Each year people make New Year's resolutions and many soon forget they ever made one. Time for a change? Why not resolve to give your old house a new look in the New Year? Start the new decade with a new attitude about your home's makeover.

Paint a room to renew it. Apply new interior paint to brighten up your home and brush away the winter blues. Hot colors for 2010 include bright or warm yellows, lavender for bedrooms and slate or charcoal grays to replace tan and beige tones as popular neutrals.

Home built decades ago? Homes built before 1978 may include paint containing lead. Lead poisoning can pose a health threat, especially to young children. Contact your local health department for advice on lead paint removal.

Front and center. While you're painting, remember the front door. A fresh coat of paint or polyurethane on a fiberglass or wood entry door can refresh the new look and luster. Consider whether the door still closes properly or if you can feel air leaks around it. If so, it's time to replace the weatherstripping or the door itself. Adding a storm door can also boost to your entryway's energy efficiency by helping keep cold air out.

Make it easy with prefinished options. Many home improvements, like woodwork, windows and doors can be factory prefinished saving you time and the hassle of finishing. That way you can match your window and door finishes to cabinets, flooring or furniture and enjoy your windows and doors from the moment they're installed.

Add an element of surprise. An element of the unexpected makes each home unique. So include colors or décor that reflects your personal style. Incorporate color and texture and add privacy with window and patio door treatments between panes of glass.

Ring in the New Year with a new attitude on how to refresh your home inside and out. Once the home improvements are complete, invite guests over to help relieve cabin fever and celebrate your home's new look. Cheers to your home.

This article was provided by Pella®. Visit www.pellareplacement.com/HRG or call 888-904-VIEW for more information Pella® factory-built entry door systems, prefinished products, energy-efficient wood, vinyl or fiberglass windows, and Pella Designer Series® windows and patio doors that feature optional removable blinds or shades in vibrant colors like Garnet, Marine, Bordeaux, Tomato, Charcoal and Pewter along with popular neutral tones.