Say, you deep-cleaned your home and decluttered every room, but the house does not feel quite right. A common complaint is that homes may look messy even after repeatedly tidying them up. The problem is as you get used to personal spaces, you can overlook the things that have been around for so long. You start considering them a part of the décor. But they can make the house look untidy to onlookers.

Things that make homes look messy
Excessive open storage
Open shelves can be great storage solutions for your books, collectibles, or art. However, such shelves work best when they are not filled with a lot of stuff. So, when decorating shelves or bookcases, do not fill every inch of the space. For a cleaner and decluttered look, leave open space between two items. Avoid using open storage for managing cables and electronics or stacking toys, movies, and games. Experts recommend storing these items inside boxes, cabinets, or baskets makes for a less cluttered look.

Tangled cords on display
A simple home improvement and clean-up trick is to get creative with covering up cords and freeing the walls from any wires. You can easily tidy up the space by keeping the tangled wires hidden.

Hanging too many pictures
Having too many pictures on the wall can feel overwhelming. It may make it difficult to absorb all the wall décor when there are too many things to take in. So, whenever your walls feel cluttered, it might be time to take some things off your wall. Give yourself 3-5 days to adapt, and see how you feel with less stuff on the walls. You will realize how it is a breath of fresh air.

Using the fridge as a bulletin board
Children’s artwork and crafts, plenty of to-do lists, and magnets, when displayed on the refrigerator, can make it look messy. Leave your refrigerator doors vacant, and get a bulletin board for the chore charts, invitations, announcements, and artwork.

Inadequate light
Lack of adequate lighting fixtures can also make the home look messy, even when it is not. Improper lighting casts a shadow, which hides the neater, empty spaces in the dark. You can opt for energy-efficient home improvements and add a few LED bulbs to accentuate the light around the house. You can also consider solar energy to save electricity costs. Ideally, you must have three kinds of lighting—task, accent, or general or ambient lighting. You can make your home look cozier and neater by taking these home improvement measures and ensuring well-placed lighting fixtures to highlight the right spaces.

Crowded countertops
It is a common mistake, as excessive clutter on countertops is a complete no-no. Even with just a bunch of small appliances or decorative canisters, the more you add to the counter, the more crowded the space may look. So, do not add more than one or two frequently used things, say, the toaster or the coffee maker, and place everything else in cabinets or closed storage.

Home improvement hacks
Apart from tidying up the space, certain home improvements can make rooms look bigger, cleaner, and more organized. Here are a few tips:

Stick to a maintenance schedule
Experts recommend regular maintenance to avoid expensive repairs. So, the easiest way to do this is to follow a maintenance schedule for almost all of the systems in your home. Also, call for inspection when considering major repairs. Foundation repair experts should be on your speed dial, and there must be a schedule in place to get the smoke alarms, HVAC system, kitchen appliances, gutters, roofing, plumbing, and landscaping inspected and maintained. Routine inspections will help you catch issues in time and get repairs done before the problem worsens. Further, with smaller issues, you can find DIY solutions. For instance, adding gutter guards, like those offered by GutterBrush, can prevent clogging in the gutters. GutterBrush offers brush guards to keep debris at bay and allow the water to flow freely.

Paint the front door
The front door is usually the first thing visitors notice. So, if you wish to make an excellent first impression, paint the door in a bright and welcoming color. This can elevate the look of the home.

Get a few repairs
Not every drippy faucet, clogged gutter, or leaky drain needs professional plumbing. Sometimes installing a few inexpensive tools, such as installing LeafFilters gutter guards , a little patience, and a few informative videos or articles can do the trick. LeafFilter offers micromesh guards to keep gutters clog-free. These fixes are simple and can save you a ton of money, making your home free from drainage and plumbing issues.

Change dated fixtures
You may not realize it, but a new fixture can do wonders for your room. So, ditch the frosted glass pendants in the kitchen and replace them with contemporary globe fixtures, swap the old ceiling fans with modern and energy-efficient fans, or add a chandelier over the master bed. If your wiring is in place, swapping the light fixtures is an easy home improvement measure.

Get smart home devices
Advanced technology can also elevate the look of your home and increase the efficiency of existing home systems, so why not make the most of it? You can opt for camera-enabled doorbells, self-programmable thermostats, and other smart home attributes. You can seamlessly integrate these changes into your existing systems and update the home aesthetics.

Add a fresh coat of paint
When undertaking DIY home improvement projects, some easy changes, like painting a room in a new color, can dramatically spruce up the space. Opt for a bright pop of color or an accent wall in the bedroom or living room, paint the kitchen cabinets, or make a statement with painted ceilings. While at it, look around and do a quick touch-up anywhere the existing paint is chipped or peeling off. This can make the home look cleaner and brighter.