When we make resolutions, they’re often to improve the way we look. But few of us resolve to work on the look of our home. A brand new year is the perfect time to begin a fresh take on your space. Really, how much longer can you put off the projects that have long lingered on your “to do . . . someday” list?
My list of resolutions includes a handful of home-improvement projects that have been looming since I moved 18 months ago into my apartment on the ground floor of a Logan Square two-flat. One thing I need to work on is my drinking, i.e. my bar, which is tucked into a corner of my living room. Notice the paint chip wedged under the light switch plate? Yeah, that’s been there for over a year. I’m always quick to tell people that painting is the easiest and most inexpensive way to transform a room, but it can be a big job. Patching holes, sanding, priming, applying multiple coats, edging. But my renter’s-white walls are crying out for my favorite gray: Benjamin Moore’s Bunny Gray. And I can no longer ignore them.
Next up are these rad midcentury chairs that I scored for $100 on Craigslist. The aluminum frames are in great shape, but the banana-hued vinyl upholstery has seen better days. See those swatches of leather I’ve pinned to the corner of each chair? You guessed it—those have been languishing there for over a year. Oops. Reupholstering anything in leather is a pretty huge deal (and definitely not something I can do myself), but I’m finally going to give these chairs the makeover they deserve. I’ve heard great things about Covers Unlimited; with their help, I plan to turn these canary chairs into sexy seats with a gentlemanly vibe.
Those are only two items on a home-improvement list a mile long, but I figure they’ll inspire me to tackle the next pressing project. Remember, your resolutions don’t have to be time-consuming or costly. They can be a simple as rearranging the living room furniture you’ve ignored since back when you partied like it was 1999. Starting out the year in a space that feels fresh and new will give you the motivation to stick to your other resolutions, whatever they may be.
I’m dying to know . . . what are your decorating resolutions? Are you finally going to invest in new bedding, retile your bathroom, or make curtains? Here’s one thing you should definitely add: send photos of your handiwork to be considered for a feature in this space! We love anything thrifted, found, or DIYed, so if you have an interesting, unique, or even bizarre home (or room), send snapshots and a note to space@chicagoreader.com—and you just might see your resolution in the Reader!