Moving into your new home is exciting, and naturally, you want to keep it looking fresh and beautiful for years to come. But between unpacking and settling in, maintaining that brand-new feel can be more challenging than expected. However, with a few simple habits, you can protect your new home’s interior and keep it in top shape. Here are eight practical tips to help you preserve the look and feel of your new space.
1. Create a Cleaning Routine
It is easier to maintain the interior of your home than to put things off and try to tackle them all at once. As soon as you’ve settled into your new home, you should start by creating a cleaning routine. What worked in your previous home might not apply to this new property. Consider the layout of your home and create a routine that flows from one space into the next.
Don’t forget to wipe down tall shelves, sweep every corner, and clean window and door tracks to ensure your space always looks spotless. You might also want to assign specific tasks to different days, such as dusting midweek and vacuuming on weekends. Breaking tasks into manageable chunks makes the cleaning process less overwhelming and ensures nothing is overlooked.
2. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is one task you might not consider as you maintain the interior of your new home. But one major benefit of moving into a new home is the freshness of a new HVAC system. If you want your home to feel and smell its freshest, don’t skip scheduling essential maintenance at the start of spring and fall to ensure your systems are ready for upcoming temperature changes.
You should also change your air filters every 90 days, or more often if you have pets or severe allergies. Regular inspections can also help detect small issues before they turn into costly repairs, and a well-maintained system runs more efficiently, helping you save on monthly energy bills while keeping your new home comfortable year-round.
3. Protect Your Floors
As soon as your family steps foot in your new home, you can expect some minor scratches or dings. However, if you want to protect your floors and maintain your home’s new, fresh appearance, it is essential that you protect them wherever possible. Make sure to purchase large rugs for common areas, sweep and mop tiles once a week, and vacuum carpets to keep them looking and smelling fresh for as long as possible.
With this extra care, you can protect your flooring material in your new home and maintain its new appearance. For added protection, place felt pads on the bottom of furniture legs, avoid wearing shoes indoors, and quickly clean up spills to prevent stains or warping. These small habits go a long way toward preserving your floors.
4. Take Care of Walls & Paint
Taking care of wall scuffs and scratches can be challenging, especially with young children and pets in your new home. However, as soon as you spot scuffs, scratches, and debris on your wall, make sure to address them. Some messes can be cleaned with a damp sponge or magic eraser. If you’re dealing with more significant damage, patch it and touch up the area with paint.
While this can be time-consuming, maintaining the fresh appearance of your walls goes a long way in helping your home look its best. Keeping a small kit of touch-up paint, brushes, and spackle on hand will make the process faster and easier, ensuring you’re always ready to fix blemishes and keep your walls looking fresh and well-maintained.
5. Organize & Declutter Often
A clutter-free home creates a more functional and relaxing living environment. Regularly assess each room and donate or discard unused items. You may also want to invest in shelves, bins, and baskets to organize belongings. Establish a system for mail, paperwork, and household essentials to prevent piles from accumulating, and rotate seasonal items to free up space.
Cleaning and decluttering go hand in hand, making your home easier to maintain. Staying on top of organization reduces stress and creates a more inviting living space. Even dedicating just 10–15 minutes a day to tidying up your new home can make a noticeable difference, preventing clutter from piling up and giving you more time to enjoy your home instead of constantly catching up on messes.
Building a Home You’re Proud to Call Yours
At Gardner Homes, we want you to love your home from the moment you step inside. When you begin planning your new home with our team, you can trust that every inch of your property will meet your style and functionality needs. No details go overlooked, ensuring that the moment you open the front door, you’ll feel right at home. With our expert build team and designer on your side, you can trust that a Gardner Homes community is the perfect choice for your family.