Do you often spend hours cleaning your home but never really achieve the clean and clutter-free space you were hoping for? Several factors could be making your home feel messy and disjointed. From oversized furniture to cord clutter, it's not just the stuff we accumulate that can make our homes look cluttered.
We share common design mistakes that can make your home look cluttered and how to fix them:
1. Not having a dedicated drop zone
We all have that spot in our homes where we put our keys, bags, take off our shoes or just drop random things. It’s usually close to the front door or wherever you enter your house from. It’s where you unburden yourself of everything that’s in your hands when you get home. This space can, however, end up being a mess and it makes your house look untidy.
To combat this, allocate the most convenient space to be a drop zone, and put out storage baskets for items such as shoes. Add a table if there’s space and place pretty little containers on top of the table to hold keys, wallets and even letters.
SEE: 5 creative under-stairs storage ideas you'll love
2. Using oversized furniture
Nothing cramps up a space more than furniture that’s too big. You might want that great coffee table, but the truth is that it’s too big. And if you insist on it, it’s just going to make your home look overcrowded and uncomfortable.
If you already have the furniture, consider selling it online and using the money from that to purchase items that fit the room you need it for. Take measurements before you shop so that you don’t end up buying the incorrect size.
Crowding a room with too many bits of furniture can also make it feel disorganised. Cut down on the amount needed by using multi-functional furniture, such as sturdy poufs that can be used both for seating and as side tables, coffee tables with storage for cables and TV remotes, and mirrors with shelving attached to them.
3. No cable management
Everyone is guilty of having little to no cable management in certain parts of their home, especially in the living room where there are lots of electronics. Cable management isn’t the most fun thing to do in the world, but if they’re left open and exposed, they can be a massive eye-sore.
READ: Tips for decluttering your garage
Cables can be hidden in many ways, such as running them along the wall at floor level or through the ceiling or cupboards to keep them out of sight, but it requires expert knowledge to do so.
Alen Ribic, co-founder of SweepSouth adds that cable management is best done by a professional as it can require extending cables and drilling holes.
Ribic suggests that, should you find it difficult to get organised, consider hiring a professional or organisation that specialises in this field.
When filling a room with furniture, make sure that pieces selected are the right proportion for the size of the room.
4. Overfilling open shelving
Open shelving is all the rage, and it looks lovely - when done right. It’s a common mistake to fill open shelves with books, picture frames and all the other objects you can’t find a home for, but this type of storage actually works best when it's not overcrowded.
Resist the temptation to fill every inch of shelving, and rather space things out. Edit down what you’d like to display, and leave open space between some of the items. Put your favourite décor items out, but bear in mind that too many decorative pieces will make it look cluttered.
The same rule applies when you’re styling a coffee or dining room tabletop. Give careful thought to what is visible in the room, especially if it’s a small space. Display only what you love, and make sure not to overfill the table. Group small items together in a shallow bowl or on a tray so that the arrangement stays tidy and keep small objects from looking lost by elevating them on a stack of two or three books.
5. Not using vertical space
If you’ve ever mounted your TV on the wall, you will know how much of a difference it makes. Making use of wall space - vertical space - isn’t good just for small areas, it frees up every room in the house. Put up shelves or hang things from your ceiling to get them off your countertops and floors.
For example, use wall-mounted shelves to arrange books and get rid of the bookshelf taking up some much-needed floor space. Using vertical space makes a huge difference in almost any room.
If you can’t mount the shelves yourself, book a handyman through the SweepSouth Connect app. One of the advantages of doing this is that you’ll find a professional most suited to you.
6. The wrong rug
Size and shape are the most important elements to get right when choosing a rug. Too small and it can make a space feel smaller than it is and therefore overcrowded and cluttered. Unlike dining settings, living room furniture should be positioned half-on and half-off your rug. This pulls the look together rather than having floating pieces that end up looking disjointed.
Finally
Keep these tips in mind when you’re decorating your space and your home will feel like a clutter-free oasis.
(Source: HomeDzine)
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