4 Tips To Design a Low-Maintenance Home

Beril Yilmaz
Sep 8
3 min read

A study conducted by OnePoll for H&R Block revealed an uncomfortable truth many of us don’t want to admit: 59% of Americans find it difficult to complete their to-do list.

With deadlines and urgent meetings encroaching, Americans are expected to focus on some things and put others aside. Unfortunately, for 37% of those surveyed, house jobs are the chores that get delayed most often.

A fast-paced life is bound to come with its own challenges, some easier to overcome than others. Luckily, household upkeep and chores fall in the first group.

With very little planning and some forethought, you can have a low-maintenance home that doesn’t siphon too much of your time. And the best part is, you can get that in 4 simple ways.

Ready to learn more? We’ll get right into it.

4 Ways to Low-Maintenance Home Design

The obsession with work has plagued Americans for years. But home maintenance can become one less thing to worry about. Here are 4 easy ideas to help you outfit a low-maintenance house.

Little Clutter

Wouldn’t you love walking into your home, only to be greeted by a clean space with everything in its place?

No reams of paper cluttering the table, no random items scattered across the countertops - just a tidy environment that promotes relaxation. This is the result of living with less clutter. And it’s one of the easiest things you can do today.

Keeping clutter to a minimum will free up a lot of the time you’ve had stolen from you. Just the needless step of clearing the counters before wiping them down takes time. Fewer decorative items mean less dusting, organizing, and cleaning. Lest we mention that you’ll see less dust on the surfaces.

By adopting a more minimalistic approach, you’ll reduce visual noise and lighten the mental load of managing your space. In turn, you’ll free up more time to enjoy yourself instead of spiraling into a cycle of tidying up.

Durable Materials

A great way to cut down on maintenance and cleaning is by looking into the materials you’re using. While some decor styles and textures might be easy on the eye, they might not be practical.

While a lower-quality piece of furniture may be cheaper initially, it can quickly succumb to scratches, warping, and breakage, forcing you to replace it sooner than you’d expected. On the other hand, durable materials, such as solid wood, metal, and high-performance fabrics, can withstand daily wear and tear.

Plus, consider the traffic in the room. In high-traffic areas, you’ll need sturdier furniture that can hold out against bumps and hits.

By prioritizing durable materials, you’ll ensure your furniture stands up to everyday life and spend less time maintaining it over the years.

Artificial Plants

A house is not a home without some greenery. Unfortunately, where there are natural plants, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. Your new fern might be beautiful, but you’ll have to worry about watering and keep tabs on whether it’s getting enough sunlight. For some, these obligations are already stretching it too thin.

If you want the appearance of greenery without spending time and effort on upkeep, opt for artificial plants.

While faux foliage has many selling points, the best part is that you can place them where you want and forget about them. These benefits make them perfect for people with black thumbs who somehow find a way to kill a cactus.

For example, you can decorate with hanging artificial plants that cascade down from the ceiling without taking up any floor space. It’s a quick, easy, and practical solution for the common problem of plant care.

Concealed Storage

Last but not least, think of ways to keep your home organized while you’re not tidying up. Since it’s very unrealistic to think you can hide your belongings and summon them when needed, consider modern storage solutions.

For example, ottomans with hidden compartments, storage benches, or built-in cabinets can tuck away items you don’t want on display. This keeps your space clean and prevents dust particles from settling on clothing and other items.

Concealed storage works best for your wardrobe because it fits in the bedroom and keeps belongings out of sight. Aside from this, such storage is easier to clean when the time comes, as you don’t have to move everything around to ensure you haven’t missed any dust.