Be kind home to your (AND TO YOURSELF)

Whether you're dreaming of a big reno or tackling an affordable update, Jennifer Morgan reveals how to carry on with confidence

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Ah, the start of a new year, a time of planning, decluttering… and enormous self- inflicted pressure to improve our homes. A time when we look to implement those changes we’ve been putting off in the run up to Christmas. But if life post-pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that best laid plans don’t always turn out the way we’d like.

Lisa Marconi of DesignLed (designled.io) believes that in the face of a cost of living crisis, we should consider scaling back a little in 2023. ‘There is so much making big renovations difficult, including delays in lead times and supply issues. Work is more expensive than normal, and that’s not even taking into the account that we'll all have less disposable income,’ she says.

'One thing I would say is if you have money to put into your house, focus on the energy saving measures like insulating your home, better windows, upgrading your boiler system or even switching to greener energy if you can. Don’t underestimate the happiness a warm home and less stress about paying the bills to heat it can bring you.’

‘Why not resolve to be more accepting of your home and what you’re able to achieve in 2023?’ suggests Clare Flaxen, a cognitive behavioural therapist (clareflaxen.com). ‘Instead of going into the year armed with a huge list of everything you want to change, try shifting your focus to enjoying what you have and accepting the bits that are less than perfect or can’t be altered right now.’