New year is the most popular time for embarking upon grand schemes of home improvement. But, come February, will all your hopes and dreams have crumbled into dust and rubble? Make 2007 a DIY-friendly year, with the help of these new year resolutions:

Write a list of all the jobs you want to do this year, in order of priority. Pin it up in the kitchen and get ready to tick them off.

- Learn at least one new DIY skill. If evening classes aren’t your style, consider an intensive course or online learning. If you’ve got £12,500 for the fees, the Inchbald School of Design launches its first online interior design and garden design courses in February (www.inchbald.co.uk, 020-7730 5508).

- Some DIY jobs – waxing floors, painting a room pink – are a luxury. Some are a downright necessity. If you’re plagued by damp, leaking roofs or rattling windows, tackle these problems now. They will only get worse and cost more to rectify.

- Increase energy efficiency. Loft and cavity wall insulation and improved double-glazing might not make your heart race, but your bank balance will be happier for it. And if you’re thinking of moving, from June an “energy condition report” on your property is required as part of the Government’s revised home information packs.

- Storage can revolutionise your life. Whether it’s plastic pots for screws or built-in cupboards for shoes, putting everything in its place creates a harmonious home. Try www.theholdingcompany.co.uk for ideas.

- Don’t start one job without finishing another. It’s tedious to get out the paint and brushes and touch up the ceiling where the shower leaked, but if you don’t the room will look messy whatever you do next.

- If you’re about to decorate a room, think about how the colour will fit in with the rest of the house. A bright turquoise bathroom will lift your spirits on a chilly winter morning but might clash with everything else. Those “colour family” paint-cards from Dulux are useful for bringing a bit of self-discipline to your creativity.

- Learn not to buy pots of yellow paint or rolls of flock wallpaper in the sales just because they’re cheap. They are reduced for a reason: nobody wanted them first time around. Paint has a limited shelf life, so ditch any festering old pots.

- Get rid of clutter and rediscover rooms you didn’t know you had.
Sell the decent stuff on eBay or through the small ads in your local newspaper, take the rest to a charity shop or send old clothes, shoes, computers (www.computer-aid.org) and mobile phones (www.fonebak.com) for recycling to help those with fewer material goods.

- Know when to get a man (or a woman) in. Given the demands on your time and your skill levels, be realistic about the jobs which you can tackle yourself. Electrical and gas installations should always be carried out by a registered practitioner and are subject to building regulations; proof will be required if you sell. Never be tempted to bodge a job: you could lose value on your home or even risk your life.

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