13 Simple Things That Make My Home Feel Clean and Tidy Every Day

Today I’m sharing how to make your home feel clean without constantly cleaning!

I am often asked how I keep my home so neat and tidy with four young boys, so today I want to share some simple ideas for how to make your home feel clean and tidy without actually having to clean. Of course, with my personality, I love to clean as often as I can. However, my home is not always perfectly clean, and it is just not realistic as a busy homemaker to spend hours every day deep cleaning.

In this post, I am sharing how to make your home feel clean on those days when you simply do not have the time to dust or vacuum. These simple ideas will help your home look tidy quickly, without a lot of effort or spending.

This post may contain affiliate links. For my full disclosure, click here.

1. Baskets to Hide Everyday Clutter

It’s no secret that I love baskets. They add so much natural texture and cottage charm to a space, and you can usually find them for a couple bucks at any thrift store. Not only are baskets budget-friendly decor, they also combine fashion and function by acting as a storage space to quickly toss in items like blankets, toys or other random clutter. Your space will instantly feel tidier with plenty of baskets for everyday storage!

2. Decorative Storage That Doubles as Furniture

Speaking of fashion and function, storage that doubles as furniture is a great option to keep your home feeling organized. I have an ottoman in my living room that holds toys, piano benches that open up to store books, and cabinets to store candles, napkins and more. Your room will feel more put together with furniture that acts as storage!

3. Trays or Bowls That Make Surfaces Look Intentional

Keeping wooden trays or bowls on coffee tables or other furniture can also keep your everyday object feel styled instead of messy. While I usually keep tv remotes in our built-in cabinet, I know not everyone has a storage option like that. Try grouping some items like books, tissue boxes and remotes together on a tray to make them look more purposeful and organized! You could also add candles or flowers in a vase to add even more decorative flair.

4. Clear (or Mostly Clear) Countertops

I really strive to keep my kitchen countertops clear of clutter. I keep appliances like pressure cookers, blenders and air fryers stored in my lower kitchen cabinets rather than keeping them on the counter. I also like to use visually appealing storage like glass jars for ingredients that I use often (flour, oats, oils, etc) to keep my countertops looking clean and cohesive rather than cluttered.

5. A Made Bed

This may seem like such a silly thing for how to make your home feel clean, but a made bed makes such a big difference! Even just a made bed somehow makes the whole room feel tidy even when it’s not! Plus, it only takes a few minutes and is a great way to start your day.

6. Fluffed Pillows and Folded Blankets

Have you heard of the pillow chop? It’s a simple thing I like to do to my pillows to make my space feel clean and put together. I fluff my pillow and then “chop” the top with my hand to make a little indent. This is totally my style preference, but I still encourage you to fluff up and style your pillows! I also like to either fold my blankets over my ottoman, or drape them across my couch for a huge visual difference!

7. Closed Storage Whenever Possible

I love open shelving, but let’s face it: open shelves = pristine storage and constant cleaning. Opt for storage that can easily conceal clutter like cabinets, boxes and built-in media consoles. Yes, I still love to keep my closed storage organized, but having the option to quickly throw clutter in and close it can help keep your home feeling tidy without spending a lot of time cleaning it.

8. A Simple, Styled Coffee Table

Coffee tables can easily become a catch all for remotes, notepads, books and coffee cups. I try to keep my coffee table simple and styled. Keep it minimal with a few books or a houseplant to avoid overcrowding!

9. Fresh or Faux Greenery

Something about having some green in my home keeps it feeling fresh and distracts from imperfections. I have a lot of faux greenery, but don’t be afraid to incorporate real plants into your home! I was intimidated to care for houseplants, but they really add so much freshness and beauty to your home and they are much easier to care for than I thought! I have a full blog you can read about which plants I keep in my home.

10. Candles for a Clean, Cozy Feel

You all know how much I love my Antique Candle Co. for their long-lasting, non-toxic candles, but really any candle can make such a big difference in your home. Having a fresh scent going will make your home smell clean and adds so much ambiance! Your home will instantly feel and smell clean, and the coziness of a candle is just an added bonus!

11. A Tidy Entryway

Your entryway really sets the stage for your entire home. Keeping it tidy will make a huge difference! Use hooks for coats, benches you can store shoes under and baskets to drop off keys and mail in. Having a small drop zone can help prevent the clutter from spreading into the rest of your home.

12. Matching or Coordinated Containers

I touched on this briefly above, but having matching or coordinating containers will make your home feel intentional and organized. Matching baskets in your pantry, glass containers for ingredients or storage bins for homeschool materials can really add a cohesive look to your home and reduce a lot of visual clutter.

13. Natural Light (When Possible)

I love natural light for a clean and fresh look. One of the first things I do in the morning is open my curtains or rolling shades and let the light into my home. Something about the natural light makes my home feel more open and clean.

Well friends, I hope these simple, realistic ways for how to make a home feel clean without constant deep cleaning helped inspire you today! Small changes can really make such a huge difference in your home. What are some way you make your home feel tidy? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to sign up for my free mini homemaking course for more cleaning and organizing inspiration!

PIN IT FOR LATER