a twelve month journey to making over your home {march}

“The beginning is always today.” Mary Shelley

Who wouldn’t love to give their home a complete makeover? How many of us are just dying to get everything organized and beautiful?!?! Many of us would love to give our home a fresh start this year, but we just don’t know where to start. This year at the Art of Domesticity I am so thrilled to guide you through a twelve-month journey to making over your home.

I am going to make it very simple and break down each aspect of your home makeover into monthly tasks according to seasonal needs. Better yet, I am digging deep to find out when is the best time to purchase home goods as far as furniture, appliances, bedding and all other home improvement items.

Many of us shrink back from this seemingly insurmountable task because it is just too overwhelming, but not anymore. I am making it very simple!

Spring is around the corner and with these rainy days it gives you a great opportunity to clean and organize and take an occasional break to read a sweet book like The Story of Saint Patrick’s Day.

Now, when you organize your home from top to bottom it is important to be really thorough when planning your organization system. Here are a few of my favorites for organizing:

– Clear Divided Turntable – It works as a tea caddy, under a kitchen sink to hold products, or in a pantry.

– Baskets – They are extremely utilitarian. They can be used to hold virtually anything.

Short Seagrass Basket from Target

-Containers & Canisters –I love anything modular since it lets you add just the right amount of product to maximize the space. You can take advantage of all the dimensions and stack as needed. Here are some great options from Ikea.

-Drawer Inserts – I love modular inserts that allow you endless options for your drawers based on the contents you need to organize. I use them all over the house.

Before putting these in place, give your home a good spring-cleaning at the same time to really start fresh.

When it comes to keeping your home spotless, all-natural cleaning solutions provide healthy alternatives that are effective, eco- organic and toxin-free. Here are some DIY’s:

Hot Water and Vinegar

As a cleaning agent, vinegar remains the easiest and cheapest trick in the book. Mixing equal parts hot water and distilled or apple cider vinegar makes for a simple antibacterial cleaner for everything from floors to tile, laminate, and linoleum.

All-Purpose Spray

For an all-purpose cleaner, simply mix 1 cup distilled or apple cider vinegar in 2 cups water and add five drops of essential oil. Put the solution in a spray bottle, shake, and go. The fragrant clove scent is also far more palatable than vinegar alone.

Wood Cleaner and Polish

To give wood countertops or furniture an all-natural polish, mix 2 cups hot water with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. This simple solution makes a safe and easy cleansing scrub for any wood surface.

Stone Countertop Cleaner

When cleaning marble, granite, or natural stone countertops, a gentle solution composed of 2 cups warm water and a couple drops of mild dishwashing detergent is ideal. Simply mix the detergent with water, sponge over the surface and rinse with water to remove any excess soap. When choosing a detergent, steer clear of citrus scents and vinegar, as the acidity could erode the stone.

All-Purpose Deodorizer

A simple solution of baking soda and water is the simplest way to leave counters fresh and fragrance-free. To remove any unwanted scents, mix four tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Pour the solution on the surface and wipe down with a sponge.

This month is the best time of year to purchase luggage so if you are on the lookout for some new luggage, now is the time to find a great deal!!

Also, St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! These are ideas you can use for food and fun:

Martha Stewart has some cute cupcakes for St. Patrick’s day…