10 Home Habits Worth Breaking
Free yourself from convention, custom and routine with these simple interior tweaks to make your house a happier place to be
Lara Sargent
12 January 2016
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
We’re all guilty of a few bad habits – we wouldn’t be human otherwise. But as far as your home goes, it’s quite nice every now and again to rethink long-held design traditions and look at your home in a fresh new light. Just making very small adjustments to your usual way of doing things can make a world of difference. Take a look at these suggestions to get you started.
1. Don’t leave your bedding on for too long!
We’ve all been guilty of neglecting to change our sheets, pillowcases and doona covers often enough. But there’s nothing better than slipping into a fresh, clean bed after a hard day’s work, so make sure you change your bedding routinely once a week.
If you’re feeling like more of a domestic deity than usual, give your bed a quick spritz with a delicately scented linen spray (lavender is perfect for promoting a good night’s rest), then sleep soundly until morning.
We’ve all been guilty of neglecting to change our sheets, pillowcases and doona covers often enough. But there’s nothing better than slipping into a fresh, clean bed after a hard day’s work, so make sure you change your bedding routinely once a week.
If you’re feeling like more of a domestic deity than usual, give your bed a quick spritz with a delicately scented linen spray (lavender is perfect for promoting a good night’s rest), then sleep soundly until morning.
2. Don’t stockpile toiletries
It can be so tempting to fill your shopping basket with the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel that’s on offer in your local supermarket. But do you really need such an abundance of products?
With space being such a big issue for so many homeowners, it seems silly to stockpile like that. One of each will do just fine, and sticking to the ‘less is more’ mantra will certainly help to clear the clutter in a compact bathroom.
It can be so tempting to fill your shopping basket with the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel that’s on offer in your local supermarket. But do you really need such an abundance of products?
With space being such a big issue for so many homeowners, it seems silly to stockpile like that. One of each will do just fine, and sticking to the ‘less is more’ mantra will certainly help to clear the clutter in a compact bathroom.
3. Don’t stick to gender stereotypes
It’s so liberating to break free from design conventions and there’s nothing more refreshing than seeing a non-blue boy’s bedroom or non-pink girl’s space.
There are so many options out there: go for pillar-box red accents, a palette of soothing greens or even a smart charcoal blackboard-paint feature wall, as seen here.
Designing a his and hers bedroom
It’s so liberating to break free from design conventions and there’s nothing more refreshing than seeing a non-blue boy’s bedroom or non-pink girl’s space.
There are so many options out there: go for pillar-box red accents, a palette of soothing greens or even a smart charcoal blackboard-paint feature wall, as seen here.
Designing a his and hers bedroom
4. Don’t chuck out odd plates
The next time you do an inventory of your crockery, take pity on the odd or mismatched plates, rather than throwing them straight in the recycling.
If they’re beautiful, but not fit for dining, hang them on a bare wall for a simple display that oozes homespun charm (and one to which you can add, as more accidents happen).
The next time you do an inventory of your crockery, take pity on the odd or mismatched plates, rather than throwing them straight in the recycling.
If they’re beautiful, but not fit for dining, hang them on a bare wall for a simple display that oozes homespun charm (and one to which you can add, as more accidents happen).
5. Don’t go for matching pillowcases
Try to get out of the habit of buying coordinated doona-cover sets. Taking a mix-it-up approach to your bedding can create a far more interesting and bespoke look.
If you have a plain white doona cover, go all-out on bold florals, stripes or polka dots for pillowcases. Or, if it’s vice versa and you have a busy doona cover, invest in luxurious fine linen or lace-trimmed cases that will add a boutique hotel-style touch to your boudoir.
The beauty of this decorating trick is you can pick up odd pillowcases on sale and make them look fabulous at home.
Mismatched bedding: how does it work?
Try to get out of the habit of buying coordinated doona-cover sets. Taking a mix-it-up approach to your bedding can create a far more interesting and bespoke look.
If you have a plain white doona cover, go all-out on bold florals, stripes or polka dots for pillowcases. Or, if it’s vice versa and you have a busy doona cover, invest in luxurious fine linen or lace-trimmed cases that will add a boutique hotel-style touch to your boudoir.
The beauty of this decorating trick is you can pick up odd pillowcases on sale and make them look fabulous at home.
Mismatched bedding: how does it work?
6. Don’t paint your ceiling white every time
Having every ceiling in your house pure white is one of the most difficult decorating habits to shake. Sometimes, this unloved part of your scheme might deserve more attention.
Why not paint your ceiling in a slightly darker shade to the walls, or even in a bold, sunny hue to cast a glow over the space. And if you’re feeling particularly brave (and this works well in a cloakroom), invest in a few panels of patterned wallpaper and let your ceiling become the star of the show.
Having every ceiling in your house pure white is one of the most difficult decorating habits to shake. Sometimes, this unloved part of your scheme might deserve more attention.
Why not paint your ceiling in a slightly darker shade to the walls, or even in a bold, sunny hue to cast a glow over the space. And if you’re feeling particularly brave (and this works well in a cloakroom), invest in a few panels of patterned wallpaper and let your ceiling become the star of the show.
7. Don’t hang on to out-of-date food
If you have an ever-growing stash of tins, cans and packets of food, and jars of herbs and spices that you seem to add to every week, it’s definitely time to detox your kitchen cupboards and drawers and throw away any out-of-date dried goods. You’ll free up more space – crucial in a small kitchen – and will know exactly which ingredients you have available.
Clever storage for herbs and spices
If you have an ever-growing stash of tins, cans and packets of food, and jars of herbs and spices that you seem to add to every week, it’s definitely time to detox your kitchen cupboards and drawers and throw away any out-of-date dried goods. You’ll free up more space – crucial in a small kitchen – and will know exactly which ingredients you have available.
Clever storage for herbs and spices
8. Don’t keep things unless you love them
The master of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, once said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Even though these words were uttered long ago in the 1880s, they still hold true today. So fill your home with collections of pottery and pictures that bring you delight, or tools and technology you really couldn’t live without. Anything in between should be packed off to the charity shop.
The master of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, once said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Even though these words were uttered long ago in the 1880s, they still hold true today. So fill your home with collections of pottery and pictures that bring you delight, or tools and technology you really couldn’t live without. Anything in between should be packed off to the charity shop.
9. Don’t stash novels you’ve read
While I’m certainly not saying you should discard every book you’ve enjoyed in an instant, it is useful every now and again to take stock of your growing library and, if possible, pass on novels to friends, colleagues and charity shops.
Of course, you’ll want to hang on to glossy coffee-table tomes, handy reference manuals, cookbooks and all of your favourite novels you’d never dream of giving away, but it’s rather cathartic to scale back your reading material – and make space for more in the process.
While I’m certainly not saying you should discard every book you’ve enjoyed in an instant, it is useful every now and again to take stock of your growing library and, if possible, pass on novels to friends, colleagues and charity shops.
Of course, you’ll want to hang on to glossy coffee-table tomes, handy reference manuals, cookbooks and all of your favourite novels you’d never dream of giving away, but it’s rather cathartic to scale back your reading material – and make space for more in the process.
10. Don’t let TV take over your living room
I love sitting down and watching a good film or gripping drama, but I don’t want my TV – or any technology for that matter – monopolising my living space.
So, don’t automatically angle all your seating towards your flatscreen. Instead, opt for a more communal layout, with sofas facing each other to promote good conversation. Try hiding your TV behind sliding doors (or even a set of curtains) to make it magically disappear for the evening.
TELL US
Do you have any home habits you’d like to break? Share them with us in the Comments below.
MORE
9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day
10 Organisation Habits to Establish This Year
Hello Sunshine! How to Start Your Day Off the Right Way
I love sitting down and watching a good film or gripping drama, but I don’t want my TV – or any technology for that matter – monopolising my living space.
So, don’t automatically angle all your seating towards your flatscreen. Instead, opt for a more communal layout, with sofas facing each other to promote good conversation. Try hiding your TV behind sliding doors (or even a set of curtains) to make it magically disappear for the evening.
TELL US
Do you have any home habits you’d like to break? Share them with us in the Comments below.
MORE
9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day
10 Organisation Habits to Establish This Year
Hello Sunshine! How to Start Your Day Off the Right Way
Related Stories
Healthy Home
Pro Panel: How to Design a Home That Boosts Wellbeing
Find out how science can help you create a home that’s good for your physical and mental health
Full Story
Lifestyle
6 Ways to Reduce Stress at Home With Biophilic Design
By Sara Pizzo
An easy guide to using biophilic design in your interior to regenerate the mind, reduce stress and boost your creativity
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (According to Science)
Sleep scientist Dr Carmel Harrington reveals exactly how to get enough rest for optimum health and productivity
Full Story
Most Popular
15 Things to Do on Lazy Sunday Afternoons at Home
Enjoyable and good for the soul, these lazy Sunday activities will see you finish the weekend with a smile on your face
Full Story
Most Popular
33 Fun Things to Do When It's Too Hot to Go Outside
When it's hot weather and you can't get to the beach... or even step outside, here's some fun stuff to do indoors!
Full Story
Christmas
Take the 'Argh!' Out of Christmas Gift-Giving
If you find yourself panicking about pressies over the festive season, try these easier but still rewarding traditions
Full Story
Most Popular
Screen Time: Stylish Ways to Keep the Mozzies Out This Season
From outdoor curtains and mosquito nets to retractable flyscreens on windows and doors, Houzz has you covered
Full Story
Most Popular
War on Waste: How to Keep Your Fridge Food Fresh
These 9 refrigerator rules will keep more of your food fresh and tasty – and out of the compost bin
Full Story
Sustainable Ideas
Living Through the Avolanche? 6 Avocado Recipes & Great Hacks
By Houzz AU
With the avocado glut lasting until the end of the year, we serve up some fab food ideas from 'The Food Saver’s A-Z'
Full Story
Most Popular
Cheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery Shop
In an extract from 'The $50 Weekly Shop: Weekday Dinners', Jody Allen shares her tips for outsmarting canny retailers
Full Story
We recently stayed in a "B & B" with a very cosy minimalist style, they solved the dilemma with a wall mounted TV in a frame over the fire place mantel piece . When the TV was off it was a mirror.
I thought this was the perfect solution.
Now you see it, now you don't.
Store your wine before you drink it!