Planning and designing your home can be a lifetime commitment; you’ll have to spend the right amount of resources, ensuring that it’s stable, well-maintained, and functional. Sometimes hiring the right interior designer and architect can be time-consuming. After all, if you’re planning on living there for years to come, it’s only logical to have a home that is an extension of your identity.
Spending on materials might be the right way of ensuring that your home is in good condition, but it can be a bit costly in terms of resources. So what’s the right way of circumventing expensive materials? With low-maintenance designs, it’s easier to cut down on upfront construction costs and annual maintenance.
Factors to Consider
When you’re designing your home, it might seem like you can pick a design from some magazine or lifestyle article that you find on the Internet, but this isn’t the optimal answer.
Several factors need to be considered for your home. Certain construction materials will fare better in several environments, which can increase your home’s overall lifespan.
Here are some factors to weigh-in on:
- Weather — If you’re living in an area that’s prone to flooding and storms, you might want to consider looking for materials that do does not get easily damaged by water. A good drainage and gutter system will also redirect water to appropriate areas when needed.
- Moisture — Moisture can affect a variety of materials at home. For the most part, molds and mildews will grow wooden support beams, and almost any wood surface is moisture is not handled correctly. Having a sound ventilation system that works in tandem with your insulation can help mitigate moisture buildup.
- Budget — Your budget will dictate the materials that you’ll be using. Naturally, you won’t have to spend much since a minimalist home means that you have to spend less on furniture and appliances. Still, it’s essential to plan with funds that are available to you.
- Quality — Often, the quality of the material will determine the price. Most experts would suggest picking quality over function. High-quality material is easier to maintain and will last longer than low-quality materials. Although you might have to spend more, you will also save from spending on maintenance equipment and services.
Low-Cost Designs
During these times, a particular type of infectious disease is known for staying on surfaces for a few hours to days. That could lead to transmissions that can lead to health complications—as such, having a minimalist and low-cost design can also reduce the need for unnecessary surface area in your home.
So what are some ways of ensuring that you won’t have to take too much time cleaning and maintaining your home?
Flooring with Minimal Gaps
As we all know, molds, debris, and trash can accumulate on gaps, which can look very unsightly. Not only that, but these gaps can be breeding grounds for a variety of different microbes that can cause health issues. The solution to this is quite simple: minimize the number of gaps there are on your floor. That increases the overall appeal, and all you’ll need to clean every few days is a mop and a broom.
Hardwood flooring is known for having little to no gaps, which makes it an excellent option for homes that are going for a more minimalist yet classy look.
Almost Bare
If you don’t necessarily need a particular appliance or furniture in your home, there’s no need to have it there. The less appliance and furniture there is your home, the fewer surfaces that you have to clean.
Built-In Compartments
Again, the fewer cracks, crevices, and dark corners in your home, the less likely dirt and dust will settle on those places. Most of the time, people will forget about dark corners and blind spots. Ask yourself this question: when was the last time that you cleaned your kitchen’s cupboards?
Even if you clean out these compartments, they can still prove to be time-consuming, especially when there’s so much surface area to cover. The most optimal way to prevent particles and debris in surfaces is by having compartments built-in on your walls. Usually, built-in carpentry is used to keep your things away from dust rather than retaining dust.
Stain-Resistant Materials
Lastly, high-quality stain-resistant materials are a great way of mitigating any stains. If you have couches that are made of cotton or any other fabric, you can start using leather for sofas, stainless steel cooking equipment, and suede.
Although you might have to spend on materials, you will be able to save more since you won’t have to spend much on cleaning materials, maintenance services, and replacements for furniture.
Having a low-maintenance and minimalist home design means that you can cut down on cleaning time while also having peace of mind. The key takeaway to these designs is to keep surface areas at a minimum and remove any clutter in your living space. You don’t need to adhere to all of these tips, but having a delicate balance between form and function can help with the maintenance process.