Cleaning is not a household chore that most people enjoy.

Did you know that your choice of layout, furnishings and the attention you pay to the smallest design decisions can make a world of difference to your housekeeping? We hear you, and we’ve put together some thoughtful design tips that can cut down the amount of time you spend Cleaning. 

1. Take Your Cabinets till the Ceiling

When you plan kitchen cabinets or bedroom closets, run them all the way till the ceiling. The space above the cabinets tends to gather a lot of dust, so by stretching the woodwork till the ceiling you’ll minimize a whole lot of cleaning. Having said that, the extra storage space can’t hurt. Think of doing the same for bookshelves, TV cabinets and the crockery shelf too.

2. Create Extra Storage

If there’s anything you can never have enough of, it’s storage closets. Take a look around your home. If it’s possible to create extra storage anywhere, get down to it, and make use of every inch of available space. Create built-in cabinets below window seats or bench seating, drawers below the bed, or even shallow hidden storage behind picture frames or mirrors.

If you have any space below the stairs, add drawers or closed shutters behind which you can sneak away all those odds and ends. It’s far easier to keep your stuff organized when you have a defined space where each belongs.

3. Invest in Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers are the easiest way to, well, keep your drawers organized. If you can’t get readymade ones, it’s very easy to create simple dividers using wood or even cardboard. Once you’ve tried using an organizer, you’ll begin to see its usefulness. Everything stays in its place, and you’ll never have to search around for missing items ever again.

4. Put Your Furniture on Castors

If you’ve ever struggled with cleaning the hard-to-reach spaces beneath your sofas, this one’s for you. Put your furniture on wheels, and just move it out of the way when you’re vacuuming. Armchairs, side tables, and your centre table can all be fitted with tiny wheels to make cleaning a breeze.

Make sure to get the kind that can be locked when not in use, as otherwise you could be tripping over tables that have moved on their own.

5. Choose Upholstery Materials That Can Be Easily Cleaned

This may seem too obvious to deserve a mention, but it is a very common mistake to choose materials without thinking of the serviceability. Pick upholstery fabrics that are durable, stain resistant and easy to keep clean. Faux leather is a good choice, as also synthetic materials that are treated with stain repellent sprays.

Remember that light colours will show up stains, but darker colours will highlight pet fur all too easily. If your living room is a high traffic zone, then you could keep your stress levels low by using machine washable slipcovers on your sofas.

6. Tuck Your Kitchen Appliances Out of Sight

Appliances that you use every day, like your coffee percolator, toaster and blender, need to be readily accessible for convenience. If you can create a hideaway where these appliances can be tucked away out of sight, like a retractable sliding shutter on the counter, you can keep the kitchen worktop free of clutter at all times.

It’s far easier to clean a clutter-free surface without having to move things out of the way when you’re wiping down. Other appliances that are not used frequently can be stored inside corner storage solutions or in deep drawers that are on heavy duty channels.

7. Conceal the Wiring

Tangles of electrical wiring are always unsightly, and tend to gather mountains of dust as they are not always easy to clean. With a little thought, you can discreetly hide these cords by tucking them away behind a wall panel, below the table top or inside a bookcase.

8. Easy-Clean Toilets

Toilets always require high maintenance, but some clever designing can reduce your cleaning time and make it easy to keep all the surfaces sparkling. Wherever possible, tile the walls all the way to the ceiling; at least in the areas that get wet, like the shower and the tub. Tiled surfaces are very easy to wipe down.

Choose tiles that fit together with a paper joint, minimizing grout area that tends to gather dirt. If your tiling needs to be fixed using grout, pick out a grouting material that exactly matches the colour of the tiles, so that any dirt or mould will be less noticeable. Choose a commode and basins that fit flush with the wall with no space behind, as if there’s a gap between the fitting and the wall it can be almost impossible to reach behind to clean.

9.  Reduce Carpeting

We all love wall-to-wall carpets, but let’s face it, they are incredibly hard to keep clean. Rooms that have high traffic, like the living room or dining room, should have vitrified tiles or hardwood floors that can be swept and wiped easily. If you don’t prefer bare floors, you can get some area rugs that can be put out in the sun, shaken up and dusted off easily.

Thick carpets are better suited to bedrooms where you are more likely to be barefoot and there is not too much of dust or footfall. 

10. Plug Points at Skirting Level for Easy Vacuuming

How often have you had to pull your Vacuum Cleaner cord all the way across the floor from an inconveniently located plug point? When you’re planning the electrical outlets, make sure that you have some points where you can plug in the vacuum cleaner at the far corners of each room.

And do see if you can invest in a robotic vacuum cleaner; the better models really do take all the hassle out of your housekeeping routine.

Well-planned home décor that combines aesthetics with functionality can completely transform your lifestyle, and enhance your quality of life. So, go ahead and explore our tips on good home design to give you a beautiful home that won’t need as much housekeeping.

By Dipti Das, AVP- Design, Homelane

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and RealtyNXT.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. RealtyNXT.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.

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