How to organize a comfortable house
A messy house is something most of us have dealt with at one point in our lives and find it completely frustrating.
This also costs you.
You end up feeling insecure about bringing people over, end up wasting time looking for misplaced things, and even dread getting back home to the mess awaiting you.
How to start organizing a messy house
A necessary step is to get yourself in the right mind to start organizing.
Recognize and assess the mess that you will be working with then decide how to go about it.
After assessing, come up with a proper plan. Work at your realistic pace and do not rush towards finishing the task, be ready for the organization to take some time.
Decide on the time that works right for you and when to take breaks. If you do not stay alone then you also have to plan around the time when your housemates will not be a distraction.
Making a clean sweep might just be the best mood boost when organizing. You can declutter and take out the trash. This will allow you to get the clutter out of the space and you will see what you actually have to work with.
Once you have reduced the clutter, find proper storage places for the extra things.
Designate a location for similar items to avoid having them spread out in different places of the house and save time by knowing where to look.
Divide large storage spaces into smaller zones, so the organization task doesn’t feel so tiresome.
And if necessary, invest in organizational systems, such as a closet organizer or storage bins, so everything has a place that will be easily accessible.
Organizing one space at a time helps to not get overwhelmed and demotivated with proceeding. So, start small. You can opt for the floor to the surface to cabinet option.
A great idea for organizing any room is to clear out the mess and give everything a clean. After this, go through your items one at a time, only keeping what you use in the space you are purging and later planning to organize.
When you start to purge any room, whether it is the kitchen, bathroom, or master bedroom make sure you are storing the right items in that space.
Do a quick evaluation of what you will be keeping in that room and what you will be tossing. Put the items you decide on keeping back into their designated locations. Think about how you position them. Keep items you use the most at your eye level and used less further away or up higher. If you can’t easily see or access something, the less likely you are to use it.
Organizing one space at a time helps to not get overwhelmed and demotivated with proceeding. So, start small. You can opt for the floor to the surface to cabinet option.
How to start organizing room to room
Shared spaces—these refer to rooms like the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and dining, which are the most trafficked in the house.
Plan to clear these places and find a home for everything that stays in the areas. Collaborate with family members on where shared objects should go so that everyone knows where everything is and can return items to their correct locations.
Personal spaces—these mostly include bedrooms and home office. It can take some effort to organize because they often involve assessing many items.
For instance, when organizing your home office, you might have a lot of paperwork to go through and either file or shred.
You’re the only one who can make decisions about how to organize your personal spaces, this would work if you set up a system that works for your lifestyle.
In as much as organizing a home varies from individual to individual, a checklist would be a great way to start out and then personalize the process to your liking.
An example of organization routines and solutions checklist are as below;
Living room
- Return items to their assigned locations.
- Train or remind your housemates to pick up after themselves each time before they leave their space.
- Remove everything that doesn’t belong in the spaces like the table or couches so have clear space.
- Define zones and assign a specific purpose to each area. For example, arranging bookshelves so that they are visually appealing, add trays for remote controls, and use boxes, bins, or cabinets to conceal your games and DVD collections
Kitchen
- Clear the counters every morning and evening
- Have housemates always put dishes in the dishwasher
- Clear out old food before you get more
- Do a freezer and pantry inventory every 6 months or whenever works for you
- Close and store properly food storage containers when you take them to the cabinets
- Throw away containers or lids with missing parts
Bedrooms
- Make your bed every day
- Hang up clothes after laundry or place them in the hamper when they are dirty
- Store shoes and handbags where you can see them.
- Optimize space under the bed for extra storage
Bathroom
- Declutter any expired toiletries or medicine
- Wipe out the sink after brushing your teeth.
- Clear off the counter after you get dressed.
- Wipe down the counter when done getting dressed or before going to bed.
- Roll towels or washcloths and store them in baskets
Tips for making your house feel homey
There’s a big difference between living in a place that you simply rely on for provisions of necessity like a bed and a bathroom and living in a place that you feel at home.
This is especially true in rentals.
It can be difficult to establish yourself somewhere that you know you won’t be in for more than a year or two, or somewhere that is a far cry from your, taste or style.
But a sense of home is all about perception, and regardless of the surrounding factors it is possible to cultivate true warmth and personality no matter where you’re living
Figuring out how to make your house feel like home is, more than anything, about figuring out how to make your home cozy.
You might know what will make you feel safe, warm, and happy. However, incorporating them into your new house can be a challenge. So, here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Clean and declutter the entire house finding a place for everything
Getting to bed always feels the best when you’re climbing into freshly washed sheets.
It’s extremely difficult to be completely comfortable in a place that’s dirty or filled with clutter.
If you’re trying to figure out how to make a home cozy, you need to start by making it clean.
Cleaning a house top-to-bottom and left-to-right will give it a fresh look and make it feel like home. Dust all the rooms and empty shelves in the house. Wipe down the windows in the entire house regularly wash your sheets and towels, keep your floors and other surfaces clean, and make it a habit to clear the clutter before it gets out of hand.
2. Create warmth through lighting
Soft, diffused light works best in creating a cozy warm atmosphere so opt for globe lamps to cast a diffused light in your space.
Avoiding harsh overhead or strip lighting is key in creating a cozy mood.
3. Embrace a calming color palette
The psychology of color and the impact that different colors may have on a space’s mood and energy has been well-documented.
Consider the depth and richness of the color rather than the tone when picking wall colors for maximum coziness.
4. Hang artwork
Research shows that simply looking at art can reduce stress and make you happy.
And aside from the fact that we get a big boost of pleasure from looking at things that we consider to be beautiful, hanging art in your house helps instill your individual personality and interests into the space.
When choosing the artwork, it needs to be properly sized based on the scale of the wall, and not hung too high.
Also, be sure to mix large pieces with clusters of smaller pieces and vary the style and medium to ensure a truly curated look that will allow your home to look more lived in.
5. Use mirrors
Using mirrors creatively in your home can make them not only useful for checking your appearance, but also for other functions, examples as follow:
Improve light
Placing a mirror in the correct place in a room allows you to optimize natural light. To do so, place the mirror adjacent to a window to perfectly catch the angle of light and bounce it throughout the room.
Create texture
Mirrors can be used to create texture in two ways. The first is by installing a textured mirror frame which adds a three-dimensional level to the wall. These can act as statement furnishings in any room.
The second way to add texture in a room is to position the mirror so it reflects a textured object already in the room – a rustic, wooden coffee table, vase, or faux fur throw, for example.
Create the illusion of space
The bigger the mirror, the more space it will appear to create.
Think carefully about the angle of the room you want to reflect – placing a mirror opposite a window, for example, will bring both natural light and greenery into a smaller room.
In a room where you are likely to entertain, a larger mirror can increase the atmosphere in the room by giving the illusion of more guests.
6. Bring in small comforts like pillows and throws
Add one or two textured throw pillows to your couch (or just change the covers on your existing pillows) to make your space look and feel cozier.
Other options: Nubby boucle, a wooly cable knit, or a rich velvet.
One of the easiest ways to change the look, feel, and seasonal style of your room is to change your pillow covers! It’s one of my favorite tricks for a cozy living room, and it’s easy to learn how to mix and match patterns and styles.
Blankets and throws are a necessity in our home at all times of the year! Simply store them away in a pretty basket when not in use if you don’t love the look of draping across an ottoman, sofa, or chair. They add instant cozy living vibes!
7. Add warmth underfoot
There is not a single place in the house that does not benefit from having a beautiful rug.
Sisal and flat-weave rugs are great when it’s warm outside, but for winter, you want a little pile. If you don’t have the budget to get a giant area rug, consider layering smaller rugs in strategic spots, like next to the bed, under the coffee table, or in front of your favorite reading chair.
Layering up rugs on top of carpet adds new texture and depth – the shaggier and softer the rugs are, the cozier they’ll make your home feel.
8. Get some houseplants to add life
Houseplants will generally freshen up the air in your house. So, you need to bring in some green plants and flowers to make the house feel like home. ensure that every room has enough light to keep the plants healthy. Also, get some well-decorated plant pots, watering cans, and the other supplies you’ll need to keep the new plants growing
9. Incorporate wood
Wood instantly warms a room, even if just a hint (like this kitchen island below). You can create a cozy home with wood elements like hardwood floors, wood furniture like a dresser or coffee table, wood shelving, or accents like bowls, pedestals, and trays.
10. Use warm metals
There are a variety of ways to bring warm metals to your home!
Search for antique silver-plated pieces at thrift stores, add a fresh brass tray to your coffee table or a mirror to your walls.
You can integrate brass hardware, brass kitchen faucet, or brass lanterns for a living finish that will patina over time. Copper curtain rods and copper lights are another way you can add a little warmth.
Do everything possible to make the house more inviting. Finally, you need to make your home feel like part of the community by interacting with neighbors.