Being at home more often during the pandemic means that your living space probably gets messier faster. You probably know what you should be doing—things like washing your plate right after you eat, vacuuming weekly and making your bed every morning. But keeping your living environment comfortable and organized is much more than that. Two local interior design pros talked to us about making a home so effortlessly livable, tidying up and decluttering are a breeze, not a chore.
Find what works for you
“The pandemic is affecting everyone in different ways,” says Rochiel Wallers, a certified feng shui consultant. “Holistic interior design, therefore, can never be a one-approach-fits-all. It’s important to find out what an individual needs from their space and make changes
to their environment appropriate for the individual.”
While feng shui and decluttering are vastly different practices (who hasn’t heard of Marie Kondo by now?), people can reap the benefits of combining both methods when improving their home.
Reallocate your space
“Consider redecorating an unused room into a dedicated room just for you to relax in,” Wallers says. “This may mean altering a guest bedroom that’s rarely used into a much-needed meditation or exercise room, depending on how that individual likes to best release their daily stress.” Because we’re home more often right now, if a room isn’t used 350 days out of the year, adjusting that space to fit your lifestyle can make a huge impact. “I would rather see my clients use their homes to full capacity most the year to better serve their needs,” Wallers continues. “If the room needs to be a guest bedroom twice a year, just install a space-efficient Murphy bed or a small day bed that won’t interfere with the full function of the home.” Having a dedicated space to unwind can also help with keeping the rest of the house organized, and you may notice coffee cups, papers and other items piling up less around the home.
A clean, bright environment can motivate
“Bring in the light,” Wallers says. “Clean those windows, and open up window shades and curtains during the day.” She also suggests full-spectrum light bulbs for increased brightness in darker areas of the home in order to feel more awake. “Brighter homes feel more energizing to occupants than very dark homes.”
Start a decluttering project
If you aren’t working as much during the pandemic, right now can be the time to tackle crammed closets and overstuffed garages, Wallers says. Because these types of tasks can often be daunting, start out small. “Don’t overwhelm yourself with a huge decluttering task, as you may be less likely to tackle your clutter,” she says. “Instead, start with just 15 or 30 minutes every day.” Whether that’s first thing in the morning or after work, set aside a block of time you can truly commit to, she says. “If you keep your calendar electronically, enter clutter control as a recurring appointment.” Create a checklist so you can visualize each project, and cross it off once you’ve finished. And don’t forget to reward yourself afterward.
Make cleaning a game
If you have kids, gathering pillows and toys can be turned into playtime, says Marsh. “When you don’t make it feel like it’s a normal task, that makes it fun,” Marsh says. She recommends buying pillows with letters or numbers, so children can spell or count while they’re tidying.
Bring the outdoors in
“Most plants can help to lower the impact of electromagnetic frequencies, and many plants are known to be helpful in cleaning indoor air,” Wallers says.
“Plants are always my go-to,” interior designer Jennie Marsh says. “They’re inexpensive, and they’re the best way to make a home feel more in touch with nature. Getting the good oxygen is a plus, and it fills in the space without having to buy bulky furniture.”
Amazon boxes piling up? Use them
Then donate your old goods. “Place a large empty box or trash can in your garage that is solely for filling with items you are purging throughout your week,” Wallers says. Then drop it off at your favorite charity at the end of the week. “This 15- to 30-minute daily habit can help make you feel empowered, as most people can find at least 15 to 30 minutes a day to commit to decluttering.”
Let it go
“You don’t have to worry about people coming over,” Marsh says. “That’s something our parents grew up with, having that presented space,” but younger generations don’t use dining rooms and formal living rooms as often anymore. “It’s all about comfort,” she says. So before you start cleaning those baseboards, ask yourself—is it really worth it? If you wouldn’t notice it in a friend’s home, chances are, they won’t notice it in yours, either.
