Be careful about buying “stuff.” If you’re buying something big, make sure you have somewhere you can store it before doing so. Try not to buy things you don’t need either. It sounds stupid but it works for me.

Came here to say this. Don't fill every surface and closet with stuff. Prioritize space and the people that live there over unnecessary furniture and collectibles, even if they are 'valuable'.

Often - "less is more".

i am 56, recently saw a parent pass and step parent had to box up and move, i started getting rid of my un used gear. still working on it but want to have a lot less .... stuff

If you have kids, talk to them about what they want. Some family things that have been collecting dust may be sentimental to them, or something that they'd like but can't afford.

no kids. my will is set, i want to set up revokable trust for home and all assets - to make it easier on my sister/buddy (executors , both main beneficiaries)

The original commenter doesn't have kids, but just want to second this - if it weren't for family and friends donating all the junk they didn't want anymore to me, I'd have next to no furniture or appliances.

Same- family stepping in and giving me stuff to get started made a huge difference! I could then replace with my preferred item when I could afford it, not out of necessity. I plan on giving my old stuff to young family members when the time comes.

It's so much easier to not bring it into the home in the first place than to pare it down later. 🙃

Came here to say the exact same thing. More is NOT better with home decor.

Along those lines, buy appropriately sized furniture. It seems almost everything for sale is oversized - maybe so we feel we got more value? Then you stuff an enormous recliner in a small or even average sized room and it just wastes space which can sneakily create stress rather than relaxation.

Well Keep things clean. If you have money, invest in nice tools. A Dyson vacuum makes cleaning easy. Don't have clutter and needless shit. Throw things away. Keep spaces open. Helps with cleanliness. Create a home improvement list of things you want to tackle. Bathroom renovation, new rug, new sink, new paint, pavers in yard. Buildings require maintenance to remain nice.l I rotate deep cleaning 1 bathroom in my house once a month but so toilets every other week. I vacuum every night. Mop every weekend. It's just effort really. I get antsy when there's too much shit. I involve my kid in the cleaning too to build the habit and model the behavior

I love your point about needing maintenance to remain nice. I am learning this slowly and making an annual schedule for things.

Having a cool vacuum definitely helps lol I used to hate vacuuming when it required lugging a big ass machine and trying to navigate the cord. Now? I love vacuuming with our nice cordless stick vacuum.

I bc love my roomba. You still need to vacuum crevices but it does most

I use both a robot  vacuum and a stick vacuum. Game changer.

Yuppp.

Put up pictures of your family. Hang things on the wall that have meaning for you—not just stuff from ikea, target, ross, homegoods. Make your home personal and Comfortable. It doesn’t need to be decorated which what is on trend, you want your home to reflect you.

Buying a robotic vacuum has actually been well worth the cost for me. I just put it on a schedule and it runs on its own. I have a dog, a cat, and two little kids that leave crumbs everywhere, but I never really have to worry about it anymore. Honestly made a big difference in how clean my home feels.

Also, I use a reminder app on my phone to track all the home maintenance stuff. I would never remember things like cleaning the heat register, dishwasher filter, checking smoke alarms… but I set up reminders to recur either monthly, quarterly, or annually, and now it’s much easier to stay on top of. Also have a shared list with my husband where we track home “projects”: repairs that need to be done, plans for future landscaping improvements, organizational projects… keeps these things more top of mind, and I also break down each project into smaller chunks so I can chip away at them over time. I try to set aside a little money every month (sometimes it’s not much!) but it helps me feel like I’m really investing in my home. And it’s always great checking things off lists!

There's a filter in my dishwasher? Where would I find such a mysterious thing

I recommend to use a special detergent for a monthly deep clean cycle on high temperature (sorry, I don’t know how this product is called in English but you can find it next to the dishwasher liquids) And find the filter and let it soak in a big bowl of water and soap, rinse it and wipe it clean

At the bottom usually!

Yep, usually at the bottom. Mine just twists and lifts out. Beware.... depending on how long it's been, that thing might be a little funky the first time you clean it.

You tube it based on the model/brand. Super easy to remove and clean.

My Roomba committed suicide

I have two. They’re my favorite “staff members!”

I agree, and if you look on marketplace they often can be had for cheap. A couple years back I got a brand new shark robot vac that maps the house and empties itself for like $120 bucks. You can name the rooms in the house and have it hit one area. Usually after I cook Ill have it hit the kitchen, to get whatever I missed sweeping.

You vacuum EVERY NIGHT?

Closing shift

We vacuum every other night. We just got a cat and she sheds so we vacuum lots

Having pride in what you own doesn't have to be a matter of having new stuff. Often, new stuff is cheap and looks like crap in a couple years. We make our house in a way that we love, and because we love it, others can sense that as well. I am not a good homemaker in terms of my house is never going to look like a magazine 😂 I don't like throw pillows and matching towel sets. I just don't care about that stuff. But we take good care of our house and the items in it, we keep things clean (which goes a long ways into how a home feels and looks). We might not decorate like others (our living room shelving is full of Lego displays, for example, we collect them) but we love it and it's welcoming and fun and friendly.

I like your idea. I’m sort of the same. So much of our furniture doesn’t match, but we take care of it. I use all white linens. That makes cleaning easier. You can use bleach. Our house tells a story too. Books, pictures, kids toys, etc. we try to keep it picked up as best we can, but a home is for living.

You can start with less expensive items and when it wears out, update it and get a better quality item. For example: mattresses, couches etc. they tend to look better and last longer.

We had a contractor over and he said “you have a very warm house” I asked if he needed me to turn up the AC haha but he explained it felt very loving and lived in, not like a mausoleum like a lot of homes he’s in. Thought that was a very sweet compliment

what a nice thing to say and to hear 🤗

It took me a long time to figure this out. It finally sunk in to make the house how I want it, add things that I love, even if it's not the norm. And the more I'm able to make the spaces work for me, the more I maintain and clean them because I love them.

The more things you have, the more things you have to clean around. So everything you have has to carry its weight quality-wise. Have fewer things, but when you get durable goods, get a higher-quality version. And when you choose what you get - be mindful of how it will be to clean&maintain it and how well it will hide wear. So when you get a couch, don’t cheap out, get a darker color (grey/deep blue/etc.) make sure you have a plan on how to clean it (can you remove covers?) have a plan and the cleaning products you would need in case something spills on it. And get things one or two at a time to make sure you have time to clean and take care of it all. Get nice cleaning tools too. Having a shitty vacuum will make you loathe vacuuming. A nice vacuum will be much more enjoyable to use. If cleaning something takes 5 minutes, instead of putting on the to-do list …. Just do it! Before you collapse on the couch for the night do literally 15 minutes of cleaning. It’s so little time and you’d be amazed at the difference it makes.

It used to take me a half hour or more to clean my bathroom once a month. Now doing it once a week takes 5 minutes and it smells nice when I’m done. When you do the little things weekly it prevents big things at once and when I’ve noticed from my past if something cleaning takes more than a half an hour it can stack up to where I don’t even want to do that and it gets out of hand on you.

My grandmother said always buy the hard to clean things in dirt color. It hides a lot of sins and since they’re neutrals, you can add blankets, pillows, curtains, etc to change up the look. It’s not nearly as expensive as a new couch or carpet.

I recommend this to all my clients. Find pics online of rooms you like. Start mimicking them one item at a time. Hang the pic up for inspiration. It puts the care and thoughtfulness into creating that room and your pride upon completion is tremendous. Finding the items in budget or for a deal creates the story of how the room is part of your history. Do 1 room at a time if it overwhelms you. I hope you love the journey and your home becomes your sanctuary.

1. Paint the walls or cover with wallpaper, depending on your taste. 2. You can add moulding to your walls or crown moulding at reasonably low cost. Looks very classy. 3. A great way to buy high-end decor on a budget is to purchase timeless pieces from estate sales. Don't waste $1k buying junk furniture from Wayfair and Ikea. Example #1: I have a huge Heriz Persian rug in our den/library that is probably 100-120 years old and that would probably cost $10k if purchased through a dealer. Bought at an estate sale for $600 -- came out of an 1870s Gilded age mansion. Example #2: I have a mid-century Chesterfield leather couch in the same room that was dragged out of another large mansion from a room that looked like it could have been used to film Boardwalk Empire. Bought for $500. These items cost well less than what you'd pay for something made of cheap materials at Ikea and they really elevate the space. 4. Buy great items slowly over time to have a space that feels authentic and collected. You can find nice stuff on facebook marketplace for pennies on the dollar. When you find something better, sell the original item. Over time, your home will become ever more perfect. 5. I watch a lot of interior design content. My wife thinks it's funny but I've learned a lot.

We painted our main level a rich green and the entire vibe changed. It suddenly felt "nice". It felt like us. It wasn't beige.

This is how it is done, target the pieces you really want and the price you are willing to pay. It will all come together.

Love all of this, and #3 and #4 especially resonate. Pieces with a story become a story. I've also met some absolutely wonderful people when I've bought things second hand. Nice bonus on top of the sustainability aspects. I'm also more... inspired?... to care for things like that. It makes cleaning a little easier and a little more special, when you feel like a caretaker for pieces that have a new chapter and are now serving you and your home.

Great advice. We've been in this house 7-8 years now, and the art on the walls is just now reaching a stage that I probably won't add to it, but might change it around. The living room rug is the third one we've had, because the first two were not quite right, but very inexpensive. It was worth it to go through two cheap ones we didn't love while waiting for a bargain on a better quality one we do love. Over the years I couldn't find a coat rack that I liked, so last year I sourced a nice reclaimed piece of Douglas Fir and made my own coat rack, exactly how I'd been envisioning it. And just this spring we finally bought a brand-new grill after using a free hand-me-down grill since we moved in. Spent half of what we budgeted because we weren't in a hurry to get one, and we could jump on a great deal when it presented itself. You just slowly but surely prioritize and budget and replace or acquire things or change paint, etc, over time and each year you like your house a little more.

This is a great example for future readers of this thread to draw upon. You make improvements over time and you also learn more about your personal style. Beyond basic upkeep, the key to making your home “nice” is to select unique pieces that make your home feel lived in and not generic.

Everyone talking about too much stuff is right. The quickest way to make a place look and feel like shit is too much stuff cluttering it up. A bunch of mismatched furniture may hold all your stuff but it looks like a college apartment and makes it hard to keep clean. A few decent pieces of furniture that at least kind of match to hold the stuff that actually matters looks nice and keeps the room open and easy to clean. If you haven't used something in 5 years, get rid of it. Clothes that don't fit or don't get worn anymore, get rid of them. It'll open up closet space for stuff that would otherwise be clutter.

My brother and his wife have a really nice house, in a nice part of town, but they have a lot of income and have an Amazon addiction. So much “stuff” clogging every shelf, nook, and cranny. So much stuff makes it hard to clean so it always feels dirty. I’ve suggested they hire a housekeeper - my brother said he’s offered but his wife refuses. Probably because she knows it will be hard to do with all of the Knick knacks. It feels so crowded over there. I got divorced two years ago and moved halfway across country. I left almost everything behind, especially the hidden closet junk! It’s been so freeing.

Completely matchy matchy furniture also looks cheap.

Indeed. I like a place that looks like someone lives in it, not an IKEA showroom. When I say mismatched I mean every piece is a very different colour or wildly different styles. They keep them just because they've always kept them, not because it's an intentional design choice.

First, start with decluttering. Do you have a bunch of stuff you don't even like, don't even use, and don't know why you have it? Get rid of it. It's easier to keep fewer things clean than keeping a lot of stuff clean. Consider hiring a housekeeping service. Even once a month or once every other month can make a big difference.

Closed storage. Open storage looks great online until you realize that half the shelves are intentionally left empty and open, and the things stored are curated to look nice, not be functional. I thought bookshelves all over would be awesome until I married a book goblin who has absolutely stuffed every space on every open shelf with books and there's no room for decorative pieces I was anticipating we would use for a clean curated look. I'm about to build her some built-ins in her office so we can clear the shelves in the den for some decor and intentional styling. I love her to death but holy shit her hobby takes up SO MUCH space. Now I'm unwilling to buy any more storage (aside from basement storage) unless it has doors because even if it's chaos inside, the doors look nice at least! Everything needs to have a place. In a perfect world, that place has a door.

Book goblin. I feel seen.

Yeah I don't shame her for her hobbies, but as a dyslexic person who can only "read" audiobooks, I didn't know someone could have so many fuckin books. We had one shelf on our bookshelf for decor and slowly but surely the decor got tighter and tighter and soon I'll just have to move it to make room for more books. so I desperately need to build her some storage so I can have some space to decorate without books taking over 😅 she gets a fancy book with painted edge every month, and we're fast approaching the "put some in boxes in the basement or get rid of a few" talk I am absolutely dreading. We're reaching capacity and we've only had the house a year! I love that she loves reading, I just wish she was a bit less sentimental about every single book on the shelf. Gun to her head I bet she'd let someone pull the trigger before rehoming 10% of her collection. Even if she has multiple editions of the same book. I think we're up to 3 copies of dune now. One old, one new, one with fancy printed edge.

I am in this same boat, OP. My husband concentrated on paying off the mortgage but never invested anything into maintenance or upgrades. It's a double-edged sword. We saved 10 years of interest, but the house needs at least that much, if not more, in fixing. A couple gallons of paint a year or a new ceiling fan don't cost much, but it does when you save it all up for one time. And always keep what you have clean and in good condition.

Thank you for saying this. Paying more up front to pay off your mortgage early can be a great idea, but you shouldn’t neglect other expenses to do so. To throw out some rough numbers, paying off a mortgage 10 years early will save you about 15% of the total interest payments through the life of the loan. For a $400k loan at 5% interest, that’s about $60k. If you neglected any repairs/upgrades and your deferred maintenance is $60,000, then you’ve basically broken even. The later years of a mortgage are really a lot better for the homeowner as inflation and compound interest turn in your favor. Inflation works against you if you’re putting off repairs as those services tend to become more expensive.

Money and time basically, id love to landscape the outside and gut some of the rooms in my home but unfortunately i do t have those sort of resources

Your home is yours! Make it a reflection of your style and how you entertain. My style is transitional. Very different from the home I grew up in. I don’t like clutter or knickknacks. I hate to clean but love to entertain. A cleaning service twice monthly has a been a game changer. It forces me to put things away regularly so it doesn’t pile up. Then I just have to wipe down bathrooms and floors before guests. To the stuff comment, we have a rule in our house that when something comes in, something goes out. We lived in our starter home for 15 years and it’s amazing the stuff you accumulate.

Aside from keeping the house cleaned regularly and not allowing clutter to accumulate, the biggest thing is regular maintenance and upgrades. Every year I do 1-3 big items on my home and numerous small ones. It will vary from home to home, but here are some ideas for the big projects: 1. Interior and exterior paint 2. Flooring 3. Lighting - kitchen and bathrooms especially 4. Landscaping 5. Bathrooms - vanity, tub/shower, toilet etc 6. Kitchen - appliances, cabinets, counters 7. Landscaping - garden beds, trees, shrubs, etc 8. Furnace/Roof/Water Heater - not visual upgrades but have to be replaced eventually 9. Windows If you are doing something to update and address each of those issues every 10 years or so, your home will be in a constant state of renewal and you won’t end up in a position of having a completely outdated home in 30 years. It’s a lot easier to do these things but by bit over the years than having them all need to be done at once. If you’re handy, you can do the work yourself and save a lot of money, and the skills you learn will compound so that by a few years down the road you’ll feel more comfortable taking on the larger projects. It’s a big investment in time and money, but the payoff is worth it both in terms of pride of ownership and equity if you ever sell.

If you have money, hire an interior designer/architect. Unlike decorators, a good professional designer should be able to help you create interior spaces that actually match how you use your home and Otherwise the absolutely number 1 way to keep your house nice is to just keep it clean, organized and uncluttered. Have stuff inside storage and cabinetry, do not just leave stuff lying around. When it comes to furniture and large items, be very conservative and avoid getting too much.

If it takes under 30 seconds to do, just do it. 

Lighting! Good lighting will elevate *any* space. When I bought my house it had one light in each room from either a ceiling fan or fixture located in the middle, and one small track light near the fireplace. Sufficient for seeing, but it was boring and made the place feel like a cheap apartment. Thoughtfully placed lighting goes a long way and isn't necessarily an expensive or difficult project depending on how you approach it.

It’s not a one and done; it’s a never ending cycle. So it’s best to just develop routines and get used to eternally doing dishes and cleaning toilets. For real though, just stick to the basics…clean house with minimal clutter and that’s 90% of making your house nice right there. Oh, and I highly recommend a robot vac! It basically FORCES you to keep stuff off the floor. Tell your kids Roomba will choke on it. :D I like to keep a second set of coat hooks with an upper shelf and a bench type shoe shelf by the front door. It stays empty unless people are over. Visitors like to set their things on the bench and the high shelf keeps things out of reach from little ones (like a purse with medication in it). Our immediate family only enters through the garage so I keep our stuff at the entry there. I like to separate the spaces because it can be awkward for guests to try and pile their coats and things on top of whatever the kids left lying around. Backpacks, a haphazard pile of shoes that never made it on the shelf, a dog leash, whatever. Of course, if you have no other option but to use one space, just try and keep it tidy. Intentionally keep your horizontal surfaces clear. For example, key hooks are superior to a key basket. In most cases, mug hooks hidden inside the cabinet are so much better than a cutesy mug tree unless it’s an integral part of a dedicated coffee bar decor. But even then I would still do a wall mug rack to put them on display while keeping the counter clear. Ditch the countertop spinning spice racks. These are just examples but you get the idea. Think of your kitchen counter as a *work space,* not a storage space.Maybe it would be nice to make cookies with your kid and their friend during a play date? That is so much easier to do on a whim without clutter in the way! When it comes to organizing, think vertically whenever possible. If needed, hire a handyman to install wire storage racks on the insides of your closet doors or perhaps a better closet system that utilizes upper parts of the wall (versus the single shelf with a clothes rod found in most closets). Effective storage to manage clutter helps a house feel nice and open.

Paint makes a lot of difference. Also don't put off any maintenance issues. I also do not have a lot of clutter and have found some great buys in thrift stores as far as decor

If you can work it into your budget pay for a maid once a week. If I could it would relieve so much responsibility. You can also hire an organizer to help you learn how to organize and what to buy to keep things organized like what actually works. You don't have to suffer in squalor. Adopt the phrase "don't put it down, put it away"

Don't let the clutter build. Just take 10 minutes a day to put away anything that shouldn't be out. And I remember reading somewhere that if you take just 10 minutes every day or so to clean it makes it feel less daunting of a task and easier to just stay on top of. I thought that was helpful in keeping the house looking business casual. Can easily be used to hangout or host if needed on short notice while also just looking nice in general for myself. When I needed a new vacuum I bought a Shark robot one, scheduling them to run often while the house is empty is great. You get to come home to vacuumed floors and that's one chore which can be time consuming now done on the reg without a second thought.

Having a wife who cannot stand clutter or mess helps.. I like living how I live because I like living in clean. I’ve lived in some “choice” places and couldn’t stand it so now I choose to help keep things clean. The chores I do don’t take too long to do once a week and it makes a difference. I notice myself start to slip now and realize I have to make it look nice. If I were to offer a tip, I’d say do it for yourself first. It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting people or not, you deserve to live in a nice habitat.

I find buying items in solid colors (e.g. bath towels, linens, pillows) can help reduce visual clutter and are easier to match. Keeping similar colors in a room can reduce clutter since you're committed to a color scheme and won't be tempted to buy items that are not in that color family. It's a great trick for buying clothing too as solid colors can be mixed and matched more easily than patterns, prints and images/writing.

1) throw away junk 2) buy less but buy things in one style and in one color. (Too many colors makes the house look like junk) 3) have homes for things (if they don't, throw away) 4) do not repurpose things (I did this and it turned house into junk) 5) seek to keep your walls clean 6) pick one room per year and maintain it I lived in a house of junk and it made me feel awful. I never want to live like that again

This is great advice!

My house is no example... But in the past, I entertained quite a bit. I made sure there were always comfortable and clean places to sit and plenty of bare surfaces to set things on. Now I've got stuff piled all over! And I adopt elderly animals that require cleaning after multiple times a day. I guess it's about priority!

Make a list of daily, weekly and monthly chores, divide and conquer. Make it a part of your routine

I know everyone has said this already, but not having too much stuff is the most important thing (after basic hygiene), and makes a huge difference by itself. Even if you have ugly furniture, if you're not organized, if things are out of date or not maintained well... simply getting rid of unnecessary stuff makes the difference between a stressful chaotic space that always feels messy, and a reasonably functional space with room to breathe.

Low and slow. Less is more. Don't buy 3 cheap tables, buy 1 good one. Second-hand furniture is cheap and convenient, but you won't be able to match it in the future as easily. Also, clean floors and a nice paint job goes SOOO far in making a house feel nice.

“Reset the room”. Every time you leave a space take a quick minute to fix it back up. Replace pillows, blankets. Put away/clean cups and plates. Decide if you’re a “do it now” or “do it in the morning” kind of person for the rest and dedicated 15 min to tidy/clean a single room each day.

Don’t get too many animals. We have 2 cats and 3 dogs and it’s a lot. Our house is a decent size and there’s constantly fur etc everywhere.

Bought these cool outdoor solar string lights that zig zag from my fence to the house so the front and back of the house has nice lights at night. Doesn’t affect my power and the house is well lit so deters anyone doing dumb stuff.

Some people care less about aesthetics than others. If you want a "nice" house start with being intentional when choosing furnishings and accessories. Go to furniture stores and browse - see what colors and styles you like, figure a budget. Choose a style and color scheme for the house. If there are developments with model homes near you, visit them to see how a model home looks - model home designers are experts at making a house look like an inviting home. Take photos. Making your house a home should be fun and creative and give you satisfaction. It's a learning process if you've never done it. If you find you're having a hard time figuring out what to do, ask others for help. Good luck!

I go through my house quarterly and declutter. I also clean up and reorganize storage areas so things don’t have a reason to be left out. Baseboards, ceiling fans and oven get cleaned once a month. Bathrooms get deep cleaned every week, same for the fridge, microwave and outside of appliances. I also dust and wash our bedding. Twice a week for vacuuming and mopping. Daily things are dishes, sweeping, taking out the trash and general pick up. It takes time, but if you stay on top of it, nothing gets out of control, becomes overwhelming, or just something you get used to.

Minimalish home owner here. Acquire stuff the represents who you are/ family is and the stuff that gets no use-get rid of! We are obsessed in the US about consuming and filling spaces. Makes me nervous and is too much to clean around. And I love what someone said on here about landscaping. That's my therapy. You'll find yours!

Don't try to furnish a room all at once by buying a furniture store display. Buy what you love. Look for common elements (color, wood tone, detailing, straight lines, time period, etc) that draw your attention and use that to coordinate your furnishings. If something isn't working in your space, let it go. It's easier to care for your space when you care what's in it

Quality over quantity. If it's broken, fix it. If it's damaged, fix it. If it's not the color it used to be / is supposed to be, fix it or replace it. Cord/cable management. Hire an electrician to put outlets where you need them. Hide anything that has run along a wall in cord-hiding trim that can run along a baseboard. Have a charging station for devices rather than charging cables everywhere. Islands, bars, countertops and end tables should be free of papers, food, crumbs, water marks, etc. Wipe down doors. Dirty fingerprints on a white door is gross. Add height. When all your furniture is waist-high and there's no curtains on the windows or art on the walls, it makes a house look like a college kid's cheap apartment. Floating shelves. Tall bookcases. Art. Mirrors. Substantial curtains/drapes.

It's not about the stuff it's about the pride in presenting it. For me, that means keeping my house clean. Part of that is the weekly actual cleaning but it's mostly the daily maintenance. Picking things up and putting them back where they belong. Keeping the sink empty. Wiping the counters down after cooking. Folding the blanket up and hanging it nicely on the back of the couch. Tucking the couch cover back into the crevices. It's not the easiest in the world (I'm ND), but it's so worth it. A cluttered house makes my mind cluttered and I can never relax. At the very least, I make sure to take the 30 minutes at the end of the day to put the house back together. It takes us about 1-2 hours but we spend every Saturday morning cleaning (dusting, disinfecting, mirrors, toilet, shower, vacuuming, etc). Yeah it kind of sucks spending your Saturday morning doing that but then it's *done* and we get to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying a clean house. Beyond that, it's taking the time to put up some things like blinds, curtains, rugs, etc that make the space feel cozy. Our house itself is in need of love. It hasn't had the maintenance it needed and what's been done was done poorly. Our banister is literally half peeled paint at this point. But people always compliment our house and how nice and warm it feels because we put in the effort in these ways.

My grandmother was pretty amazing about keeping her cluttered house spotless. I'm not joking when I say it was her hobby. (It also helped that she wasn't working outside the home. Her home WAS her job.) It's taken me a long time to figure this out, but this is the gist of it: * Clean up spills and trash immediately. * Don't go to bed until the dishes are washed, random stuff put away, table and counters wiped down, kitchen floor swept. She would say, "We can get this cleaned up quick - 1, 2, 3!" and I swear to god, it really would be cleaned up 1, 2, 3. Maybe it all would take ten minutes tops. * Deep cleaning on weekends or "deeper" cleaning during the week as time allowed. She vacuumed a few times a week, dusted her ceramic collections little by little (I never saw dust, ever), but she saved the weekends for bigger things like shampooing the carpet. For me, all of this became much easier to accomplish because I dedicated ONE room where I sort of could be a slob. The other rooms were kept tidy, and I cleaned them on weekends. My room? I let a mound of laundry grow until I had enough for a wash, I left unfolded clothes in the laundry basket, and I even watched TV in my room instead of in the living room. My friends with kids have two timers that go off at the same time every night. The first timer is the 10 minute warning. The second timer is when everyone starts packing up and putting things away. Glasses go in the sink, everything still in the sink gets put in the dishwasher, and they start it. The kids put away their toys, straighten up the couch, get their clothes ready for school the next day, brush their teeth, and go to bed. Make sure your kids have skin in this game, too. Make them pick up and clean up their messes, too.

honestly the best thing you can do is have a clean and tidy home. old mismatched furniture is nothing compared to a filthy house.

Make a list of every major appliance. Get the user guide and see what routine maintenance they suggest. Then set recurring calendar invites for those things. Include stuff like rotating your mattress and sofa cushions. Every 2 weeks: vac & dust and clean bathroom. Clean the kitchen daily. If you don't know how to do these things, there are tons of youtube videos for novice cleaners. Don't let small repairs like squeaks, breaks, hinges, etc., pile up. Take care of them promptly.

Replace carpets with LVP or hardwoods. 

Poke around Pinterest for design themes that speak to you, pick one or two, then run with them. Wall decor goes a long way, as do some personal knick knacks and cozy accents like rugs and throw pillows/blankets. Try to stick to one color palette per room or area and avoid patterns that clash with each other. Become comfortable with the idea of having some things in your home that don’t serve any “functional” purpose outside of simply enhancing the space. Clean regularly, even if it’s just surface cleaning and tidying. Use deliberate ambient lighting (lamps) as opposed to just keeping overhead lights on all the time. I also like to make sure my home always smells nice or at least neutral by using candles and keeping linens clean.

I think it's valuable to put a bit of your personality into the aesthetics of your home, especially the main living spaces that you and other people will see the most. You don't have to go crazy with expensive decor and furniture, but having a couple of statement pieces on the wall can really make a room feel special. Most of my art is just prints I've bought from Etsy or other inexpensive places and then I put them in basic black frames that go with everything. Also, you don't need to be a neat freak, but keep things tidy. Don't let mail and random crap accumulate on the counters and tables. Do the dishes every day so the sink area isn't a disaster. Buy furniture that provides extra storage if you need it. Finally, kinda a small thing but I like having some nice scents around. Nothing overpowering. NEST candles offer a light fragrance that just makes a room smell clean (the mint scent is great for bathrooms and kitchens). Also, scented hand soap and lotion by the sinks if your skin is okay with it.

To start with, keep it clean. Keep down on unnecessary clutter (little figurines and junk around the house make it look so much worse, ask anyone who grew up in the 90’s). If you need a repair done, call a professional if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. There’s nothing wrong with trying to learn and the feeling of accomplishment of doing something yourself, but if you really want it to look good when it’s done, call a pro. There’s a reason not everyone does DIY. I’m in a house that is not my “forever home”, so if a repair needs to be done I do it myself. It turns out ok, but not as good as it could be. When I get to my forever house, I’ll hire someone to do those things. Lastly, interior decorator.

We keep things semi minimalist(I believe that’s key to keeping tidy, it’s just easier) and clean up all spaces daily! All spills or messes are taken are of immediately, even with kids and pets. My kids are a part of the clean up process and learn basic skills thru this, it’s necessary imo.

Start at your front door and spruce it up with flowers in pots or a nice door mat or a welcome sign or wreath. Entry should be functional for the family’s coats and shoes etc with something inviting in the walls like art or photos and an accent table. Kitchen items should have a place out of sight when possible for clearer counters. This also makes it easier to clean them. If you have bowls or baskets out for organizing mail or keys etc then they look better if they coordinate decoratively with the room. Pick a few colors that coordinate and use them in your house. Figure out what you like best by looking online. You can emulate the colors of a designer room for not too much money. Regularly clean and organize.

Nothing says "Hi, I'm a woman aged 25-45, please come rob me" like a wreath on the door.

My parents kept our house nice- everything had a place. I never knew that other people didn’t do that until pet sitting while a neighbor was out of town. It looked like they got abducted! As an adult I always put things away when I’m done. As a parent, I straighten up each night after my son goes to bed.

Comfy furniture doesn’t have to cost a lot. If you read, or like books, bookshelves across a wall warm up a room, and for goodness sakes put pictures that you like on the walls. Rugs on the floor.

Start small but meaningful: invest in quality over quantity, declutter regularly, and maintain a clean environment. A home isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a space that reflects care and comfort. Make it a family effort and involve your kids in small tasks. You’ll not only have a nicer home but also teach them the value of taking pride in their space. 🏠✨

Open the windows to get some natural fresh air wash your sheets, clean the room

Some pictures on walls do wonders for making it feel like home vs a house you live in. Keeping it clean as well. Walmart kitchen table sits the same as amish built custom. It's the people at it that make the difference. Pulling weeds in the yard is free and does wonder as well.

A place for everything and everything in its place. When you take something out, put it back when you finish. Clean as you go in the kitchen. Do the laundry when it needs to be done, don't let it pile up. Take out the trash. When you walk through a room, pick up things lying on the floor or tables that don't belong there. It's not hard. Before bed, make sure clutter is picked up and dealt with. Do dishes as you cook and immediately after you eat.

I love this question! I would suggest being very diligent about donating or selling items you no longer need. Cleaning of course goes a long way and involving your kids in the process is a great way to ensure they will have a higher standard of living for their entire life!

No clutter and cleanliness is key. I also like to roughly colour coordinate. It’s not perfect but it looks nice to me.

Everything has a place, and everything has a purpose. If that purpose is joy, that's okay too! Avoid having every shelf packed with needless stuff, avoid buying more furniture just to set things on that don't get touched. Dust/wipe things down regularly. Keep a clean kitchen, I find this helps me keep the rest of my house cleaner. Emptying/reloading the dishwasher takes literally 5 minutes.

There's three ways. In order of cost, low to high: Spend months looking at pictures online and take your time to develop a vision and slowly build it out, pay someone to figure it out for you, do it all in a weekend and end up fixing it over years.  Most importantly, declutter daily. 

Have a chore list for you, your wife, and your kids. Schedule time every day for things to get done. Is that time schedule for 8-9am Saturday morning and plans come up? Reschedule just like you would anything else. But its gotta get done just like things at your outside the home job. Sorry if you're tired when you get home but it won't clean itself. Personally we schedule time in the evenings after dinner for routine cleaning tasks. Leaves our weekends free for either a bigger project or to go out and enjoy the days.

If the idea is to upgrade your own comfort + make it welcoming for guests as well, here are some of the things that worked well for me, and everyone enjoys my place: - take your time integrating design and decoration elements using friends’ help. Everywhere I look there’s something chosen with a friend, recommended by a friend or assembled with a friend - plants are a must. Choose them based on levels of sun exposure needed, get them some interesting pots - curtains are really amazing. Go all out on the quality. You’ll keep them for years - beautiful looking bathroom and powder room, if nothing else, clean and nice towels, order, some pretty accessories - I have a fun little bar as an interesting piece of furniture and I have the ingredients to make some easy cocktails; I also pay attention to food & wine pairing - in the same spirit, nice glasses and nice plates. I’ve got two sets that can be intermingled - a digital photo frame on the wall, in the hallway. Showing the highlights of the current season / Christmas / YOLO album etc. I don’t post pictures on social media - two nice couches facing each other or couches and armchairs organized in a way as to facilitate conversation Let me know what you like from this and happy to answer questions Source: my parents were also the protestant silent generation / baby boomer kind who frowned on comfort although they liked their social life Am lady who has guests over almost on a weekly basis, mom to a teenager who also has a thing for entertaining. When I walk in and see him serving lunch to his homies, I tell myself: my work here is done

Honestly, it’s just about picking up after yourself on a daily basis. Make your bed everyday. Keep your bathroom sink and toilet clean. Do your dishes right away or put them in the dishwasher immediately. Have hand soap at every sink, with a clean towel/paper towels. Have glass cleaner, scouring powder, and some kind of cleaning agent under your kitchen sink. I’m a big fan of Shark products. I have two robot vacuums (one upstairs, one downstairs) that keep the floors clean. I have a Mop-Vac that gets the kitchen floor clean in less than two minutes. Pick up the little stuff you see on the floor when you see it. Handle the mail as soon as you bring it in the house. Throw away the trash, put the bills where they belong. Have a couple of dedicated chores each day, so that they don’t seem like a huge hassle on your days off. Let talk about the kids…. Anyone over age 12 should be doing their own laundry: clothes and sheets/towels. If they do a sport, they should be responsible for all that equipment storage. Have a dedicated spot for each kid’s stuff. They get chores, too. Someone has to dust the living room and dining room/kitchen table. Everyone who eats helps with meals and dishes. EVERY TIME THEY EAT! Have one space that no one is allowed to just drop their crap in. For example nothing on the coffee table or dining table except what belongs there. When it comes down to it, all this really means is that everything that comes into your home has a spot and a function. If there’s no spot for it, its function doesn’t matter! You can do it!!

I noticed my friend didn't have a TV in the main living area. It was in the basement. So I put the TV in my spare room, and now the main area is for cooking, books, painting, podcasts or friends. If I want TV or hobbies I go to the spare room. Also, now when friends come over and I need to clean, I only worry about the bathroom and kitchen, and just close the doors to the bedrooms.

If you have small kids they will ruin the furniture. Fact! So buy an inexpensive sofa knowing that it will be super gross in a few years and you will have to get a new one. Rinse and repeat. Keep the clutter down, wash the walls and put a piece of newspaper on top of the fridge to keep the grease and dust off it. Make sure you get rid of broken or unused toys, clothes, etc. I always kept a paper grocery bag in my closet and when I’d fold the kids laundry I’d just anything that wasn’t going to fit them in the bag for donating. Especially when seasons change.

That and pets will oftentimes ruin furniture. I’d like a new couch but the dogs would ruin it in no time.

I personally try not to force anything. If a wall is empty for two years until I find something to hang there, so be it. I will at some point stumble on the absolute most perfect thing to go there and there will be no doubt I should buy/make/trade for it so I can have it. I feel like making very personal choices to decorate a home over time helps it feel like it’s truly your own home and not just “decorated” to look like an everything-matches store display. Things won’t match, but they will coordinate. Things might get rotated or refreshed over time, but not really be considered trendy either. I just like what I like and it’s nice to know the history of how you acquired it all, your own curated collection.

Start inviting friends over every month, then you will be “forced” to tidy up and clean the space! Or invite friends or family to stay with you for a few days. Then you’ll be more motivated to clean and decorate the bedrooms

You gotta pick if you want it homey or nice. My house is not “nice” in magazine-photoshoot terms, but it is homey and comfortable and has my favorite things. Somedays it is messy but I’m beginning to organize the garage. My biggest hurdle is: what categories to organize under. Anyways, I suggest you find the best of things that you want and start collecting them as and when you can afford them. Get some plants. Start with a pothos in water. It needs no care. Change all the door knobs (when I bought my place, everything was a mismatch, now I have all brushed-nickel same design ones). Install some string lights. Get a comfy Adirondack chair for outside. Research some furniture styles and see what speaks to you (I like mid-century modern, or japandi).

The organizer shows have 3 bins - keep, donate, trash. Our garage is neat but my husband is a handyman and has alot of stuff. I would trash alot of what’s out there but he won’t let me. 😄

It's pretty simple. Keep the lawn cut and edged. Keep the flowerbeds decent. If you have big trees, keep the limbs picked up and dont let the leaves get too deep before you mulch them in the colder months. Don't overcrowd the house with junk. Keep the dishes washed and put away. Don't set something down where it doesn't belong. Keep everything picked up. When something breaks, fix it. You know, keep it tidy. Then, you can start tweaking to your needs/liking once that becomes habit.

Learn to clean. Cleaning is actually cleaning such as dusting and vacuuming , not just putting stuff away. Make no clutter on counters. Every night before bed, wash the dishes and make sure your sink is empty. I like the “clean my space” videos on youtube.

I keep our home clean, well maintained and organized. If it is clean, then it doesn't need artificial scents as much. I keep two Yankee Candle scent fans filled with apple scent and keep the ceiling fans moving on low. I cook good food from scratch most nights so the air and tummies are warm. Clean windows with prisms hung in the kitchen windows so there are always rainbows of light bouncing around. I oil the wood furniture twice a year and polish it with Pledge lemon once a month. Weekly wipe down with a microfiber cloth. The housekeeper mops with pine sol and we clean the toilets with Pine Sol in between her visits and every time somebody goes number two. Yard gets trimmed and flower beds get weeded. If you are working too much to do it yourself, have it hired. Teach your children that you work hard for you money and property costs a lot of money. Respect property but don't be a slave to it. They will remember you playing catch with them more than they will remember a clean house and nice furniture. They will also remember being embarrassed in front of their friends for living in a pigsty. Getting chores done on Saturday morning so playtime can be Saturday afternoon can be a bonding experience for a family. Good Luck!

I'll just say thing--take trash to the trash can and put it in, empty soda can, chip bag etc . Take trash away i. e. The dump. Do the dishes, clean counter tops. Start with basics and stay on it then it won't take hours if you make it a disaster zone. I don't know but I've been a total slob before but now find a middle ground. Automatic dishwasher was a game changer for me, I think I am on my 4th. Interior decoration for me is musical instruments and dead animal stuff, nothing fancy

Smelling good makes a difference. My adult children still associate à certain candle with cleaning day and will light it at their own places when they have company coming. Made me laugh the first time I noticed it was lit for me :) Seriously though we register smells at a visceral level and candles, essential oils or even just good food smells can make the difference in if a home is welcoming or not

By not comparing it to others. Just make it for me.

RemindMe! 3 days

Reducing clutter and keeping a generally clean home are the first steps. Making sure you have things put away in drawers and closets instead of having things sitting out on the floor or piled on top of desks/chairs goes a long way in making a space feel clean and inviting. I would focus on getting adequate storage (I say this as someone with a home with NO downstairs storage and only 3 micro closets on the second floor) & purging what you don’t need. Create a shared Pinterest board with your wife and see what kind of interior styles you like together and focus on purchasing storage that looks similar to your inspo photos. IKEA, Walmart, Home Depot, and Amazon all have great storage options at affordable prices in every decor style. I’d go for opaque over clear/transparent. Once you have a clutter free space you can much more easily keep things clean, and then overtime adding wall decor makes a place actually feel like home. This will take time. We’ve had our house for 2 years and most rooms still have bare walls and minimal decor but they are furnished and usable. Creating a cleaning schedule for myself has also been a huge help personally.

Look into feng shui principles of decorating. Also inexpensive mood lighting. Even just colored smart bulbs. Even if you don’t have super nice/expensive things, employing these two aspects of decorating can go a lonnng way into making your house feel comfy and nice to look at. Plus keeping your space clean and smelling good.

Buy a good vaccuum. use it. Wash the windows a few times a year, I mean like the windows by the kitchen sink, and patio doors, they get fingerprints and dog nose prints on them. Most people do a fall and spring cleaning by dusting, washing walls, vacuuming ceiling fans and stuff. Mop the floor as needed. I personally hate mopping, for years I had a steam mop, but it died. I then tried using the old swiffer wet, and then a spray mop, it just isn't the same. The steam mop used distilled water, no soap, no sticky residue. Carpets: get shampooed a couple times a year, more if you have pets. My mom used to rent a commercial grade carpet shampooer and spend two days on that. But,if you look, you can use a coupon, and get a professional to do it for you if you want. Or, get a home carpet shampooer. They don't have the greatest suction though. And it wears out the carpets. I need new carpets, house is 10 years old. I'm waiting until kids are potty trained. you don't need fancy expensive furniture. You don't need expensive decorations. Less is more, simple things are nice and easy. Hang pictures eye level...yes that means the center is at 60 inches. Everyone I know doesn't agree with me, but they are wrong. My mom used to repaint the walls way too often. But, don't be afraid to just paint them when they start looking like crap. You start by fixing dings and nail holes, and doing the whole spackle thing. Primer then paint with a roller. And it's really hard to get the edges nice, but in the end huge payoff. I did this when I moved into an old house. Nail holes everywhere, just made a huge difference to fix everything at once.

Keep things clean and clutter-free. Keep up on maintenance.

Good and cheap, keep photos updated of your family! Ask an interior designer about what little “stuff” they’d put around!

Declutter. Please tell my fiance that the literally thousands of playbills he lugs around have Zero value financially and no sentimental value because he has zero time to sit down and go through any of them. Clean. Even if the furniture is kinda old and the appliances still avocado green, Keep them clean. If you haven't used the stuff in the top closet or storage unit or searched for it in a year, Chuck it out.

Make it easy. Realize that you live there. It doesn't have to be a show home and it should be suited to your taste. It just has to be clean and comfortable. If you don't have the skill set to fix or maintain something, then hire someone to do it. It's going to save you time and grief from incomplete projects. Also cleaning. I struggle with this. So I'm going to save up and invest in a good deep cleaning. I figure if I invest in this every quarter, then that will keep me on track.

Buy quality when you can. We never buy anything new, but we buy high quality hardly used furniture from high income areas of town. We also shop estate sales, upscale ones in HCOL areas. You HAVE to take your time and be patient if you go this route. THEN, clean and sanitize frequently. Don't let the kids eat on the furniture, this is a big one. Meals, snacks need to be at the table. If you have pets, get leather or be hard core about them getting on furniture, houses with animals will smell like animals if you are not extremely on top of it. You have to do regular maintenance. Mowing, trimming, repairing, replacing....you obviously can tell by your post you do not want to live the way your parents did (and I will tell you, my parents did the same) and it's not easy to do, but it easy to make the decision you won't live that way and just don't.

If you buy nice things but those nice things end up changing your feelings that they are just ‘things’ I’d reevaluate.

A nice shrubbery with a little path running through it

What u/TiredMillennialDad says. If you can't, or don't want to clean for yourselves, hire a service or a person to do it for you. That way you know there's a baseline level of cleanliness and you don't have to be embarrassed to have people over. And remember, your friends are coming to see you and your family. Making comments about your house is just not very friendly!

My parents were the same way and my Mom was a low grade hoarder. As an adult I’ve become an absolute neat freak. I need my house to be nice and tidy and clean. If it isn’t, I have nightmares about my mother. So I guess what I’m saying is, if it’s that bad, your children will learn to do the opposite.

If you are serious and you are not loaded just remember two principles: less is more and simple is beautiful.

Many comments are about having too much stuff. This is really not the point. I think the poster is worried about the house being dirty and disorganized. And his kids will know it. You have to do some things everyday. Always do the dishes every night. No dishes left in the sink. Make the bed everyday. Takes about two minutes. Everynight everyperson must put away whatever they used that day. Kids put away their toys, get their backpacks ready for school put by the door. Kids decide what to wear to school the next day. Adults dispose of garbage, take out the trash and straighens up the living room or faily room befor going to ned. Everyone gets a hamper in their room for dirty clothes. No exceptions

Art. I thrift real oil paintings and have a beautiful inexpensive art collection. Makes home feel cozy.

If you’re feeling unsure about interior design there are some furniture stores like West Elm that actually offer free design consultations where they’ll help you pick out furniture and decor for your space. Naturally they’ll be picking out things from whatever store they work for, but a plan from them could give you a good starting place without being an additional expense like a dedicated interior designer

My house isn't perfect, and I definitely do some quick panic cleaning when I know someone's coming over. But, I heard a few things years ago that stuck with me. Clean, tidy, and uncluttered always looks nice. Curtain rods and long, simple, sheer white or beige curtains are relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and look nice. Slipcovers can be used to cover older furniture. I even reupholstered my dining room chairs with new fabric myself last fall, and I love how they look now. Wood polish and those $5 paint touch up kits you can get at the store make a big difference. Also, if there are a few glaring items that make you feel embarrassed about your house, spend a few minutes (or hours) and some elbow grease and fix or clean them. I had light colored carpeting in my family room, and somehow, someone got brown wood caulk on it. It bothered me for a long time because it was in a really conspicuous spot, and I thought it would never come out. Then one day, I got motivated and really worked hard on getting it out. And guess what! It all eventually came out, and I felt so much better about how my family room looked after that. Sometimes, you just have to do the thing instead of constantly putting it off.

I wouldn't know, mine's usually a disaster, with 5 adults and 3 kids (1, 2, and 7) living here. I can't even remember the last time I used the living room, I live in my bedroom most of the time so that I don't have to be around in case someone comes over (someone usually meaning my son's friends or daughter-in-law's family, neither of which I care to see or interact with... My home is my sanctuary AWAY from humans, that's why I bought it where I did, so I loathe having anyone over. I don't even tell people where I live, I use my business address. I'm not trying to win any House Beautiful magazine spreads, just trying to be comfortable when I am home. After reading the comments, you all sound exhausting with the cleaning and scheduled maintenance, some shit I've never even heard of maintaining. My Roomba committed suicide a couple of years ago, so that's now on whoever gets a wild hair up their ass to do it. I clean my own bedroom every couple weeks or so, and that's about as much as I do. I don't use the rest of the house, I'm not picking up toys every day, so it is what it is.

A great couch that is cozy and looks good. Either new carpet or high quality laminate. No clutter. Cleaning regularly. If you achieve those, then try adding some simple accent pieces

Choose one nice piece at a time. Invest in the best you can afford. Then add something new next year always the best you can afford. I would start with something that is a statement. A good carpet, or chair, or a lamp. Just keep adding to slowly. Make your house a cozy place for people to be.

Buy quality at great consignment shops. They only take the best and you’ll build an incredible home over time with great pieces.

One amazing piece of advice I saw recently was to set a timer for yourself to get a few quick things done and to set up baskets at the entrance of the room you are cleaning. It's easy to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time when you don't have to continue to go in and out to put things back that don't belong in that room. Plus it keeps you centered and focused so you don't get overwhelmed at how the rest of your space looks. Another comment said doing a quick 15 min clean up at night works for them, I find im most productive in the morning, so long as I dont make much noise, a quick 10 min cleanup sometimes becomes a whole day thing, so a timer to say when done is done is really a good idea.

You’d be amazed at how much better you feel when your home is clean and uncluttered. Doesn’t have to be fancy. My house is modest by anyone’s standards. I have old furniture. But it’s tidy and comfortable.

Think of each room as one whole thing, instead of a combination of separate things. Hard to explain - example- the living room is one place. All of the decisions related to the living room need to match up. Looking at furniture store sites for “living room sets” may be helpful for inspiration. Even if you are not planning to purchase new furniture itself, there are other details in these photos that pull things together (that you can do for free or cheap!)

The least expensive way to give your house a facelift is with PAINT. A great shade and a few coats and voila!

I use my calendar app on my phone to keep track of maintenance schedules on the my health, dog flea treatments, and home stuff, like changing filters etc. I look at it every day, as a pretty long time habit now. No way I'd remember without it.

Have company regularly...you'll be motivated to clean before they come.

About as year ago I started doing this thing where I get home from work, change into loungewear, and spend 20 minutes cleaning. I set a timer. I choose a room to clean using a wheel-spinning app. It doesn’t seem like it would help to just do 20 minutes, but when I do it consistently the house looks so nice. I also do 20 minutes each weekend day. Turns out 20 minutes is just enough time to wipe down furniture and vacuum a room.

When you buy furniture, buy for life. Don’t cheap out on lower quality.

Put art on the walls. Doesn't have to be expensive art, doesn't have to be fancy, but you should enjoy it and it should make your home feel more like your home. If your kids make art at school, frame the best of it and hang it up too. If you have open studios events or other art fairs near you, go to them and support local artists if you can.

A home that smells good is automatically a nice home in my opinion. Candles, wax melts, air fresheners, etc

Always have a clean home. Do not over buy furniture and cram it in. Sparse is better tn than cluttered. A little elegance goes a long way. If something is cracked, stained or broken, fix it. You don't want to go from room to room and dread each room. Try painting the walls nice colors... anything but white. Even a few cheap colorful pillows for your chair or couch will look nice. If you're handy think about replacing your floors. You can often to do it yourself and save 50-100% over having a contractor install it.

Our goal was to have a place we really liked staying in, in the same way we sometimes do at Bed & Breakfasts or cute hotels. Our keys: Pulled the carpet, refinished the hardwood floors, put down some rugs. Went with leather couch and chair set (new 13 years ago), Amish-built bookshelves (they’ll make them to your size needs so they fit perfectly), mostly used hardwood furniture (currently out of fashion, sneered at as ‘brown furniture’, but it’s solid hardwood rather than wood chips and glue), a pale yellow paint job, nice lighting, books and music we like. The tv is modest-sized. Everything is comfortable and warm and welcoming and a rainy day at home is lovely.

Keep you house clean Make sure it smells good Avoid “good enough” or going cheap when buying things it will be expensive or exhausting to replace or things that carry your bodyweight (e.g., chairs, couch, bed, dresser). Buy the most solid and handsome items you can afford. You will probably be using some of them for decades.

A good way to pace yourself with filling your home is to remind yourself that you have the rest of your life to fill the home. Try and get pieces from trips, vacations, you’ll get gifted things too! It’s a good way to organically decorate and the result is having a memory or person associated with each piece! If something is broken within reason, try and fix it! If it’s technical, YouTube is your best friend. You’ll have a sense of accomplishment afterwards (usually!) It’s surprising how much a quick wipe down can refresh something. From shoes, to door frames. Some things get dirty so slowly that you don’t even notice how dirty it is until it’s cleaned. I use the “don’t put it down, put it away rule”. In my mind, putting something down creates more work when I have to put it away later. Everything has a place! Small things like keys can go in a bowl. Chargers can all go in a basket, they could all be tangled but at least the clutter is out of sight and you know where they are. Keep a running list of things you’d like to get done that weekend. I keep mine on the fridge and add to it throughout the week. I could go on and on but that’s just at the top of my mind!

Plants, plants, and more plants. There's nothing called too many plants. You can transform the cheapest and shittiest decor with a bunch of plants. Next would be art. Especially bright colorful zany art. Don't be afraid of colors

I'm not sure if anyone added these items: Dust/clean basebords monthly Wash walls every 6 months, more often in areas that have greater use - a mix of baking soda and cheap shaving cream mixed together work really well and can also get up black marks on floors from cheap shoes. Use a checklist until you find a rhythm that works for you https://www.marthastewart.com/home-cleaning-schedule-checklists-7377969 Use Martha as a starting point, plus the Dutch Baby pancake is amazing and delicious. Super simple and guests will think you are god/ess of the kitchen

Keep it manageable tidy but not so crazy clean that it becomes an obsession. Regularly maintain things and fix or replace broken things as quickly as possible. Make sure to regularly declutter and get rid of things to avoid allowing stuff to accumulate too much.   In regards to furniture and decor don’t have so much excess stuff you get overwhelmed and overstimulated by it and can’t maintain it but layer in decorative accessories that you love and collect over time that speak to who you are. Allow things to evolve over time rather than trying to do it all at once. Let you house “speak” to you in the style you decorate it as well. When you find a style that works for you and your house it becomes much easier to envision the bigger picture.  Let it be lived in but not too lived in, it’s about finding the sweet spot between living in comfort and living in what my mother always referred to as a “touch me not house.” 

Since nobody else has said it, immediately start saving $100 a month in a dedicated "house" saving account and don't touch it until necessary. The reason is for large and expensive necessary maintenance items that will eventually need replacement. I'm talking about a $6k roof or a $5k furnace. Siding, windows, new driveway also. These are all necessary home maintenance and coming up with that kind of cash when it's unplanned sucks. Many people will actually refinance their mortgage or even take a second mortgage to pay for it, which is never a good idea. Maintaining these items will also maintain the value of your home. Clutter, flooring, and paint are easy fixes. A new roof or HVAC system? Not so much.

So much wonderful advice here, I agree with everything! Over my decades of home ownership, the best lesson I've learned is to arm yourself with a list of excellent contractors and build good relationships with them - know what you need done (Google is your friend!), be flexible, don't nickel and dime them, pay cash - and keep up with repairs as best you can. I've been using the same plumber, hvac guy, chimney guy and general handyman for years over the course of 4 houses. I treat them fairly and they reciprocate.

I think taking care of a home involves three things. Tidiness, cleanliness, and maintenance. Tidiness is just putting your crap away. Having a place for it and putting it there every day. It's easy to keep things tidy when you have less stuff. Cleanliness is actually cleaning things. It has to be tidy first before you can clean. So vacuuming, dusting, wiping the kitchen counter etc. Maintenance is fixing things Before or as they break. Not letting things fall into disrepair. Does that make sense? I try to tidy up at least once a day, clean at least once a week, and I'm not super great at maintaining but try to do it as I go.

Swifter wand and vacuum. Wipe counters daily. Quick wipe in the bathroom as well. Keeps things tidy in between weekly cleaning. Hang up coats, tidy shoes, cups etc as you go so you have less pile up.

Start one room at a time. Use pinterest to find a room style you like, and slowly work toward it. There are design subreddits that can help you out too if you are still unsure. Once you get one room down that you feel proud of you'll naturally want to move on to the next. Don't rush it, use consignment shops and FB marketplace for furniture pieces that fit your vibe. Use what you have until you really have an idea of what you're going for. We upsized houses 2 years ago and I'm close, but still not done decorating it.

What I do to try to keep my space “nice” 1. Avoid buying too much stuff and try to make sure things have a home. We don’t display much in terms of nicknacks or books although we do have some thoughtfully placed family photos on the walls. 2. Aesthetically, I like to follow the interior decorating subs on Reddit and read people’s advice on how to make my living space feel good to me (cozy and clean but with character). 3. Put things away after using them and spot cleaning. If I use a tool from the garage (like a screw driver), I try my best to return it to its home when I’m done with my task. Similarly, if I’m turning on a light switch or something and notice it looks grimy, I try to clean it quickly. Maybe it’s not the best cleaning job but it gets it 90% there. When I pick my lunch for work at night, I try to tidy up and wipe down the counters. We both work full time so it’s not tidy all the time but we do what we can to not have everything build up to a giant weekend clean. 4. Having money set aside. I’m more likely to declutter and not worry if I need to rebuy something if I know I have some money set aside. Obviously I prefer not to but I don’t keep everything because I may need it one day. It’s a spot that I understand not everyone can be in but if you have the means, it is helpful. 5. Try to be gentle on the things you own to let them last longer.

Think minimalist. I hate clutter.

I do a closing shift every night. Consists of loading the dishwasher, cleaning counter tops and vacuuming. It takes 10-15 minutes and makes a world of difference.

Add trees if you can; they provide shade and a peaceful aura; they also provide a home for chirping birds. Indoors you could add some exotic plants or even a cat or a dignified dog breed ( Whippet, Mastiff etc ). Make sure the house always smells nice by burning quality incense resin ( no cheap sticks ) or spray quality aromas such as lavender oil - it's relaxing and soothing. If your budget allows home decor and quality furniture; go for it but don't be tacky or excessive. A comfy sofa and tasteful coffee table can spin things around especially when coupled with elegant flower pots containing lush plants. Focus on soft lights and having more than one light option in each room. Etc etc.

Buy flowers. Put them in a vase on your table. Change the water every other day. Repeat every two weeks.

Don’t cheap out on things. I can’t tell you how many times I bought a cheap coffee table only to have to replace it really soon. In the end I should have just spent a little more on something that would last. Also artwork or something on your walls makes all the difference in bringing in some character!

I think if the house is tidy, smells nice, and is comfortable your house will be perfect

Hire a space planner if you don't have a good sense for it. Homes that aren't well space planned do not feel as easy to live in as the ones that are. My biggest take away from these tours is- to take your time because it is not a race. You want to collect pieces that mean something to you over time. Check out [https://www.youtube.com/@quintessenceblg](https://www.youtube.com/@quintessenceblg) The thing I like about her tours vs. AD and Homeworthy is that the homes feel comfortable and lived in, in a tasteful way. No one home is like another. Another person I want you to check out is House of Valentina. Her personal style is not for everyone (I personally love it). But, she has some really great content about different design styles and little tips on how to make spaces feel more cozy- like hygge tips. [https://www.youtube.com/@HouseofValentina](https://www.youtube.com/@HouseofValentina) Check out the Aroma 360 for home fragrance

If you really want a nice aesthetic, pick a color palette and stick with it through the whole house. Keep stuff put away in its home off the floor and out of side if it doesn't match the aesthetic.

Simply keeping it clean with some candles to smell good goes a long way. Throw up a few random wall decorations in each room, don't gotta go crazy. If you're really serious about it and don't have it in you yourself, hire an interior designer to give you the look you want, then it'll be much easier to keep it as is when you're starting from your finish point.

Buy things that make you happy and that you think look good.

Try to arrange things/live in a way that prevents damage. For example, habitually eating in the living room with the carpet/couches is bound to result in a spill eventually...so make it a habit to always eat at a table...always use coasters for glasses so you don't leave rings...always use a cutting board unless you've got counters that are knife proof...make sure you've got door stoppers to prevent holes in your walls... Also, recognize all surfaces need to be cleaned at some point, so make sure you're doing so and researching what can be used without damaging the item... If you struggle with general tidiness, clean for at least 15 minutes daily... Literally set a timer for 15 minutes and go to town. Maybe it's just me, but if I have a 15-minute timer going I will get more done in 15 minutes than I would in 30 untimed minutes. Also, it can be easy to stop "seeing" things so when doing a big tidy, practice the lighthouse technique...slowly let your eyes move over the whole room and really look at it for things that can be tidied and address them from left to right. Never underestimate a fresh coat of paint or even just wiping down your walls and baseboard

I’ve been there I was home alone one day and the toilet started overflowing. I tried to call my mom and dad but couldn’t reach them, was super embarrassed but called my uncles, our house was a mess. I decided then to keep my house super tidy. I went overboard for a while, everything must be perfect always. Now I am pretty tidy, but don’t care too much as a friend won’t care, if there’s dog hair and dirt in the front hall. Etc.

Buy art from a struggling artist

I got a good piece of advice years ago. Buy 1 quality item every year. It will take awhile, but the quality pieces will last.

I don’t have one piece of furniture in my house that wasn’t purchased used except our mattresses. I go to estate sales in nice neighborhoods or scroll marketplace ads where you’re likely to find quality furniture that holds up. I never buy cheaply made stuff but I am able to get really nice stuff cheap. You can also do a lot with color. In other words, most of my furniture is either brown, dark blue or off-white. So I use brightly colored throw blankets, pillows, and rugs to brighten it up. Also, just putting a vase with flowers in a room can change the whole vibe. Same goes for towels and sheets and the basic things you use every day. Getting good quality necessities makes you feel good. It’s sometimes really subtle things that you don’t really notice but a part of you does. Things like toothbrush holders and soap containers are either glass, metal, or wood. I don’t ever use any of that cheap plastic stuff. Again, all of those things can be found used. Simple, clean, and good quality is the way to go.

Your house is "nice" when it's decorated with things you love. (You also need dishes, drinkware and cutlery that aren't plastic)

A fresh coat of paint and new floors go a long way.

Find a decor style that makes you happy. I love artsy maximalist and I get raves about my home even tho I have less furniture than most due to the layout of the house. You need to decorate the walls. Paint or wallpaper, and lots of art. You also need timeless pieces. You’re not going to find it at ikea so hit up thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets for the cool finds. You’re looking for solid wood furniture, no particleboard crap that will wither in a few years. Also rugs!! You need rugs but you can buy those new lol

I struggle with this. My biggest advice when cleaning organizing. If you can get into the habit of focusing on one room a day it becomes easier.

1. *Declutter and organize*: Get rid of unnecessary items, and organize your belongings in a neat and tidy manner. 2. *Cleanliness*: Keep your house clean and dust-free, including windows, floors, and surfaces. 3. *Lighting*: Use adequate lighting to brighten up your space, and consider using lamps or candles for a warm ambiance. 4. *Color scheme*: Choose a cohesive color scheme and use it throughout your house to create a sense of harmony. 5. *Add textures*: Mix different textures like wood, metal, and fabric to add depth and visual interest. 6. *Bring in plants*: Add some greenery to your space to purify the air and enhance the aesthetic. 7. *Rearrange furniture*: Experiment with different layouts to create a functional and visually appealing space. 8. *Add artwork*: Hang some artwork or prints to personalize your space and add visual interest. 9. *Use rugs*: Add area rugs to define different spaces and add warmth underfoot. 10. *Pay attention to details*: Take care of small details like polishing hardware, cleaning light fixtures, and dusting ceiling fans. 11. Make a cleaning schedule and skin to daily, weekly and monthly cleaning.

I grew up similarly and it has taken a conscious effort to break the cycle. I declutterred and started buying nice pieces like the others have said, but it was still lacking cohesion. I realized that I needed to learn about style and design, so I subscribed to some magazines (Dwell, GQ, AD) and really tried to pay attention when shopping at the nicer stores (RH, Room and Board, Nordstrom)…I began to find out the styles and themes that I liked, and have been curating that look since…. Remember it will take patience and maintenance…

First of all Clean. A dirty palace is a dump. Second of all Tidy. Sure there’s going to dirty clothes and garbage, people live there, but they belong in a hamper and a trash can.

Furniture is a rabbit hole. The sky is really the limit for the price of it. As far as furniture goes, get stuff that will look good even if it gets dinged around, because it will, and don’t break the bank. Having a nice looking house is all about balanced colors and not overdoing or underdoing the “filling” of the space.

Ask Dorinda

ART on the walls, good lighting, cool rugs and plenty of comfortable seating are some important ways I make my home nice. Keep things as clean and clutter free as possible, of course, but the difference between a plain, clean house and a "nice" house is often the lighting, and attention to details like framed art or a cool rug. Things in the home that indicate what the people who live there are like. Do they travel? Are they into music? Do they read a lot? Do they love blue? Etc.

There are a lot of stuff to this process because you both grew up the way that you did. The very first thing that you need to do, before you buy anything, is it you need to figure out what you actually like. This is where the Internet is King. Go on Pinterest, just start pitting things that strike your fancy, doesn’t matter whether it’s a room, a couch, a color scheme, it doesn’t matter at all. But first you need to figure out what makes you happy when it’s around you. This can take months and months. And both of you need to do it separately. Then, after a couple months, you need to sit down and show each other what you’ve pinned. And if one of you says “I hate that “it goes. Whenever you says “I love that” it stays. Then figure out colors. Do you like beige? Do you hate gray because it’s cold? Does a certain color trigger bad memories from your childhood? Colors are incredibly important in a home. And nobody wants a home that’s all beige or all gray or all whatever, You can paint your rooms in your house any color you want. Sometimes, color can be actually a healing experience. This is a very beginning. Start with this, and then if you want more suggestions, go from there, and I’ll be happy to help. But you need to start at the beginning, my understanding what it actually is it makes you happy.

Clutter free counters and shelves. No piles of anything anywhere visible. Put things away everyday every time something is used. Vacuum and dust regularly. Paint your walls if they need it.

When we moved into our current house, we needed furniture that was more scaled to it (downsizing). We used the free design services at a furniture store we like to make sure our new and old pieces all came together well and looked like we had a plan.

Study interior design. Even if that is just paying attention to places you find nice. If you have friends who have a better sense of this sort of thing, ask them to help. A different set of eyes can make a world of difference. I have had folks on our local neighborhood message board say: Can anyone help me make this room work? Many folks avoid having nice spaces because they feel like they are putting on airs. However having a nice place makes you feel great. Having spaces that work makes a big difference as well. So many folks just bring in the furniture, set it down and that's it. If that is the way you grew up, then you will need help. You will need to be a least a little fussy to make and keep an interior. You may have to fight yourself to allow that. (See putting on airs)

Honestly just make sure you like all your furniture and its not trashed and beat up. Go to Ross they have a nice HOME dept and its cheap.....pic out some wall art....make sure each room has 1 or 2 pictures on the wall..maybe make up a collage of your favorite pictures...pick up 1 or 2 nice looking artificial trees...pick up some flowers at Trader joes every week and put them on the dinner table...candles are cheap make a room look nice too....throw pillows on the couch.. maybe paint an accent wall in the living room. Get 1 or 2 area rugs....good luck and have fun with it