23 Simple Design Tips That Will Make Your Home Less Stressful
Please check all stress and angst at the front door.
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There's actually nothing better than coming home to a calm, stress-free space after a long day.
So BuzzFeed Life spoke with design experts Jill Pollack, HGTV personality and organization expert, and Vanessa Deleon, an interior design expert based in New York City, for some surprising ways to declutter, decorate, and make your place feel chill AF.
1. Stop buying flowers — get succulents instead.
Being faced with a half-dead orchid every month is just sad and stressful. "Flowers die quickly and easily collect dust and allergens," says Pollack. But succulents are super simple and low-maintenance, and they can even help purify the air in your home, Deleon adds.
Find more amazing houseplants that won't die on you here.
3. Mount little smartphone holders in your living room and bedroom so you never lose your phone in the couch again.
The anxious searching ends now. Deleon suggests using these sleek, easy wall holders to keep your phone in reach, safe, and dry. Available on Amazon for $4.97.
4. Get one big candle that'll last forever instead of scattering little ones all over the place.
Candles are dust collectors, says Pollack. And littering your place with 12 vanilla-scented votives isn't making you any more chill. Instead, choose two big candles that don't have overbearing scents and put one in the bedroom and living room.
Check out this candle that burns for 60 hours from Amazon for $27.17.
5. Group all your art and photographs into a "gallery wall" display.
"Consolidating your art into one wall or area helps your entire room look less busy and cluttered," Pollack says. It never hurts to have too much blank, free space on your walls.
Find tips on how to group your art here.
7. Buy a shadow box to house all those random little knickknacks that are all over the place.
"Your room will feel much more calm and organized if you arrange all the loose trinkets and knickknacks you can't get rid of into one designated space," Pollack says.
Available on Etsy for $79.
8. Get a set of matching hangers like an actual adult.
"The more random, mismatched hangers in your closet, the more 'white noise,''' says Pollack. So ditch all those plastic, half-broken store hangers for some sleek and matching ones.
Available on Amazon for $14.99.
9. Choose a calming color palette for your walls and decor.
The experts suggest creamy earth tones and cool colors like blues and greens to maximize your chill.
Find out more about the right color palette for you here, or use the Color Viewfinder app (free, iOS).
10. Or keep your walls a basic, clean white.
If you aren't sure which color to paint your walls, Pollack suggests keeping them white, which always looks less busy and gives you more flexibility with decorating.
11. Decorate with earth tones and natural wood accents.
"Not only do they expand the space, but they also create a soothing, relaxed vibe," says Deleon.
13. Invest in at least one ridiculously luxe blanket for your bed.
Wrapping yourself up in something insanely comfy is super soothing — whether you're sick, stressed, or just want to veg. You should probably aim to spend at least $50 on a good faux fur blanket, Deleon suggests, but don't feel bad splurging on something between $75 and $200.
This one's available from Urban Outfitters for $179.
14. And add a cozy throw to your couch that everyone will want to nap on.
These ones available from Pottery Barn.
15. Store everything under or in your nightstand — not on top of it.
Since your nightstand is right next to where you sleep, Pollack suggests keeping it as clutter-free as possible. "Keep a nice lamp, your book, and a glass of water out, then store everything else below," she says.
Nightstands available from Ikea.
16. Or hide a power strip in your bedside drawer so your gadgets are hidden away while you're charging at night.
Most nightstands have a gap in the back where you can sneak this in.
17. Hang gauzy curtains and roll up the blinds during the day to flood your rooms with natural light.
Find gauze curtains in a few different colors here, or try making the easy and cheap DIY version.
18. Or hang a dreamy tapestry.
Find these tapestries and more options here.
19. Add some cozy floor and table lamps to your bedroom for customizable mood lighting.
20. Make your junk drawers slightly less insane with dividers.
This way you won't spend 20 minutes searching for superglue in a literal emergency.
Get drawer organizers from Amazon for $10.39.
21. Use essential oil diffusers to give your space a calming scent.
Deleon suggests lavender for the bedroom to help you relax and sleep. Another popular scent for the home is lotus, and probably anything works for your smelly bathroom.
Find out how to make your own oil reed diffuser here.
22. Keep the least amount of stuff possible on your desk. Seriously.
It might seem like you're making things easier on yourself ("It's an organized mess!") but you're subconsciously stressing yourself out. Once a week, throw out any notes, files, business cards, etc. that you'll never need again, says Deleon. For the rest of the stuff, file it away in bins or binders and keep most of those off your desk.
23. Make your entryway organized AF so your mornings are a little less chaotic.
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