Your home should be a reflection of who you are. If it’s not quite in sync with the ‘New Year’ you, it might be time to give it a new lease of life. Take the opportunity to create a space filled with the things you love – and get rid of the clutter weighing you down. Read on for five of the easiest ways to give your home a revamp for the New Year.

A fresh coat of paint gives a room a new lease of life. If you’re happy with your current colour scheme, stick with it but apply one more coat to freshen it up. Or why not try a whole new look? Decide on the atmosphere you want to create and work from there. Colour has the power to affect your mood, so choose carefully.

Paint colour can vary dramatically depending on the lighting in your room. In general, a colour will appear stronger in natural light and warmer under incandescent lighting. The only way to see how it will look is to pick up a couple of tester pots and try it out on the wall.

The lazy days are the perfect time to give your home a good declutter. Write a list of all the jobs that you have been putting off and dedicate one day to blast through as many of them as you can.

Begin with the toughest tasks like that drawer full of random junk that tends to accumulate. Just imagine how fantastic you’ll feel when those jobs are off your to-do list!

Soft furnishings are perhaps the speediest way to revamp your home – and the January sales always offer some irresistible bargains. Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to begin. You can start by thumbing through the many magazines and papers that you have undoubtedly collected during the Christmas break, before the recycling needs to be done. You’ll quickly start to see a theme emerging. Once you have your theme, you can hit the shops with steely focus and the smug knowledge that everything fits together perfectly.

Focus on cushions, throws, rugs and curtains. These little items can quickly transform a room from drab to fab.

Yearning for a new sofa, kitchen table or appliance? Big ticket items are often at rock bottom prices in the January sales. So if you’ve had your eye on something, now is a good time to pounce. A new piece of furniture can become the focal point of a room and freshen it up considerably. Out with the old and in with the new, as the saying goes.

Good lighting can transform a room. To make a room appear brighter, replace any dark coloured shades with lighter colours to bounce the light. Or create a cosy atmosphere with strategically placed lamps at varying levels.

Burn a favourite scented candle to add instant ambience. Or, put some orange peel, lemon and a cinnamon stick into a pot of simmering water for a few minutes to fragrance your home naturally.

Sometimes your home needs more than a simple revamp. If you’re looking for a new location or more space this New Year, you can see exactly what you can borrow using our mortgage calculator. And if you’re just starting out in the process, check out our home movers guide to the first five steps of a home mortgage journey.

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Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is an authorised agent and servicer of AIB Mortgage Bank in relation to origination and servicing of mortgage loans and mortgages. AIB Mortgage Bank and Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Copyright Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. 1995.