Sheila Schmitz Finally knock out my Fred-Flintstone lava-rock fireplace surround!

Rough Linen I'm going to enjoy the grace notes more consciously: flowers, candles, neat housewifery... little things.

bruinette We've been in our house for just a year. We spent the first 6 months in a mess doing bathroom & kitchen renovations, then we got water damage to the parquet floor in one room and have been in a mess having it replaced. So my resolution for next year is just to finally enjoy the house!

olldbobbi My resolution is simple. Finish project A before starting project B. Not likely.

zealart Finish getting the last storage "room" done, by painting it with left over paint and getting shelving. Dealing with storage first has helped my house look a lot less cluttered and it's fairly simple.

olldbobbi Tricia! What is neat housewifery?

orangecamera I did this once before, years ago, and will do it again this year in my new house: treat myself to fresh flowers once a week. Did all white flowers last time. Not sure about color(s) for 2013. There's something about fresh flowers, even if it's just a $3 bunch from the supermarket, that makes a house feel more like a home.

olldbobbi orangecamera, I agree! And gives you something different to look at instead of the same old same old :))

slgvam "Enjoy your home more and feel truly happy in it"

Wow! We'd gotten so stressed about this house we're buying that we totally forgot about that concept! Thanks for the reminder!

We've resolved to keep the decorating process fun & happy -- and hope that those qualities will also be reflected in our new home!

patriciarhall I am going to get to the details that make my home inviting and give me the pleasure of entertaining! Insecurities be damned.

Liz Householder After living in a beige (bland) relocation property for two years, we want to start adding some color on the walls!

Iyare I I love the idea of fresh flowers every week even if its grocery store bought... think of all the times we spend 5 dollars on a spur of the moment purchase like a tabloid magazing or something at the point of purchase. Fresh flowers would be a better alternative and definitely more uplifting.

My goal for 2013 update this bathroom below with a limited budget of 6K and some how get the biggest bang for my buck lol. No more getting ripped of by contractor fees.

Pray for me.... :)

kennedytarheel Be grateful for the home i have, not wishing for the home i don't have!

olldbobbi kennedy, so true :))

karenbeisner We've just moved into our new custom home. We lived in a small apartment during the construction, with most of our possessions in storage. Now, I have boxes and boxes and boxes of 'stuff' to sort through. My resolution is two-fold: 1) Sort and purge, 2) figure out how to put together a "My Houzz" photo spread for submission. The house is beautiful!!

Kalyn ifurnish Placing effective and properly selected decor on the walls. They are currently naked due to painting over the past month. I want to optimize the space and hit my wall decor out-of-the-park. All while taking the time to find pieces that are perfect--and not rush to only end up settling on things "just to get the something on the walls".

lindseyakin well, with our first baby due on January 29th, my resolution for the first month is to finish the bathroom reno and the nursery! And then just do the other projects as we can. Our home is for our family, and it'll be done when it's done (likely when she's off to college!), the important thing is to have a rich family life in it.

xenasmom Oldbobbi: "Finish project A before starting project B" Good point, if I had considered it. Instead, I am sleeping on the floor in my living room while two (two!) empty bedrooms upstairs cry for attention. I'm beginning to think my New Year's resolution will be: survive. Hee, hee.

olldroo lyare, I think your bathroom has great bones. Is your cabinetry still in good condition? Definitely remove wallpaper and paint maybe a more vibrant colour to give the room a whole new feel and change tap hardware. What plans do you have for it?

vtmom My resolution is to finally begin tearing down wallpaper room by room and painting. We've been in our house for 9 yrs and there is wallpaper all over the first floor from the previous owners that we never took down. The wallpaper is also different in every room. Its crazy. I have a steamer but I've been afraid to give it a go so I've made lots of excuses. Once the kids go back to school that is my project to start.

Stevie I resolve to spend less on decorating my home and some on my wardrobe.....when your house looks like you can't afford it, it is time to re think!

Inis Lovely To find one worth buying. Not as easy as one would think.

astraea 1) Replace all of the lamp shades! I never would have thought this would be difficult, but apparently lighting stores don't bother as much with replacement shades, as they did years ago. New shades available aren't the same shape as the original ones, and you can't really get help ordering something online!
2) Work harder at finding a good mason to redo my retaining walls.
3) Find a good bathroom designer/contractor nearby.
These things sound so easy to do, but when you get started, it's often very difficult to get referals from friends, get recommendations on Angie's List, or even here .. that are close to home!

olldroo No Astraea, everything is throw away these days.

artistschmartist Since we're going from family of four to family of five this year, I resolve to get another bathroom in here, even if we have to just throw a toilet in the basement. But a complete basement overhaul to add some living space would be great :)

astraea roo - Last time I loaded 4 or 5 lampshades into my car, hoping to match them (more or less) at a large lighting store. They said they were transitioning from one lampshade vendor to another, and had only a few shades on hand. They also told me to bring the lamps, instead of the shades next time. Do they realize what a pain-in-the-neck that is?!

mamabossinthelbc We are replacing all the windows in our house next year. They've already been ordered and should arrive in early January. As with every house project I anticipate that it will evolve into related projects like fixing dry rot that will be discovered when the old windows are removed. And replacing exterior stucco. And painting the entire house inside and out. Etc., etc. So in a related resolution I am going to cut spending on everything else so I can pay for all this! Who needs food when you have a beautiful house!

orangecamera "Who needs food when you have a beautiful house!"

Just tell your friends your decorating style is "Ramen Noodle, with a hint of Kraft Mac-n-Cheese". Don't forget to perk things up now and then...perhaps a bit of "PB&J". ;)

olldbobbi orangecamera, or just tell them your style is 'early marriage'.

Rough Linen I suppose 'neat housewifery' is doing the last little tweak to make things shine - for me it manifests in precision folding, so when I take out a T shirt or even a pair of knickers, it's as if they were new. I don't get out much.

orangecamera Heh! "Early Marriage" was the precursor to today's "On My Own Again" style, which has many of the same financial constraints, but is enhanced by lessons learned from ones own mistakes, several decades of life experience, and a renewed sense of "It's Mine".

Deb Joshi My resolution is to face the new year, as 365 new possibilities. And whenever we enter our new house in Feb. we won't see it for the big renovations it requires or as a mortgage, but a beautiful home that is worth it all.

olldbobbi Tricia! That's too funny. Sometimes I think....."It's time for a new wardrobe". And then I remember the toilets don't really care what I'm wearing and neither does the mop!!!

orangecamera, "on my own". Yeah, if you count being alone with three kids 'on my own' !!!!!

The Home Improvements Group, Inc. As a kitchen and bath designer and remodeler, my new year's resolution is to FINISH MY OWN BATHROOM! Thislast year, my husband and some friends held a "Bathroom Intervention" for me, so I would do something with my 1970s, rusty, icky bathroom. So I had my crew demo it, just to show them that I was doing something. That was last March. I haven't done anything since. Yikes. They are about to hold another more serious intervention. However, I feel I have 2 good excuses. 1. My clients always come first and I can't be doing something in my own home and put my clients projects on hold. 2. After designing and building several award winning bathrooms, I can't seem to decide on what I want for my own. Shhheeee. I guess I have too many choices. However, 2013 is the Year of the Bathroom! I promise. Maybe.

mmoore3052 get our bathroom done, we have all the materials, its just a matter of getting in there and getting it done!

gardenarian Systematically work through my lengthy to-do list.

danalawson I have lived in my divorce house for 6 years waiting for it to sell. Sitting ideal and not being able to do anything. Well I did it. I refinanced it in my own name and now can't wait to get started on the very long list of idea that I have built up in the past 6 years. I don't even know where to start...Outside, inside, room by room, ahhh! What to do? New Year's resolution please help me.

Iyare I Oldroo, the pic below is the plan lol

mrse28 Gonna try my best to make my home non-toxic -- using soy and/or beeswax candles instead of the common paraffin ones and all-natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda instead of Lysol and other toxic cleaners =)

sewnutzcl1 Finally after a few years of broken tub/shower faucets and showering in the basement, we're going to tear out the tub and put a shower that works in the bathroom!
I would also like to redecorate my bedroom, since the sewing supplies and machines are no longer in there.
Both projects are long overdue!

olldroo Lyare - nice!!!! I guess the bath could do with some tarting up to update it. Do you have water saving taps and shower heads over there? We have all these new restrictions now and honestly it takes twice as long to have a shower, aerating the water only makes the soap foam up more. I have to use the power jet setting when I shampoo my hair and nearly blow my head off.

Good luck with it, hope you can stay under budget.

olldroo Yeah, but bobbi, the toilet and the mops don't take you to dinner and buy you nice pressies.

Inside-Out Designs Astraea: I know it's a bit of a pain to haul the lamps down to the store, but that was my first thought when I started reading your post because that's what I normally do. Since you weren't able to find matches for the old shades, by bringing the lamp to the store you can play around with different shades and might find a great fit that's a different shape or texture of fabric than you had before. I think buying them on-line is a bit chancey since you can't see, touch and feel. Anyway, just a thought, and good luck! : ) Oh, and my New Year's Resolution? To finally paint my dining room! I've only had the color picked out for a year. Just need to find a weekend and dust off the gear.

orangecamera Congrats, danalawson. Getting to start over and not having to move....priceless! (Make sure you take good ol' what's-his-name's name off the *title* as well as the mortgage). Best of luck in your "new" home!

olldroo danalawson - lists are my tried and true ways of coping. Take your list of plans and identify the things that desperately need doing - especially if causing damage. Identify which projects will cause the most upheaval and will impact on other areas when being done. From there another list with everything in priority order, you don't want to spend time and money on a area that could then be trashed whilst doing another. You will probably find the top priorities will be the most expensive things that may not have a huge visual impact, but once done properly they will be done and dusted forever. Working room at a time can be beneficial, but sometimes things like flooring can affect all rooms so you need to work in stages there. The further down the list you go, the easier things will get. Assuming you are in winter now, the outdoors is probably best left till spring when you can start making plans for landscaping, even doing planting if you have no major outdoor project that will conflict. That way the plants will be growing ready for when you come to finish off. Good luck sounds like you have a fun and very satisfying year ahead.

Danielle Baptiste OK, back to the "New Years Resolutions", 1st: If you have bought a home in the past 1-2 years, the best advice I can give (bcuz of experience) is, anytime during holidays, ANY HOLIDAY, use your free resources. Greenery is the best, especially @ this time of year. Just look around. Even while driving. If you can use it, get it!!! And you will be surprised @ how much money you can save on decorating for the holidays and it looks 10 times better bcuz its real and from the heart. 2nd: When you get into ANY project, finish from A-Z and don't start another, even if it KILLS YOU!!! And 3: Love your house. No matter how much stress goes into keeping it, and GOD will ALWAYS make it your home.....Best Advice EVER!!!

betyboop I must start the beginning..........!!!!!!!!!!

astraea @BetyBoop .. is that a pay phone? Do they really still exist .. or is that an antique on your wall (LOL)?

Casart Coverings Well, I'm not as creative or clever as Molly, but can borrow from others' work to illustrate what I mean when I say that I'm going to resolve to be less up tight about decorating in 2013 and I confess to being guilty of the last illustration my entire life. Just ask my children: they never know how the furniture and art will be arranged when they visit me.

olldroo Casart, I wish I had thought of the first one while I have been waiting for things to happen here.

robinann80906 Bathroom seems to be a common theme. I want to get rid of the vanity (ick) and replace it with one I really LOVE (marble top comments anyone?) maybe this means new shower tile, maybe not...and then the den. I have ideas but it will involve more than cosmetic changes - and then there is the kitchen backsplash...and then.....and then....
At least I did finish the dining room and living room this year!

secondcup222 I will finish my kitchen. I was lucky enough to reclaim an oak kitchen from friends and although a slow process I am starting to feel like I am getting somewhere. I am learning lots and hope to continue to do as much of it myself as I can, I am woman, I am strong and I am fearless. Love this site for many inspirational ideas.

nanveen Talk about clean slate. Or whole downstairs was flooded by Sandy. Who invited her to my husband's 50th birthday party? It is completely gutted including the subfloors. 3 supports were washed away. Love this website to learn about everyones ideas. Lets hope the insurance company will come through.

astraea @Nanveen - so sorry to hear about your Hurricane Sandy damage! I'm in SE Monmouth County, NJ, and I lost 5 large trees, but am on a hill so I didn't have any water damage. Are you also in NJ?

olldroo Nanveen - what a year you have ahead of you! Do hope your insurance company does the right thing and everything goes smoothly for you. Good luck with it all.

I guess on the positive side though, hubby won't forget his 50th in a hurry.

colleenf1 After 18 years in the house, we are going to replace all the flooring, some windows, sliding glass door, master bath remodel along with doing some work in the backyard. I am tired of living with something that I don't really enjoy. Let's enjoy the house we spend so much time in.

State Wide Construction & Remodeling Great article Houzz!! It reminds me of this photo I attached. Each of us are at different stages in life, yet the thing to remember is to keep moving forward!!

ploefff my resolution last year was not to start another project until one was done and I'm proud to say I have pretty much stuck to it so next year I'll step it up and make the resolution to work on my projects a little everyday. It doesn't have to be much - it might just be finally painting the small white pollyfilla dot left on the wall where I moved a picture from. I have a feeling it will make me love my house even more because it will keep looking better and better.

fredericklc I just bought a 1912 clawfoot bathtub with the original feet. It is awesome. However, the chance of remodeling our bathroom this coming year is non-existent. We have to redo the den following some pretty bad water damage. My husband and I go out to the garage to visit our bathtub and sit in it and pretend. I know that sounds crazy, we really just did that once (completely clothed, lol), to make sure it was long enough for us. Not that it mattered. It was love at first sight. It was coming home with me!

olldroo ploefff - you are too much!!! How many times I have promised myself that "little bit each day" it all sounds so easy, until things go wrong or other people (read 'children/grandchildren') get in the way. Good luck, if anyone can do it, you will!!!

pixiebabydoll Clear everyone elses excess clutter out of MY house{YOU, yes you, take your JUNK home} and get to finishing my lovely french country style kitchen!

betyboop @astrea

The antique person is older than the phone on the wall !!!!!

pixiebabydoll lol ladies and gents im sitting here reading every comment thinking..maybe just maybe ill redo the danged kitchen floor this year heck me and 2 female friends gutted my ugly kitchen and lesson by lesson remodeled it so i can handle one.........gulps..........very large floor ...i think i can i think i can.......its all thats left to do except add little touches for me myself and i!{not even discussing the rest i need to do in other rooms}

vulani We hope to conclude the renovations on the house we bought which is 300 sq m, by the end of June 2013. It was empty and totally vandalised. We had to start from scratch and had an opportunity to make some changes! I have a whole house to decorate. The story is on Facebook - Siwelile

mello0830 Finally update the bathroom, replacing the 90's peach and green and leaves stencil.

katespark We have been overrun...by kids, by work, by stuff. This year, if its not beautiful and we don't use it, its OUT! I am hoping for fresh paint, less stuff, and starting the process of the kitchen remodel in the form of hiring a designer with the hope to have it completed summer of 2014.