Nearly everyone makes new year's resolutions-- and why not? The new year is a fresh start. It is the perfect time to change old habits, and start new ones. It is also a great time to upgrade, renovate and repair. If you are going into 2018 determined to fix up your home, you are not alone. You should, however, have a plan. Here are some tips from some of the top designers to help you upgrade your home if you are looking to give it a fresh start.

Start With Your Palette

Before you call contractors or make any big design decisions, start with a palette. Your color palette will set the stage and invoke the mood you want in your home. Once you have decided on a palette, take your set of colors throughout the house and consider how your palette will play out in each room. If you do the same thing in every room, things could get stale quickly. Having a little something different going on in each space will help to maintain freshness and visual interest.

Lean more heavily on neutrals if you are trying to establish a calm or elegant tone. Go for bright colors if you want rooms that are vibrant and lively.

Make a Room Look Larger

Any room can be made to feel larger and more spacious. There are many ways to achieve this goal. For starters, your color palette can go a long way toward creating the feel of more space. Lighter shades tend to make a room feel larger and lighter. A lighter color on the ceiling than are on the walls can also give the room the appearance of greater height. Mirrors, larger windows and more lighting can also give your room an airier feel and add to the illusion of more space. Finally, the furnishings you choose also make a difference. Shorter pieces such as chairs without high backs can help make the ceiling look higher. Avoiding the overstuffed couch in favor of something a little less fluffy and going with a more minimalistic esthetic where furnishings and knick-knacks are concerned will also help prevent the room from feeling too cluttered or crowded.

Highlight Investment Pieces

Let's face it: there will always be pieces that you buy simply because you love them. Don't be ashamed and don't apologize. Instead, let those pieces take the lead. If you got a vintage clawfoot bathtub for your bathroom, let it be the center piece. Maybe your whole bathroom will take on a vintage design. If you picked up an amazing sofa or a stunning work of art, put it in a place of prominence and let it be the focal point. Even fixtures like wine cellar doors can speak volumes about your unique style. Let visitors see what you saw when you first came into contact with the piece.One word of caution: make sure the rest of the room does not fight with your piece. There is no need to make more than one statement in a room.

Add Some Texture

Having a beautiful palette is a great place to begin, but to keep a room interesting, it is a good idea to combine different textures. For example, maybe you have a shag rug with a wall paint that has a gritty, sandy finish to it. You might have a grass mat on your glass table and wooden floors framing that area rug. A shiny lamp base with a fabric shade and long satin drapes on the window. There is an infinite number of ways to mix up the textures in the room to make it more interesting.

There are a lot of exciting options available if you want to upgrade your home's look. The new year, a time of new beginnings, is the perfect time to give your home a much-needed face lift. These suggestions can help you forge your path to your home's new and improved style.