So, you’re a busy mom with a million things to do, the least of which are wanting to come home to a mess of a house and spend your free evening putting everything away.
Whether you have three kids and a dog, or just have accumulated too much stuff for your own good, here are a couple key interior design tips to making your home feel tidier so you can relax (for once).
1. Storage That Looks Good
There’s nothing worse than a toy box that’s three bright neon colours in the middle of your living room. Even if it really does keep all your many knick-knacks in one place, try thinking of ways to make your storage functional and fabulous.
First and foremost, when redesigning a room always try and think of where you can build-in more storage. That awkward nook off the kitchen? Make it into a walk-in pantry with extra-cupboards that match your cabinets. Can’t fit all your clothes into your tiny closet? Get a bed with extra space underneath to put compartmentalized boxes that can replace the need for a boxy wardrobe.
Mostly, think of creative places to put storage, like ottomans that open up to store toys or spray-painted mason jars to hold makeup brushes. Whatever your storage needs, go for transforming small spaces or every day objects into something remarkable and highly functional.
2. Go Minimalistic
A lot of tiny rooms can feel cluttered and messy just by the way it’s designed. If your home isn’t open concept, for example, and you go with an eclectic cozy feel with chunky furniture and decorations, you instantly shrink the space.
An amazing technique that’s been used countlessly is taking on a minimalistic and function-centered approach to your interior design. The Swedish-style of home design brings together a few simple pieces with neutral-coloured walls, clean lines, and the bare essentials of decorations.
Because minimalistic design focuses on highlighting rooms with natural light, they can feel larger and cleaner with this simple technique. If you don’t want to go full Scandinavian, start with integrating more neutral tones and tons of mirrors. These things open up a space, so even if there’s a little mess, it’ll still feel clean and bright.
3. Find Easy-To-Clean Materials
There’s nothing worse to coming home to find a large stain on your perfectly white living room couch. But what’ll really kick you, is whether or not that material is easy to clean or not.
So, though you might want to go with the most appealing piece you find, think twice about the materials you choose.
When it comes to keeping your house clean, seek out materials that are cleaning-friendly. For floors, think about the use in each room. If you don’t need carpet somewhere, opt for hardwood, or even stained concrete which is super easy to sweep and wash.
Have kids with an artistic dream? Look for paint that is easier to scrub off your kid’s drawing. Really like white carpet but don’t want to give up red wine? An interesting idea is replacing your full carpet with carpet tiles, so you can pull them up individually to clean by hand instead.
4. Living Room-Playroom Combo Done Right
Particularly if you don’t have enough space upstairs for a dedicated playroom, this one’s for you. If your living room is starting to look like a jungle gym and art studio mashed together, then you’re probably looking for a way to make this more functional and aesthetically pleasing.
A huge part of a good playroom is storage, but even with that you’ll still find toys everywhere. The key to a truly tidy multi-purpose living room is dividing it properly.
Having a dedicated space within your existing living room for playtime might be the solution for you. Whether it’s simply keeping their toys in the built-in storage of your ottoman to keep them in one place, or a true divided area, there are many options.
When it comes to dividing a room, think white canvased teepee or a wooden room divider with storage boxes that sits on one side of the room. Simple sectioning of a room can make the biggest differences in how toys are spreading to the rest of your space.
Are you looking for a tidier home? What tricks have you used so far? Let us know in the comments!
