All my life, I’ve been a self-proclaimed neat freak. I’ve always loved cleaning and organizing, so my space is generally pretty neat and tidy. But sometimes, no matter how often I dust and vacuum, it still feels messy and cluttered. It’s something I can’t quite put my finger on, so I decided to do some research. Surprisingly, I learned that there are a few simple decorating mistakes that are making my house feel messier than it actually is.
If you, too, are struggling with your home feeling messy, read on to learn what might be the cause and what you can do to combat the clutter.
1. Not including storage solutions
When outfitting a room, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the fun aspects, like picking out furniture and arranging decor, and forget about the practical stuff. However, when you don’t have enough storage baked into the design, clutter piles up much faster. To stay on top of everyday messes, add in storage solutions to help control and disguise the clutter. For example, if you’re sick of mail piling up on the kitchen counter, bring in a lidded box or basket where you can toss the day’s mail until you’re ready to sort through it. If you have a bad habit of throwing dirty clothes on the floor, pick out a pretty hamper and place it within easy reach in your bedroom.
2. Decorating with too many small accessories
Filling your space with little knick-knacks or trinkets is a great way to show off your personality, but it’s easy to overdo it. Having lots of little items scattered everywhere creates visual clutter, which can make your home feel messier than it really is. The solution is not to skip these items altogether but to arrange them with purpose. Group a few meaningful items together and anchor them with a tray, or balance small accessories with something larger, like an oversized vase or a stack of books.
3. Using too many patterns
As maximalism becomes more and more popular, so does the mixing and matching of patterns. They’re a great way to add personality to a space, whether you prefer floral prints or classic stripes. But too many clashing prints can make a space feel busy and, therefore, messy. It’s best to select fewer, more complementary patterns and mix them with solids to make your home look thoughtfully decorated.
4. Overdoing it with wall art
Don’t get me wrong, I love a gallery wall as much as the next girl. But when it comes to wall art, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Hanging a bunch of pieces too close together can easily overwhelm a room. Instead, space out the artwork and give each piece some breathing room. To keep your home looking cohesive and less cluttered, choose photos and prints with cohesive colors or themes that complement each other and the rest of your decor.
6. Having a cluttered entryway
As the first area people see when they walk into your home, the entryway can set the tone for the rest of your house. As tempting as it may be to just kick off your shoes and drop your keys anywhere when you get home, this can make your home look more cluttered than it actually is. To combat this, give everything in your entryway a designated spot so you’re not tempted to toss things by the front door. Adding a bowl or tray for keys and mail, a basket for shoes, and hooks for coats do wonders for cleaning up a messy entryway.
5. Overcrowding furniture
Whether you were handed down some pieces from friends and family, have a few pieces left over from your last apartment, or simply went a little wild when shopping, it’s easy to end up with extra furniture in your home. While having an extra chair or two can come in handy when entertaining, it can also be the reason your space looks messy. Having too much furniture in a room can make it feel cramped and block the flow of traffic, creating a cluttered feel. Instead of trying to fill every empty space with furniture, be intentional about the pieces you use and strategically place them to allow breathing room.
7. Leaving cords on display
Let’s face it: Cords are a necessary evil. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to use or charge our devices, but they can be serious eye sores that make your space look messy and disorganized. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to hide cords in plain sight. If you have several cords plugged into a power strip, bind them together using zip ties or use a cord cover to streamline them into one straight line rather than a tangled web of wires. To hide the power strip entirely or disguise something larger like a Wi-Fi router, place the item inside a lidded basket that has holes for handles where you can feed the cords through. You can also find furniture like nightstands and accent tables with built-in outlets so you can easily charge your phone without having to run a cord to the nearest wall outlet.
8. Leaving your bed unmade
If you’re anything like me, the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning is having a cup of coffee, not making the bed. However, making your bed every day can make a huge difference in the look of your home. Not only does it help your bedroom look more put together, but when you start the morning off by tidying, you’re more likely to keep the rest of your home nice and tidy, too. To take things a step further, give your bed the hotel look by layering comforters and blankets and properly tucking in the sheets.
9. Having too many throw pillows
Throw pillows are a great way to add texture, color, and visual interest to a space, but too many on one surface can look chaotic. It’s best to limit your throw pillows and prioritize quality over quantity. For example, two to three pillows on each end of the couch are plenty to create a well-designed look without going overboard.
10. Combining too many bright colors
Much like patterns can make a space feel messy, so can bright colors. Boldly painted walls combined with brightly colored decor can be overwhelming to the eye. Instead, designers recommend combining color with neutral elements to provide breathing room. Narrowing your color palette down to one or two bright colors can also help a space feel more cohesive.
Christine Winder, Contributing Writer
Christine is a long-time reader turned contributing writer for the Everygirl. She has a BA in Communications from Roanoke College and lives with her two cats in Richmond, Virginia, where she writes for several local publications.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
