A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU

Part of that determination may be about your own health, wellbeing, work/life balance or your domestic situation. And a large part of it may be to do with your home environment and what you want to change to improve your life.

Improving your weight and fitness are relatively easy to plan – if not quite as easy to achieve! Healthy eating and more exercise are achievable, as you gaze into the slimmer, trimmer months ahead, via more discipline around mealtimes and more visits to the gym.

Altering your home may not be quite as easy to plan this year as the higher cost of living bites into all our finances and future plans. It is not, however, the end of the story.

It may be sensible to look at the levels of change in your home that you’d like to achieve. Do you want quite dramatic, slightly cosmetic or something in between?

Quite dramatic can involve moving house, downsizing or alternatively finding somewhere with more space to accommodate the daily needs of you and your family. This is certainly all underpinned by personal finances and just what you can afford as this New Year unfolds its money merry-go-round.

It’s probably quite likely that the majority of us want something perhaps not as dramatic as moving home but well above new cushion covers.

This all requires a realistic look at your finances. If you’re not sure you can afford big changes visit debt charity StepChange at https://www.stepchange.org/ debt-info/your-financial-situation/ making-a-budget.aspx about budgeting or Citizens Advice on https:// www.citizensadvice.org. uk/debt-and-money/ budgeting

If you decide to make structural changes to your home like an EXTENSION, an ORANGERY or CONSERVATORY check first whether you need planning permission from your local planning authority through your local council.

You’ll probably need planning permission if you want to build something new, make a major change to your building like an extension or change the use of your building.

Experts like architects and builders can help you here. If you need an architect, try to go on recommendation from someone you know who can tell you about their experiences. If you need a builder, the same applies or find a trusted builder and reviews about their work by going to https://www.checkatrade. com/Search/Builder/in/Uk

As well as the cost of building, don’t forget that you will also have to RE-DECORATE and re-think FURNISHINGS in adjacent areas. It’s important to factor in all the potential costs before you start.

Fortunately, you can still make noticeable changes to your home without it necessarily meaning a building project.

A new, modern FRONT DOOR can also give it a more contemporary look as can new WINDOWS

The great thing about both these is they have a direct impact on your energy bills. So new windows in particular - if you have old ones which let in drafts – could make your home much cosier and ultimately more cost-efficient.

PAINTING the outside of your house can make a real difference to the look of your home because that kerb appeal is just as important to you as residents as it is to visitors.

Even investing in new CURTAINS can help to make your home warmer throughout. Long, lined curtains help keep expensive warmth in, and they can also help change the colour scheme in a lounge with matching cushion covers or a throw.

Picking up that new shade in a few ornaments or a picture will also brighten up a room and plants in coloured pots help bring the outside inside at a time of year when we’re happy to be indoors.

There is also nothing like the look – and smell - of new CARPETS. Choose a contemporary shade to brighten up current furniture and add to that vital warmth. Or you may prefer to have a wooden floor with modern rugs to offer that different décor.

LIGHTING can also really change how a room looks. There are so many choices of modern lighting now, especially with economical LED lights available, that you’ll be amazed at what’s on offer.

Opting for a modern central light, and possibly add matching wall lights, can give a room such a fresh, bright look. It banishes those dark corners forever and makes rooms look larger.

If your KITCHEN is the heart of your home, giving it a makeover could really impact on the quality of daily life. If new kitchen units could prove too much of an expense this year, new unit handles and doors could be worth the money in giving this important room a new image.

New blinds and kitchen accessories in complementary shades can add to that “new kitchen” look.

The same is true of the BATHROOM where a change of shower curtain, towels, blinds and bathroom accessories can really change the whole look.

BEDROOMS can benefit from new curtains, matching duvet sets and cushions and changing the walls and headboard to a soothing shade may guarantee restful nights.

Don’t forget the outside, either. Give your GARDEN a chance to be centre-stage in 2023. You may feel that you finally want to afford a new hot tub or spa in the back garden.

The British and Irish Hot Tub and Exercise Spa Industry (BISHTA) is very helpful if you’re looking for either of these or need to find companies which provide maintenance and water treatment products and accessories. Go to www.bishta.co.uk for information

Re-designing your garden can offer fresh delights. Decking is ideal for lounging with the family or it’s worth considering swapping grass for simple pebbled spaces with large plant pots and a few shaded areas for quiet rest or reading. This all gives a fresh way to enjoy the Great Outdoors when the weather allows.

If you’re looking for ways to transform your garden currently, the Royal Horticultural Society’s website is a mine of useful information and ideas. Go to www.rhs.org.uk to find out new ways with your garden.