We didn’t do New Year’s Resolutions this year at The Style File – except maybe to behave better at next year’s holiday party. Frankly, our 2009 style was confined to coordinating our blanket and socks with the sofa for a little too long. But with the sense of optimism that’s been sweeping the country in the last two weeks, we’ve reconsidered our position – at least on the sofa – sat up and made a few resolutions for this year. And next week we’ll start on them, we promise. Baby steps, baby steps… after all, it’s cold out there.

In 2009, we promise to:

1. Think green. The planet can use every bit of help it can get. And what’s more stylish than ecological awareness? We’ve already got the energy conserving appliances. Our next step will be to incorporate a well-coordinated recycling bin into our kitchen décor.
2. Do more with less. Sometimes we get carried away with all the original ways we can make our living spaces unique. But too much of a good thing is a bad thing. We’ll stick to just a few style techniques and share the rest with you for inspiration.
3. Clean up our acts. How will our houseguests see our stylish savvy if everything is hiding under an inch of dust?
4. Be original. There’s no place like home - particularly when our DNA is literally hanging from the walls. Maybe there’s a way we can incorporate fingerprints too?
5. Think big. Pay smaller. Designer décor is nice for inspiration, but not for our wallets. We’ve never felt shame in searching for inexpensive (not cheap) knockoffs or going DIY. And this year won’t be any different.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming. And blanket. And socks. And planning all the fabulous things we’ll do when it’s about 10 degrees warmer.