There are a lot of things to review whenever you’re coming into a new year, including your home. After another year in your home, there may have been things that have come up that you need to repair or things you want to improve. Whether you make New Year resolutions for yourself or not, it can be a good idea to look over your home and make some home improvement plans for the year. Here are some home improvement resolutions for the new year to consider for your home:

1. Remodel Your Bathroom

Is one of your bathrooms giving you constant headaches or simply in need of a fresh look? Even the smallest of powder rooms can be completely transformed by a renovation. You could even add a bathroom to your home!

There are many potential reasons you may want to remodel a bathroom. Maybe the layout needs an overhaul so it’s more functional? Maybe everything is in need of an update? Maybe you need more storage space or different fixtures? Maybe it needs to be safer?

If you’re getting older or you have older relatives coming to stay with you, remodeling a bathroom can be a good move. You can install a shower with a seat, grab bars, and other safety accommodations. This is one of the reasons why remodeling bathrooms is one of the popular home renovations to make during retirement.

2. Improve the Safety of Your Home

In addition to upgrading bathrooms if you need to, the New Year is the perfect time to survey your home and take care of any safety and security maintenance. Simply looking over your home for issues and addressing them are some of the top home security tips to protect your home.

For example, it’s a great time to check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. If you don’t have one already, consider investing in a carbon monoxide detector, especially if your home is heated with gas.

Also, be sure to check that all fire extinguishers are working and family members know how to use them. If you have a fireplace, be sure to have your chimney inspected and the flue cleaned on an annual basis.

You can also check your doors and windows, including the locks. If you have basement windows, take a good look at them and the surrounding areas inside and out. In addition to replacing them when needed, there are also several simple updates that can help you burglar-proof your basement windows.

3. Finish Your Basement

Keeping an unfinished basement could be a mistake and could also be costing you on your energy bills throughout the year. If you didn’t finish your basement before winter rolled in, prioritizing it in the new year can be a great home improvement resolution.

There are several reasons to finish your basement, and the possibilities are nearly endless. You can create a living area and even add a bathroom for houseguests, in-laws, or renters. A finished basement can be an excellent hangout area for adults or children, an entertainment room, and more.

4. Get New Gutters or Gutter Guards

Although gutters and gutter guards may not be the most exciting home improvement project, it can pay off big time. When your gutters are not in good shape, your home can suffer terrible water damage, which can cause problems with mold, mildew, and even structural damage.

Take a look at your gutters. Are they properly channeling water away from your home? Are ice dams building up anywhere? Do you see any sagging, damage, or other signs you need to replace your gutters?

5. Check How Well Your Home is Winterized

When the new year rolls in, there are still a couple of months of winter left and it’s a good time to check how well your home is winterized. As the New Year rolls in, it’s a good idea to check in on everything you have already done and to take care of anything that hasn’t been done yet.

Be sure to cover outside faucets and put inside faucets at a slow drip when temperatures drop below freezing. Drafts and poor insulation are some of the ways you might be losing money on your energy bills. Sealing cracks and repairing weather stripping around your doors and windows are just a couple of ways to save on heating costs. You should also consider putting additional insulation in your attic for extra savings on heating bills.

As winter continues, it’s also a good idea to check for any drafts that are still present even after sealing and weather-stripping doors and windows. If drafts, unusual condensation, or other signs of moisture still appear, these can be reasons to replace your windows and doors and you may want to start considering replacing them.

6. Look for Energy-Efficient Improvements

If you have already covered the big energy-efficient improvements, one of the big tips to make your home more energy-efficient and save energy is by turning down the thermostat while you’re at work or sleeping. Granted, you don’t want to make any extreme changes as this reduces efficiency over time, but one or two degrees can make a difference in energy usage over the course of winter.

Investing in a programmable thermostat will ensure you never forget to turn back the heat. It’s also a good time to make the switch to efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, which can last up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs while also using less energy.

7. Opt for Greener Choices

Recycling is available in many areas for much more than just paper and plastic. Resolve to recycle old electronic equipment like televisions, computers, and cell phones. Depending on the condition of these items, there are also several programs available where you can donate them to schools, libraries, veterans, and other institutions or groups.

You should also repair leaky faucets and toilets that don’t stop running. This will not only conserve water, but it can also reduce your bill a bit too. If you’re planning a home repair or an upgrade, look for materials that are made from recycled products or were made locally.

It’s often a good idea to get help with large repairs or upgrades, so turn to a skilled home improvement company like Zephyr Thomas to ensure you receive high-quality work and materials! Lastly, be sure any new appliances or electronics carry the Energy Star seal for efficiency.

8. Take Care of Regular Home Maintenance Tasks

Not doing any or enough maintenance are some of the top home maintenance mistakes to stop making. This is one of the many reasons why taking care of regular home maintenance tasks is one of the home improvement resolutions for the new year and throughout the year. Something as simple as changing an air filter in your heating/cooling system every few months will allow it to run more efficiently and save you money.

You should also drain your water tank once a year to remove any sediment buildup. Don’t forget to clean your gutters regularly, which, if overlooked, can lead to rotting, damage to the basement, and even structural damage to the foundation of your home. If you’re sick of dealing with your current gutters, you can always replace them with gutter guards, which are virtually maintenance-free.

These home improvement resolutions for the new year will go a long way in ensuring you and your home have a safe, happy, and prosperous year!