10 Home Habits Worth Breaking
Free yourself from convention, custom and routine with these simple interior tweaks that will make your house a happier place to be
We’re all guilty of a few bad habits – after all, 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.
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.
Don’t stick to gender stereotypes
It’s so liberating to break free from design convention 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: plump for pillar-box red accents, a palette of soothing greens or even a smart charcoal blackboard paint feature wall, as seen here.
It’s so liberating to break free from design convention 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: plump for pillar-box red accents, a palette of soothing greens or even a smart charcoal blackboard paint feature wall, as seen here.
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).
Discover more creative ways with plates and trays
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).
Discover more creative ways with plates and trays
Don’t go for matching pillowcases
Try to get out of the habit of buying coordinated duvet 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 duvet cover, go all-out on bold florals, stripes or polka dots for pillowcases. Or, if it’s vice versa and you have a busy duvet 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 often pick up odd pillowcases in the sales and make them look fabulous at home.
Try to get out of the habit of buying coordinated duvet 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 duvet cover, go all-out on bold florals, stripes or polka dots for pillowcases. Or, if it’s vice versa and you have a busy duvet 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 often pick up odd pillowcases in the sales and make them look fabulous at home.
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.
Don’t hang on to out-of-date food
If, like me, you have an ever-growing stash of tins, cans, packets of food and jars of 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.
Find clever ways to stash your herbs and spices
Photo: Lisa Russman Photography
If, like me, you have an ever-growing stash of tins, cans, packets of food and jars of 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.
Find clever ways to stash your herbs and spices
Photo: Lisa Russman Photography
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.
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, cookery books 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, cookery books 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.
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.
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.
We’ve all been guilty of neglecting to change our sheets, pillowcases and duvet 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 more of a domestic goddess or god 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.
Check out 10 ways to make your home a haven