It's not just your body that can benefit from New Year's resolutions - your home can too. Here are some ways for you - and your home - to start 2009 as you mean to go on.
Get organised
Endless wrapping paper, empty wine glasses and unwanted toys - the end of the festive period is the ideal time to de-clutter your home. Dibor's rustic wooden storage boxes will hide all manner of sins, and are prettier than plastic crates. They're also great for re-organising the garden shed. Tidy up your kitchen and bathroom wih Alessi storage jars from A White Room.
Make the most of it
You don't have to replace whole items of furniture to enjoy a new look. Reupholster worn-out sofas with the Jaipur flower fabric from OKA, liven up your walls with framed photos from the festive period and move your furniture around to see a room in a new light.
Brighten the corners
Lift yourself from post-Christmas blues with some mood enhancing lighting. We love the clever Chandelier GloCanvas from Dotmaison.com, which will not only make a statement on your wall but cast an ambient glow over a room. Browse the UK's largest selection of lighting.
Bed down
Did you know you're supposed to change your bed every eight years? No? Well, now is the time to do it. The beautiful Lugano bed from Graham & Green, is a timeless design that will help you get out of bed on the right side every morning. For aching bones the oak frame bed from Argos includes a comfort mattress to help you spring into action.
Embrace eco
Going eco needn't mean moving to the country and living off the land - even the smallest change can make a difference. Give your home the once over with Maison Belle's range of green cleaning products. This non-toxic kitchen cleaner from notonthehighstreet.com is not only safer for your family but fragranced with essential oils. Why buy products that harm the environment when the eco options are so much sweeter?
Get ahead of the crowd
Jump the fashion queue and get on 2009 trend before anyone else. 'Autumn/Winter 08/09 will see us fuse a love of nature with a desire for stylish, sophisticated and edgy design,' says Anna Rigby from John Lewis. 'A warm, autumnal colour palette will be used to complement the new ranges.' Get the perfect backdrop with the palm leaves wallpaper from ie... Wallpaper.
It's all in the preparation
January is a great time to get your garden in shape and prepare it for the spring time. Clear leaves with a sturdy broom from notonthehighstreet.com and dig up weeds with this kitsch garden tool set from dotcomgiftshop.com. January is the perfect time to lay down Dogwood from Crocus. Expect pretty white flowers in summer and crimson-purple leaves in autumn.
Clean up the kids
Has your home become submerged in the swamp of children's toys since Christmas? The combination drawer unit from The Great Little Trading Company is a bright and practical unit, perfect for felt-tips, paper, paints and games. For tinier tots we love the Nest's Offi Rockabye Storage Rocker a stylish, functional toy with plenty of room for stashing treasures.
Annie Deakin is an expert furniture and interior design writer who is currently interested in
furniture,
desks and
storage
