So BuzzFeed Life spoke with design experts Jill Pollack, HGTV personality and organization expert, and Vanessa Deleon,
an interior design expert based in New York City, for some surprising
ways to declutter, decorate, and make your place feel chill AF.
1. Stop buying flowers — get succulents instead.
Rhonda Fleming Hayes CC / Via Flickr: thegardenbuzz
Chris Carey / Via justagirlblog.com(Just+a+Girl)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail
Being faced with a half-dead orchid
every month is just sad and stressful. “Flowers die quickly and easily
collect dust and allergens,” says Pollack. But succulents are super
simple and low-maintenance, and they can even help purify the air in
your home, Deleon adds.
Find more amazing houseplants that won’t die on you here.
3. Mount little smartphone holders in your living room and bedroom so you never lose your phone in the couch again.
The anxious searching ends now.
Deleon suggests using these sleek, easy wall holders to keep your phone
in reach, safe, and dry. Available on Amazon.
4. Get one big candle that’ll last forever instead of scattering little ones all over the place.
Uncommon Goods / Via uncommongoods.com
Candles are dust collectors, says
Pollack. And littering your place with 12 vanilla-scented votives isn’t
making you any more chill. Instead, choose two big candles that don’t
have overbearing scents and put one in the bedroom and living room.
Check out this candle that burns for 60 hours from Uncommon Goods.5. Group all your art and photographs into a “gallery wall” display.
“Consolidating your art into one wall
or area helps your entire room look less busy and cluttered,” Pollack
says. It never hurts to have too much blank, free space on your walls.
Find tips on how to group your art here.6. Add a few agates and geodes for a subtle pop of color.
Potter Barn / Via potterybarn.com
Bringing in ~nature~ is very chill.
Plus, agates make a beautiful contrast to earthy, neutral tones, says
Deleon. Geode bookends available from Pottery Barn.
7. Buy a shadow box to house all those random little knickknacks that are all over the place.
“Your room will feel much more calm
and organized if you arrange all the loose trinkets and knickknacks you
can’t get rid of into one designated space,” Pollack says.
Available on Etsy.8. Get a set of matching hangers like an actual adult.
9. Choose a calming color palette for your walls and decor.
The experts suggest creamy earth tones and cool colors like blues and greens to maximize your chill.
Find out more about the right color palette for you here, or use the Color Viewfinder app (free, iOS).10. Or keep your walls a basic, clean white.
Claire Block / Via apartmenttherapy.com
If you aren’t sure which color to
paint your walls, Pollack suggests keeping them white, which always
looks less busy and gives you more flexibility with decorating.
11. Decorate with earth tones and natural wood accents.
Leela Cyd / Via thekitchn.com
“Not only do they expand the space, but they also create a soothing, relaxed vibe,” says Deleon.
12. Or give your plain furniture a DIY rustic wood makeover.
13. Invest in at least one ridiculously luxe blanket for your bed.
Urban Outfitters / Via urbanoutfitters.com
Wrapping yourself up in something
insanely comfy is super soothing — whether you’re sick, stressed, or
just want to veg. You should probably aim to spend at least $50 on a
good faux fur blanket, Deleon suggests, but don’t feel bad splurging on
something between $75 and $200.
This one’s available from Urban Outfitters.14. And add a cozy throw to your couch that everyone will want to nap on.
These ones available from Pottery Barn.
15. Store everything under or in your nightstand — not on top of it.
Since your nightstand is right next
to where you sleep, Pollack suggests keeping it as clutter-free as
possible. “Keep a nice lamp, your book, and a glass of water out, then
store everything else below,” she says.
Nightstands available from Ikea.16. Or hide a power strip in your bedside drawer so your gadgets are hidden away while you’re charging at night.
reddit.com / Via buzzfeed.com
Most nightstands have a gap in the back where you can sneak this in.
17. Hang gauzy curtains and roll up the blinds during the day to flood your rooms with natural light.
Find gauze curtains in a few different colors here, or try making the easy and cheap DIY version.
19. Add some cozy floor and table lamps to your bedroom for customizable mood lighting.
“Try to minimize using the harsh
overhead light by adding lamps,” says Pollack. Having multiple small
light sources in a room also allows you to make the lighting as bright
or dim as you’d like.
20. Make your junk drawers slightly less insane with dividers.
thekitchn.com / Via Ditte Isager
This way you won’t spend 20 minutes searching for superglue in a literal emergency. Available from The Container Store.
21. Use essential oil diffusers to give your space a calming scent.
Food52 / Via food52.com
Deleon suggests lavender for the
bedroom to help you relax and sleep. Another popular scent for the home
is lotus, and probably anything works for your smelly bathroom.
Find out how to make your own oil reed diffuser here.22. Keep the least amount of stuff possible on your desk. Seriously.
Melissa George / Via polishedhabitat.com
It might seem like you’re making
things easier on yourself (“It’s an organized mess!”) but you’re
subconsciously stressing yourself out. Once a week, throw out any notes,
files, business cards, etc. that you’ll never need again, says Deleon.
For the rest of the stuff, file it away in bins or binders and keep most
of those off your desk.
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