Interior Design Tricks for Maintaining a Clean Home
Maintaining a clean home can feel like a full-time job. A common complaint among homeowners is, “I don’t know how it gets so messy!” Many people don’t realize that the overall decor and design scheme within the home can make a significant difference in keeping it tidy.
Here are some designer-recommended tips and tricks for creating a home that’s easy to clean and maintain.
Choose Resistant Flooring
Floors bear the brunt of a home’s existence. They’re walked on, spilled on, and scraped against. Unless you plan on scrubbing your floors every day, this wear and tear become apparent quite quickly.
When choosing flooring, choose something high-quality and resistant. Hardwood floors are easy to clean but susceptible to scratching. Alternatively, a high-quality plank laminate is scratch-resistant and easy to wipe up. This style of flooring has evolved tremendously over the last decade, with wood grain texture that looks and feels just like wood.
Concrete floors with a glossy sealant are another durable trend among designers. This look goes well in an industrial-inspired space or can even act as faux marble when done right. Glossed concrete adds a touch of luxury in a kitchen and is beautifully simple to maintain.
If you love the softness of carpet, keep it out of high-traffic areas and use area rugs instead to limit vacuuming needs.
Keep Room Flow in Mind
The flow of a room is paramount in interior design. This factor can make a room seem more spacious, but it also makes it easier to clean. Regardless of whether you handle cleaning yourself or use housekeeping services, having fewer things to navigate around makes tidying a breeze.
Not only does the room flow create fewer nooks and crannies, but it also reduces dust accumulation. Fewer flat surfaces means less dust and easier home maintenance.
Maintaining a Clean Home : Use High-Quality Paint
Designers will always use the highest quality paint. Many homeowners will shop for paint based on pricing. However, this is a mistake that can end up costing more in the end.
High-quality paint is created to withstand the tests of time. Nothing makes a home look rundown and shabby like chipped paint. Furthermore, having resistant paint makes it easier to wipe off any dirt or scuff marks. Rather than having to scrub the walls with degreaser or apply a fresh coat every few years, high-quality paint can be wiped down with warm water.
Keep the same idea in mind when choosing a wall covering. Wallpaper is making a comeback as a hot interior design trend. Choose something vinyl-based for easy maintenance.
Hide Storage in Plain Sight
Designers have a way of making storage look like the decor. Whether it’s the use of multi-functional furniture or adding baskets to open shelving, hiding storage in plain sight is a fantastic design trick for a tidy home.
When planning for storage, organize your items first, and purchase solutions to fit those needs. This prevents any overwhelm or wasted budget during the design process. Try to keep stored items in the area where they’re used most often to reduce clutter being scattered throughout the home.
Choose Counter and Cabinet Colors Wisely
In addition to choosing durable materials and paint, color choices also play a role in clean interior design schemes. Your counter and cabinet colors, in particular, are a high traffic area worth careful consideration. Choose colors and patterns that help hide a mess while looking great. The white cabinet trend looks clean and dazzling, but it just takes a spot of sauce to make the room look messy.
The two-tone cabinet trend is having a moment for this reason. The dark cabinets on the bottom help hide small messes to make the room appear cleaner. Alternatively, lighter cabinets on the top add brightness and create the illusion of space. The contrast between the two is visually appealing.
The best designers find a balance between form and functionality. Keep cleanliness and easy maintenance in mind during your next design project.
