Keeping a home comfortable and organized is really, really difficult. Not only do you have to figure out how you want to decorate but you also have to learn how to do so in a way that is comfortable and functional. The way you organize your things makes a big difference – this includes lighting, furniture arrangements, mirrors, carpets, and more.
Of course, part of keeping a home comfortable involves keeping it organized. That can be just as overwhelming! It’s amazing how fast you can accumulate clutter. If you’re a Marie Kondo fan, you probably know that one of the best ways to keep things clean is, well — to have fewer things! But that’s not always possible for everyone. So how do you make the best of the situation that you have?
There are actually a lot of things you can do! Some are design tips, some are organizational methods, and some are just good old-fashioned cleaning techniques. With a little bit of creativity and definitely some elbow grease, you’ll have your home tidy and comfortable in no time. These tips will help you do more than just make your home clean. They’ll help you keep it that way.
1. Piling things on surfaces.
There’s a big difference between staying organized and just keeping things off the floor. When you’re piling stuff onto every clean surface, your home will start to feel crowded — fast. So, whatever you do, don’t throw junk on top of every clean countertop and table!
2. Not having enough on counters
Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to go to the other extreme, too. Having too little on your counters also feels awkward and odd. The happy medium is to find the proper place for appliances on your countertops, such as toasters and coffee makers.
3. Having clutter on the front of your fridge
One of the main focal points of your kitchen is your fridge, so it’s noticeable when covered with clutter! It’s easy to let junk accumulate on the front of your fridge. Make sure you regularly clear away old Christmas cards, invitations, and notes.
4. Neglecting your shelving
The way you organize your shelving can make a huge difference in how your kitchen looks and feels. If your shelves are organized and you use them to keep your appliances neat and tidy, you’ll notice a big difference in the functionality and comfort of the space.
5. Overstuffing your cabinets
Even worse than disorganized cabinets are cluttered cabinets. Not only do they look bad but it also becomes impossible to find the things you need. Take time to organize things in their proper place.
6. Letting your entryway become cluttered
The first thing that people see when they walk through the door is, well, the floor. It’s easy to let your entryway get cluttered with shoes, jackets, and bags. Make it a priority to keep the entryway organized. Provide a place to put things as you come inside.
7. Letting your closets get messy
Shove everything into the closet and you’re done with cleaning, right? Not exactly. Having a messy closet actually makes everything look worse. What’s more, it makes it difficult to find things when you need them.
8. Not labeling your storage
It’s a pain to try to find things lost in storage. To keep things organized and easy to locate, get out a marker and neatly label everything. That way you can find items again, even if it’s years down the line!
9. Over-Decorating
One easy way to make things in your house look cluttered is crowding the walls. It’s easy to over-decorate with family photos, knickknacks, and collectibles, but keep it simple. Minimalism can be much more pleasing to the eye.
10. Having too many toys
Every parent knows that it’s easy for toys to get out of hand. Birthdays, Christmas, and grandparents all mean an overflowing toy box. But your home will be much more comfortable with fewer playthings. By the way, studies show children play better and focus more when they have fewer toys!
11. Having a tangle of cords on the floor
Having cords around the house is a simple part of life in 2019. With phones, laptops, TVs, and other technology, it’s hard to avoid having them in a pile on the floor. But this isn’t just a tripping hazard, it looks terrible.
12. Letting collections get out-of-hand
It’s all well and good to have a collection of postcards, vases, or figurines, but too many can quickly lead to clutter. Try to curb your collections by only putting a few of your favorites on display.
13. Having too many books on display
Every person who’s an avid reader probably has too many books on their shelves. Unfortunately, it can make your living space feel extremely cluttered. Try not to overstuff your bookshelves.
14. Letting laundry sit around
They say that laundry is the chore that never ends, and they’re right. It can be really hard to keep up with, but try to stay on top of your laundry. Having piles of clean or dirty clothes takes up a lot of space.
15. Using too much furniture
Finding furniture that you love is great. But placing too many pieces in a room quickly turns it from comfortable to claustrophobic. Make sure to leave open spaces that you can enjoy.
16. Hoarding too much stuff
Everyone knows someone who verges on the brink of being a hoarder. Marie Kondo had one thing right: if you don’t use or like something, get rid of it. Someone else will enjoy it, and you’ll be able to breathe again!
17. Putting things in the wrong place
Having too much stuff can make a room feel crowded, but so can putting things in the wrong place. Play with open spaces around a room and make sure you have enough of them to feel comfortable.
18. Holding onto things you’ll never use
This goes hand in hand with hoarding. That tennis racket you think you might pick up one day? Let it go. It’s better to buy another one than to have an unused racket gathering dust and taking up space in your storage room.
19. Overcrowding coat racks
Coat racks are usually right at the entryway of homes. That means they’re one of the first things that people see when entering. When they get overfilled, it’s a quick way to make a room look cluttered. Keep your coat racks as clear as possible.
20. Not having a place for shoes
Kids and adults alike are guilty of walking into a house and kicking their shoes off at the door. This makes a mess that can cause tripping hazards. It also makes getting out the door difficult. Putting in a shoe rack is a great way to avoid these problems.
21. Having too much open shelving
Open shelving is a popular style these days but it actually can look more cluttered. Even worse, it means your appliances gather dust faster and more conspicuously.
22. Having a too-large table
Trying to cram an overly large table into a corner means losing lots of valuable space. Not only that, but tables are magnets for clutter. So, keeping your table small will only help you!
23. Choosing carpet over hard flooring
While our parents and grandparents loved their carpeting, it’s actually not a great choice for homes. For one thing, it makes a room feel more confined. It also makes rooms more difficult to clean. Having hard floors gives you the opportunity to break up space with eye-catching rugs.
24. Matching your decor too closely
You might think that matching decor is a good idea but there’s a line. Not having enough variety in your decoration means not having a focal point in a room, which can make it feel cramped and uncomfortable.
25. Keeping your home too dark
Sometimes, all you need to make a room feel better is a little bit of light. If your home is too dark, consider installing more light fixtures or using brighter bulbs. It can make a huge difference in how a room looks and feels.
26. Pushing furniture against the wall
Do you think pushing furniture against the wall will open up a room? Well, it will, technically. But that doesn’t mean it will feel comfortable. Spacing your furniture in a way that alternates open and closed spaces will help a room look less cluttered.
27. Not having a focal point
A room needs a good focal point to center it and make it feel great. That might be a table, a television, a window, or a great picture on the wall. Centering attention to one place will create a feeling of organization.
28. Not having a color scheme
There’s a bit of technique that goes into making a room comfortable and attractive. You’ll need to decide on a color scheme before diving in. For some variation, this should be several colors, not just one.
29. Not dividing spaces
Arranging furniture is a game of dividing spaces. Don’t just push everything up against the wall. Instead, play with negative space to see what feels the best to you.
Keeping a home comfortable and organized is really, really difficult. Not only do you have to figure out how you want to decorate but you also have to learn how to do so in a way that is comfortable and functional. The way you organize your things makes a big difference – this includes lighting, furniture arrangements, mirrors, carpets, and more.
Of course, part of keeping a home comfortable involves keeping it organized. That can be just as overwhelming! It’s amazing how fast you can accumulate clutter. If you’re a Marie Kondo fan, you probably know that one of the best ways to keep things clean is, well — to have fewer things! But that’s not always possible for everyone. So how do you make the best of the situation that you have?
There are actually a lot of things you can do! Some are design tips, some are organizational methods, and some are just good old-fashioned cleaning techniques. With a little bit of creativity and definitely some elbow grease, you’ll have your home tidy and comfortable in no time. These tips will help you do more than just make your home clean. They’ll help you keep it that way.