5 Tips For Designing A Room That Stays Clean(ish)
As we approach the new year, something that’s been on my mind a lot is getting our house organized to stay clean! While having any room “stay clean” at all times is impossible, there are definitely ways to keep that ideal in mind when designing and create a space that is less prone to mess.
FOCUS ON FUNCTION
Make sure to include every function needed in the design — everything should have a home. This is the most important tip because if you have things that don’t have any specific spot to be “put away” then they will always be out, moving from room to room and being a constant source of mess. If you’re unable to pay for a full re-design to make homes for “stray” items, I always recommend a quick basket or a cheap set of plastic drawers! You can hide floater items in there until you’re able to design your ideal set up for everything.
STICK TO DRAWERS
Stick to drawers and cabinets instead of open shelves when you can, so that any mess is always/easily covered!
STYLE OPEN SURFACES
If you do have open shelves or surfaces, decorate them (don’t fill with junk, but style it so that you don’t like to mess it up). A vase of flowers, a few picture frames, some aesthetic books stacked… choose clean looking items that don’t collect too much dust to break up a space where you might otherwise set down random items without thinking! Having something there makes it harder to leave items around and makes it beautiful so that you are motivated to keep it looking like that.
DESIGN AROUND YOUR NORMAL FLOW
Set things up in a way that makes tidying fit into your natural flow — if you take off your clothes in the bathroom, put a hamper in the bathroom. If you put on/take off socks at night, keep socks in your nightstand, if you try on clothes in front of the mirror, put a mirror near your dresser/closet, etc. If you open your mail at your desk, put a paper shredder near your desk. If you take off your shoes when you enter the house, consider adding real shoe storage by the door.
DON’T FILL SPACE JUST TO FILL IT
Avoid furniture that you won’t use and embrace the extra space. Chairs that are never used, for example, often collect things! It’s ok to have a blank corner of the room or a wall with no art! The extra space can make things feel cleaner if the room starts to get cluttered, and the more items you add to the room, the more you have to maintain.