If you are like the rest of us, cleaning your home is likely the bane of your existence. To make it less of a chore, you should start from the very beginning. Getting things right from the get-go at the design and renovation stage can make cleaning your home a lot easier for you down the road.
It isn’t about following everything on this list though. There are some beautiful things still worth sacrificing the ease of cleaning for. The key thing really is to weigh out the pros and cons, find a balance, and determine what is best suited for your aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyle needs.
<h2>1. Leggy and raised furniture</h2>
We are talking about raised sofas with legs, elevated bed frames and floating consoles. This makes it a lot easier to sweep and mop beneath your furniture without having to lift them up or shift them around. Just make sure it’s high enough. Anything too low and it’s going to be hotbed of dust bunnies. And if you are all for robot vacuums and hands-free cleaning, go for furniture pieces that have enough room underneath for the vac to pass through easily without obstruction.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-155144" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Lemonfridge-Studio-Chander-Road-Minimalist-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/lemonfridge-studio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lemonfridge Studio</a>
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<h2>2. Lots of storage</h2>
Storage’s really important if you want a home that is easier to clean. They help keep things organised and hide clutter so your surfaces are free for easier cleaning. Built-ins are great since they are customised to your space to minimise any space wastage, but off-the-rack ones can be more affordable. Find what suits your budget. If you are looking to save space, double-duty furniture that come with storage compartments are good options.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169709" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/cv101_fika_swedish_storage_bench_3__1_1.jpeg" alt="" width="700" height="700" />Product: Fika Swedish Storage Bench, $499, Born in Colour
Pro tips for the kitchen: For kitchen storage, you’ll want to go with cabinets instead of open shelves if you can. The latter is a huge magnet for dust, which we all know means more cleaning involved. An appliance garage to hide away small countertop appliances in the kitchen can also be a great idea to keep clutter at bay.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-167238" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/2-SSD-Seasons-Park-7.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/ssd-pte-ltd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SS+D</a>
<h2>3. Closed concept kitchen</h2>
And speaking of kitchens, an open plan may not be the best idea if you want a home that’s easier to clean. I know, open kitchens are the epitome of keeping up with the Joneses, so like we’ve said in the beginning—weigh out your pros and cons.
For those who are a stickler for cleanliness though, do note that even with a powerful cooking hob, you will still have some grease and cooking fumes getting to the rest of the home. So think if you can live with having to constantly mop down greasy floors in the living room or having your sheets smelling like dinner.
Semi-open kitchens with glass dividers can be one solution if you like the sense of openness, but do note that it will mean you have to wipe down your glass panels on a regular basis to keep them sparkling and grease-free.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169710" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Met-Interior-Kitchen-Condo-4-Dec-2021-2.jpeg" alt="" width="1111" height="1667" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/met-interior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Met Interior</a>
<h2>4. Integrated or under-mount sink in kitchen</h2>
The sink is one of the ickiest areas in the kitchen, and unfortunately for many of us, we don’t clean it often enough. To make it a breeze to keep clean, consider splurging on an integrated sink. An integrated sink is just as its name implies—it’s integrated with the countertop, forming a single, continuous piece with it such that there aren’t any joint lines in between. No joint lines = no means for food debris or grime to get stuck, reducing the chance of bacteria or mould breeding.
The downside to integrated sinks though is that they don’t go for cheap. And if you are ever looking to change the sink, you will have to rip off the entire countertop. Under-mount sinks (mounted under your countertop) are a decent alternative, although not as easy to clean since there will still be joint lines underneath. Still, it's much easier to maintain than top-mount sinks that come with a lip that rests atop your countertop. The design of top-mount sinks doesn't allow for a clean sweep of your food debris from the counter into the sink.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169711" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/in-expat-toh-guan-road-8.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="1221" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/in-expat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In-Expat</a>
<h2>5. Wall-mounted bathroom fixtures</h2>
Besides their neater and more seamless appearance, wall-mounted bathroom fixtures offer plenty of advantage on the cleaning front. With wall-mounted faucets, you can avoid water pooling at the base of the taps, which can lead to hard water build up over time. Wall-hung toilets have fewer crevices, which will make it easier to wipe down during clean-ups. Wall-mounted vanity sinks, which are great for smaller bathrooms because of their ‘floating’ look, also allow you to wash your bathroom floor without worrying about damaging the bottom of the vanity cabinet.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169712" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/intr-studio-bathroom-2.jpeg" alt="" width="1120" height="1680" />
Design: INTR Studio
Do inform your contractor or interior designer early in your consultations if you are going with wall-mounted fixtures, since the fixtures will need to be partially concealed and there may be rerouting plumbing work involved.
<h2>6. Durable and non-porous materials</h2>
Some materials are mightier than others when it comes to ease of cleaning. Essentially, you will want to select those that are durable for easy long-term maintenance and are non-porous, since this will mean they are more stain- and moisture-resistant, making them easier to clean.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169713" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Key-concept-bedok-north-green-3rm-bto.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="786" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/key-concept" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Key Concept</a>
Engineered stone like quartz or sintered stone, KompacPlus and stainless steel are great options for a kitchen countertop. (Do note that stainless steel is particularly susceptible to fingerprint marks.) With flooring, vinyl and glazed porcelain tiles are durable and non-porous. When it comes to kitchen backsplashes, we like glass and large-format tiles for easy cleaning.
<h2>7. Grout alternatives for tiles</h2>
Alas, grout is porous, which makes tiles difficult to upkeep even if the tiles themselves aren’t porous. Because of grout’s porosity, it will absorb stains and any liquids that get onto it and will show up dirt easily.
While this isn’t a huge deal for dry areas of the home or in areas where there aren’t a lot of traffic, it can still be a bother for places like the bathroom or high-traffic zones like the living room. In these areas, you can opt for grout alternatives like epoxy or acrylic grout, which are resin based and therefore more water resistant. They do come with a slight sheen and can be colour matched to your tiles.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169714" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/grout-protech.jpeg" alt="" width="1944" height="1250" />
Image courtesy of Grout Protech
Alternatively, consider a marble gum polish. It basically involves removing part of your old grouting and replacing it with marble gum, a white or transparent glue-like adhesive, then grinding down and polishing your tiles to eradicate the joint lines for a smooth and sleek surface. This waxy gloss does wear off after about five years, so you will need to polish again if you want to maintain the sheen. Marble gum can only work on unglazed (full body) homogeneous tiles though since it involves grinding down the tiles and it will result in a surface that's more slippery so we'll want to avoid that for wet zones like the bathroom.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169717" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Riche-Stone-Care.jpeg" alt="" width="1440" height="1080" />
Image courtesy of Riche Stone Care
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<h2>8. Sleek and smooth surfaces</h2>
Surfaces should be kept sleek and smooth to make things easier to clean. In general, avoid textures since they tend to introduce crevices and nooks that can trap dust.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169715" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/kuro-kagi-midcentury-5.jpeg" alt="" width="1680" height="1120" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/kuro-kagi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuro + Kagi</a>
In the kitchen for instance, you may wish to go with flat fronts over shaker style cabinets and induction cookers over gas hobs. With feature walls, while fluted walls are trendy, wallpaper with lines can bring about a graphic element without much fuss. This applies to furniture too. Look out for ones with streamlined forms and minimal joints and crevices.
<h2>9. Washing machine-friendly fabrics</h2>
Soft furnishings like cushions, curtains, rugs and throws are a great way to lend warmth to any space, softening the edges and creating a more inviting and soothing atmosphere. While they do make your home more dusty (because they shed fibres and trap dust particles), you don’t have to avoid them completely. Get them in washer-friendly fabrics so you can throw them in the washing machine every once in a while, making housekeeping less of a headache.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-169716" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Mr-Shopper-Studio-19-Apr-2021-4.jpeg" alt="" width="1837" height="1225" />
Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/mr-shopper-studio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mr Shopper Studio</a>
Are you function over form when it comes to your home design? Let us know in the comments!
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9 Design Decisions to Make Your Home Easier to Clean

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