Between working, looking after children, cooking meals, and just trying to find some downtime, it can easily seem as though your house is getting on top of you. Running a home isn’t cheap, and keeping it tidy doesn’t just happen overnight, so what can you do when you have very little spare time to create some order amongst the chaos? Well, if you would like to get a handle on your household so that you can reduce the stress that comes with running a home, then here are a few simple tips on how to make your home more financially and physically manageable.
Reduce clutter
Do you ever look around your home and think you have a lot more stuff than you really need? Well, that’s because anything that you’re keeping around your house that doesn’t add value to your life in some way is just clutter which you would be better off without. It may seem like a daunting task right now to go through everything you don’t need and get rid of it, but it is possible that you may actually find the process quite therapeutic; after all, decluttering can help to reduce stress and provide you with a sense of control.
You may find it easier to work outwards from a room which you don’t use as much, such as a loft or basement space, because that way you won’t notice the mess created by your clear-out as much. Set goals and come up with a sorting system, and then you can just work through it in your own time. Try to avoid simply throwing away items where you can, as you could donate them or even make money off of them by selling the things you don’t want at a boot fair or online.
Prioritise storage space
The more items you have out on display along your surfaces, or left out on the floor, the more cluttered your home is going to look and feel. It can be incredibly off-putting to walk into the house after a long day and be confronted by mess. Therefore, you may find a great amount of benefit to increasing the quantity of storage space you have in your home.
Make use off all the space you have available to you by fixing cupboards and shelves to the walls, allowing you to free up some of the square footage of your home. There are also a lot of brilliant ways to bring storage into your home without it being noticeable, such as with under bed storage devices, as found in ottomans and divan beds. Under the stairs is another perfect storage space which is often under-utilised: use this space wisely by building in a cupboard with shelving, or even build shelves directly into the side of the staircase for easy access.
Reduce your energy bills
There are lots of different ways that you can make a huge difference to the cost of your energy bills over time. To start simply, you can manage your energy usage by always switching off plugs and lights when they aren’t in use, and not leaving appliances plugged in overnight. You could also benefit from a smart thermostat, which allows you to easily adjust the heating usage of your home and program it to accommodate your personal needs.
If you’d like to go a step further and make a long-term investment in reducing your energy bills, then you might want to consider looking into solar energy with Green Power Technology. Renewable energy sources such as this are not only beneficial to the environment but could also save you money in the long run. Additionally, by better shielding your home with wall insulation and double glazing on your windows, you will be able to reduce the amount of energy you waste each day.
Choose a more minimalistic layout
When your house is full to the brim with furniture, it doesn’t matter how much stuff you clear out or how much storage space you introduce, its always going to feel like there is too much stuff in a finite space. In a minimalist home, everything has a purpose and place, making the space much easier to utilise and clean, and creating a more visually appealing aesthetic.
For example, instead of having a mix match of seating options in your living area, you might find that giving those items up and replacing them with one or two larger seating options creates a more uniform and useable space. Over time, you may find that these simple changes alone could have a huge impact on how clean and manageable your space feels.