Every year when January comes around, you vow to lose weight, quit smoking, or save more money. But what type of resolutions do you set for your home? With the New Year right around the corner, we have come up with some home improvement resolutions that will make your living space cleaner, safer, more efficient, and beautiful.

Here are our top picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the New Year:

1. Get Organized

The start of the New Year is a good time to purge that junk in your home that you either don’t need or don’t use. It’s easy to accumulate so much stuff that your drawers get jam packed and it’s hard to stay organized.

This year, resolve to get organized. Yes, we know, it’s much easier said than done. But you don’t have to tackle your entire home all at once. Instead, use the divide and conquer method to tackle your home’s organization. Each week, pick a room to focus on. Check drawers and closets for anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate to a charity in your area.

Then, think of ways to stash the items that you use, but are kind of an eye sore, like DVDs, remotes, cables, and cords. Sort these items by use and invest in some woven or colorful baskets that can keep these items safe and organized. Clearing the clutter can help your home feel brighter, bigger, and cleaner – we promise!

2. Mind your Gutters

We aren’t just mentioning the importance of clear and debris-free gutters because we are experts in our industry. Having clean gutters will protect your home from the serious damages that clogged gutters can cause.

You may not realize it, but an unprotected gutter system will routinely clog with leaves and debris, impeding the flow of rainwater. Eventually, your gutters will become so filled with debris that the weight of the leaves will cause your gutters to pull away from your home and can even fall to the ground. Additionally, rainwater will back up onto your roof and begin to eat away at your fascia and soffit. Clogged gutters can also contribute to serious home issues like foundation problems, landscape erosion, and basement flooding. Installing a gutter protection system, like LeafFilter, will protect your home from these home issues and save you money in the long run.

3. Streamline your Cleaning Process

If you find yourself overwhelmed on the weekend with chores and cleaning tasks, think about completing a few tasks each day so that you can enjoy your time off.

First, streamline your cleaning process by getting organized. Keep all of your cleaning supplies – including sponges, paper towels, cleaner, and plastic bags — in a carry-all container that you can take from room to room with you.

Next, develop a plan. Pick a different room to focus on each week. Perhaps on Monday’s you tidy up the den and on Tuesdays you pick the kitchen. This will ensure that you are not overwhelmed come the weekend.

If you have to clean your entire home on the weekends, enlist the help of your family. Divide and conquer chores by assigning tasks to each family member. Maybe one person vacuums, while the other is responsible for dusting. Making cleaning a family affair will ensure you have the whole house done in less than an hour.

4. Embrace your Entryway

Coming home to a beautiful, clean entryway can make all the difference in your mood. And, your entryway is the first thing that guest will see, so it’s important to make a great impression.

If your entryway is less than ideal, there are few ways to make a big difference.

Consider replacing your door, or if you are on a budget, paint the interior of your door. Add a storage bench and some hooks to keep shoes, hats, gloves, and coats all in one area. This helps when you are entertaining because guests will have a place to throw their coats when they walk in.

Add some framed family photos or some decorative art that showcases your personality and makes a statement. A mirror is also a nice touch, as it allows you to check yourself out before you walk out the door and it creates the illusion of extra space by visually expanding the area.

5. Go Green

You don’t need to install solar panels or drive a hybrid car to make a difference. There are small ways that you can make a big impact on the environment — and in your wallet! Here are a few tips for going green in your home:

• Turn off all the lights when you leave a room.
• Install a programmable thermostat and program it to match your work/awake/sleep schedule.
• Try air drying some of your clothes to cut down on your dryer usage.
• Consider harvesting rainwater and use that fresh rainwater to feed your plants.
• Turn off your power strips when not in use.
• Install energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

It’s important to remember that resolutions don’t have to be completed in one month. You have an entire year to save up and complete your resolutions! Make 2016 the year that you dedicate to your home to live in a brighter and healthier place that you’ll be happy to call home.

Author Bio: LeafFilter is a micro mesh gutter guard that attaches to your existing gutters and provides you with clog free gutters for the life of your home.