New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home, Shangri-Las Vegas-Style

New Year’s resolutions don’t necessarily need to be just about losing weight or quitting a bad habit. Why not be different this year and start making over your home instead of yourself? If your home is looking fantastic, you may be more inclined to feel better about yourself and your life.

After all, home is where the heart is.  In the Huffington Post, life-management expert Kimberly Friedmutter offers tips on transforming your home into something special.

Friedmutter and her husband, Brad Friedmutter, a successful and world-renowned Las Vegas architect, own a spectacular home which they proudly named, Shangri-Las Vegas. Inspired by their many travels and Kimberly Friedmutter’s vast knowledge of sensory perception, Shangri-Las Vegas is more than just a huge mansion in the Las Vegas desert.

The Friedmutters have designed their own personal oasis of comfort and warmth that anyone can create in their own home by following these simple steps:

1. Expect the exceptional: This idea has become Kimberly Friedmutter’s personal formula to success in her life.  When applying this idea to your home, think beyond the standard and go straight to the extraordinary.
2. Mix and match styles: You like modern décor and the look of French country but don’t think the two will mesh well? You’d be surprised.  Ditch the traditional and go with what you love even if it’s more than one style.
3. Function over form: A home shouldn’t be a museum.  You do have to live there so make sure you are choosing functional items for your space, not just what looks good.
4. Indoor outdoor: Bring the outside, inside.  Enjoy autumn leaves by placing them in glass jars.  Use pretty rocks to fill vases.  Just because it’s outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t use it to decorate your home.
5. Decorate the stairs: Try adding lights or some other item to your staircase.  This simple idea can create a dramatic effect to your home.
6. Silverware medley: Have spare cutlery or thinking of replacing your current ones?  There are several things you can do with silverware around your home that’s quick and easy.
7. Break with convention: Baskets can be used to hold magazines or books.  Use decorative boxes to store your keys and loose change.  Just because an item was designed for a certain purpose doesn’t mean you can’t use them in non-traditional and clever ways.
8. Turn off the lights: Lighting or lack thereof can change the look and mood of a space.  If there is an area in your home that is too bright, replace lighting with a smaller lamp to create a more sedate area.
9. Put your television outside: Choose an area in your home and make it media-free.  Everyone should have this type of relaxing and peaceful space.
10. Say it with words: An easy and fun way to personalize areas in your home is to literally make a statement.  Buy a chalkboard or use chalk paint on a wall near your kitchen so that you can write “what’s for dinner” every night.  If you have a favorite quote or saying, stencil it on a wall in your favorite room of the house.

So why not begin the new year with a home that is your personal haven and a reflection of your style? It doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming and it’s a whole lot easier than keeping with the traditional resolutions that most people make.

Try it and you’ll be surprised at how good you will feel to be surrounded by something exceptional.