me, making small efforts to change your living space can make a difference in other aspects of your life. Whether you live in a college dorm, a crammed studio apartment or a spacious house, there are simple actions you can take to make your quality of life just a little bit better. So here are some easy, very realistic resolutions I want to take into 2026:

1. Make your dang bed

One of the simplest resolutions on my list is making my bed every day. Why haven’t I already successfully tackled this goal? Great question. But there’s no better time than the present to start. And here’s why something this easy will positively affect me in more ways than one:

• I will have to get up earlier. As a chronic abuser of the snooze button, I barely give myself enough time to get out the door in the morning, let alone make the bed. Even adding five more minutes to my morning routine will give me time to tuck those sheets in, breathe and maybe even make myself a coffee if I’m feeling crazy.

• I will not fall victim to the post-work nap. When my bed is unmade and I come home from a long day, the covers and sheets are like a siren song, pulling me back into the exact same spot I woke up in earlier. Resetting that bedding each morning will break the curse of getting sucked into the alluring coziness of an unmade bed.

• A clean bed equals a clean room. There’s just something about a messy bed that sends the rest of my room into a spiral of clothes on the floor, bags everywhere and so on and so forth. The messy bed is like a gateway for being messy everywhere else. Just like making the bed takes around a minute of your time, so does hanging your bag on the hook in the closet instead of throwing it into the abyss that is the bedroom floor.

2. Get a plant

I promise I’m not crazy. Actually, the fact that I’m even suggesting this would surprise beginning-of-2025 me. I’ve never been a plant person, never had green thumb and, in fact, always seemed to have a distinct talent for killing plants a few short weeks after getting them (always as an unwanted gift). But even in my reluctance to accept these caretaking responsibilities, I’ve metaphorically grown into growing plants. It’s very intrinsically rewarding when you succeed at cultivating a good environment for a plant to thrive.

Now, I’m not saying you have to turn your living room into a greenhouse. Start simple with a plant that’s pretty low maintenance (i.e. doesn’t need a lot of water and/or sunlight). Here are some suggestions of easy-to-care-for plants based on my own experience (I haven’t killed any of them yet):

• Cactus

  • I’m in love with my cactus. My aunt potted a clipping of one of her cactus’s arms for me and it has grown into a full-blown, three-foot tall wonder over the past two years. It’s the hardiest plant I’ve ever owned, surviving many below-freezing nights when I’ve accidentally left it on the patio and flowering during the summer.

  • Cacti do need sandy soil, though, which is an easy find at any home improvement or garden supply store.

• Mother-in-Law’s Tongue

  • I had no idea what this plant was until, you guessed it, my mother-in-law gave it to me as a housewarming gift. My initial thoughts when getting this plant were, ‘Oh, great. Another inevitable plant death to add to the list.’ But to my surprise, this one has held up and actually thrived in the corner of the living room.

  • Mother-in-Law’s Tongue doesn’t need a lot of direct sunlight, and I water it every 1-2 weeks.

3. Get a couple pieces of new decor

We all have that one blank wall, empty table or bare couch that needs a little love to make the space feel complete. Adding a new piece of art or a couple new throw pillows can refresh your space and give it the energy that motivates you to be productive. That productivity can look like keeping the space cleaner or simply just being able to relax and enjoy the space more.

And the good news is you don’t have to waste time looking for or worrying about buying an expensive piece of decor that no one will fully appreciate for the price anyway. Home decor is one of the easiest places where you can ball on a budget.

I have acquired some of the best pieces around my house at garage sales, thrift stores or off-price stores like Homegoods and T.J. Maxx. The key to this kind of shopping is to not get discouraged if you don’t find something that speaks to you right away. I like to think of my home decor like a collection. I have left entire walls blank for years until I collect the right item to fill the space. So be patient, and just keep your eyes peeled for the perfect piece that can elevate your space.

If you read through all of this and feel overwhelmed because you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. I’m very well-versed in living a life that feels like a dumpster fire at all times. Start small, conquer the little things, then slowly add realistic goals to your routine. Cheers to happy, healthy and productive days in 2026, one made bed at a time.