Picture yourself enjoying your newly remodeled space. Did you imagine yourself cleaning it? We didn’t think so. Our design consultant has some great tips for low-maintenance design elements to keep your space looking fresh with less work.
Cabinetry
Shaker-style doors are by far the most popular choice for Serda Remodeling clients. It’s a classic, timeless style that’s much lower maintenance than more ornate (and dated) raised-panel cabinetry. Even so, the square ledges can be dust-catchers. To remedy this, our cabinet maker recommends a slightly beveled edge to cut down on dust without changing the look too much. Or, if you like a more modern or minimal style, opt for flat-panel doors and drawers, which collect virtually no dust!
Flat-Panel Cabinets
Shaker Cabinets with Beveled Edge
While open-shelving is an on-trend way to add variety and personality to your kitchen, it can look cluttered and collect dust. Good old cabinets with doors are a great way to hide kitchen items that you don’t want to display, but a wall of cabinets can look dark or heavy. If you’d like to break up a long run of cabinets, consider incorporating one or two upper cabinets with glass doors. These can showcase something simple like wine glasses or china while cutting down dust accumulation.
Accent Glass-Door Cabinets
Accent Glass-Door Cabinets
In addition to dust, drips and water spots can make your cabinets and walls look less than pristine. Very dark or light finishes, along with very matte or high-gloss finishes can look dirty more quickly. Opt for a satin finish on walls, and choose cabinets that are either a medium-toned stained wood or painted light grey, tan, or off-white to make dust and spots less visible.
Light Gray Cabinets
Taupe Cabinets
Another way to cut down on drips from the kitchen sink is to install a tilt-out panel or a drip rail to catch any stray water droplets that splash out of the sink when washing dishes. Ask your project manager or design consultant for more information about these options.
Kitchen Sink Tilt-Out
Bathroom Sink Tilt-Out
Tile Backsplash
A backsplash is a great way to add style to your kitchen and it prevents grease, water, and other cooking liquids from staining walls. A simple glossy subway tile has classic clean lines, repels many spots, and is easy to wipe down. If you’re concerned that subway tile is too basic or boring, don’t be; it’s available in a wide range of sizes and colors and can be laid in a variety of patterns including alternating brick style, stacked, vertical, or herringbone.
Aside from the tile finish, remember that using larger tile, whether on a backsplash or floor, will mean fewer grout lines to clean. We also recommend using a darker grout that will retain its color over time.
2x8 Bone-Toned Tile and Dark Gray Grout, Herringbone Pattern
2x8’ White Tile and White Grout, Stacked Pattern
4x8” White” Tile and Medium Taupe Grout, Alternating Pattern
Flooring
For low-maintenance and budget-friendly flooring, many of our clients opt for Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP). There are many beautiful styles that look very similar to hardwood. They are easier to clean and impervious to water. Go for a medium tone with some variation to make dirt and dust less apparent.
Neutral Medium-Dark LVP Flooring
Warm Medium-Toned LVP Flooring
While it’s generally more expensive than LVP, tile is another stylish and low-maintenance option. Choose a larger size tile (fewer grout lines!) with a relatively smooth surface to make cleaning a breeze. Tones like light-to-medium tan or gray with a slightly lighter color grout (not white!) will disguise dirt and dust better than the lightest and darkest tones.
12x24 Gray Marble-Look Tile and Medium Gray Grout
12x24 Slate Gray Tile and Light Gray Grout
Counter tops
The Serda Remodeling team recommends quartz countertops for a low-maintenance, durable surface. It’s less prone to cracking, scratching, or staining as compared to other solid surfaces like granite and marble.
Extend your time in between cleaning sessions by choosing a quartz with flecks or light swirls. This style will hide water spots, crumbs, and dirt better than quartz with a more uniform solid color or a white-ish background with thick veining.
Calacatta Fusion Quartz
Arva White Quartz
Mystery Gray Quartz
Metal Fixtures and Accents
Metals that are too shiny (like chrome) are prone to showing water spots and fingerprints, while ones that are too matte are likely to collect more dust and hard-water build-up. Choosing a brushed or lightly polished finish will help make these spots less visible.
Many faucet and appliance companies offer finishes that repel fingerprints and spots. Delta Faucets, our preferred faucet provider, offers motion- or voice-activated technology in many of their product lines, reducing the need for you to touch your faucet.
We always recommend installing pulls on doors and drawers, rather than using some kind of groove or cut-out as a handle. Yes, pulls add to the style of your room, but more importantly, they keep grease and dirt from your fingers off of the finished wood surface. In addition to choosing a low-maintenance metal finish, consider choosing a style that is deep enough to keep your fingers from touching the drawer or cabinet door when you use them. Cup pulls, as well as knobs and bar pulls that are too small or shallow can encourage extra contact with the cabinet surface, resulting in the need to clean them more frequently.
Light fixtures
Light fixtures can add a lot of style to your space, but the thing about pendant lighting is that it collects dust. The Serda Remodeling team typically recommends using recessed LED can lights to brighten up your space, along with under-cabinet lighting, a chandelier over the dining table, and a well-placed pendant or two to warm up the space and cut down on the amount of dusting that needs to happen.
There are a few styles to look for that will either collect less dust or be easier to dust. The first is drum-style lights, with vertical shades that are open on the top and bottom because there is less surface-area to collect dust. Another option is a lantern, orb, or chandelier-style fixture with bare bulbs, which are easier to dust than fixtures with globes or shades.
If your heart is set on light fixtures with globes or covers, consider choosing one with globes that are closed or that face down, which will reduce the amount of dust collected on the inside and around the bulb.
Open Drum-Style Chandelier
Pendant Lights with Closed Globes
Toilets
Did you know that many of today’s toilets are available in a finish that reduces the dreaded “ring” around the bowl? This alone can get you an extra week or two between cleanings. Make it even easier on yourself by choosing a model that is straight from the bowl to the floor, with fewer curves and nooks to collect dust and hair.
American Standard
VorMax® Round Right Height Toilet Bowl with EverClean Surface in White
Bonus Suggestion: Sinks
Many people don’t think of sinks as high-maintenance or low-maintenance choices, but hear us out. Imagine you’re having a dinner party in your newly renovated open-concept kitchen. After you finish whipping up your specialty dish, you don’t want to take time away from your guests to wash the dishes (let alone allow the food to get cold!). What to do? If you have a large, deep single bowl sink, you can stash your pots and pans in there and get back to the party!
We’ve also noticed that round bathroom sinks collect less dust and hair than their rectangular counterparts. If you’ve got a double vanity in your bathroom, this will be twice as important to you.
Deep Single-Bowl Sink
Round Bathroom Sink
Make Your Life A Little Easier, but Choose What you Love
If you have your heart set on ornate lighting, hardwood floors, white cabinets, or chrome fixtures and you decide it’s worth a little extra dusting or scouring – go for it! These are just a few ideas to help you clean less often and more time enjoying your new space as you intended.