Housework is the last thing I want to do. I've literally swept things under the rug with my foot rather than haul out a vacuum. Happily, I've discovered ways to decorate my home so it requires less cleaning. As you settle into your new home, keep these ideas in mind:

• Solid-surface is safest. If you have kids who spill, pets that stain or a husband who tracks in mud, go with wood, laminate or tile floors. You'll have to deal with dust bunnies, but dirt and spills are a breeze to remove. (The Swiffer is a Godsend.)

• Crazy about carpet? If kids and pets aren't in the picture, carpet is great. "I recommend using a rug that has the major food group colors in it, like an Oriental with marinara red, spinach green and potato white," says Paula Jhung, author of How to Avoid Housework.

• Color it simple. White and pastels show dirt; black and dark colors show dust. Mid-range colors conceal the most. Better yet, outsmart the dirt: One California woman brought a handful of clay-like soil from her yard into a store and asked for carpeting exactly that color.

• Faux-ever smudge-free. The visual depth created by sponge-painting, rag-rolling or glazing camouflages a host of offending marks.

• Kids' rooms. Focus on the lower half of the walls. Install a chair rail about three feet up, and use a faux finish (or better yet, chalkboard paint) below it.

• Banish the blinds. Mini blinds are dust magnets. Instead, opt for roller shades, Roman shades or cellular (honeycomb) shades, which often are treated with a dust-resistant finish.

• Fond of fabric? Trade fussy drapes that have dust-catching swags and jabots for ringed, tabbed or grommeted drapes hung on a decorative rod.

• Upholstery magic. Choose fabric with enough pattern to camouflage not only pet hair, but a little wine or grape jelly or cheese dip -- whatever your family eats and drinks. With solid colors, a textured fabric like a nubby cotton or chenille is more forgiving of stains than a smooth one.

• Refinish your furniture. Patti Barrett, author of Too Busy To Clean, likes rustic-finished furniture because textured surfaces hide dirt and dust. With more traditional furniture, opt for a matte rather than gloss finish.

• Drawers and doors. Why dust TVs, stereos and CDs when you can hide them in an entertainment armoire? Choose coffee tables, end tables and nightstands with drawers or doors where you can stash stuff.

• Heads up! Unlike table lamps, torcheres and sconces shine light up and away from dusty tables and stained carpets.

• Different shades of clean. Replace pleated and/or very dark lampshades, which attract dust and dirt, with mid-tone textured or heathered shades.

• Skip the chandelier. If you don't like to clean, forget it. If you want one, choose one without a lot of ornaments on it. Recessed lighting is the best no-fuss choice over a dining table.

• Dim the lights. Put dimmer switches on all your lights. When company comes, I just dim everything way down -- it hides the dust.

• Countertop confidence. Laminate and solid-surface countertops are easiest to clean. A granite-look or flecked pattern hides stains and spills.

• Avoid open shelving. Trade your metal baker's rack for a closed-door hutch. It'll hide both clutter and dust. Cover open cabinet shelves with flat-panel doors (raised-panel doors attract greasy dirt).

• Off the hook. Use pegs or hooks instead of towel bars, so you won't have to keep towels neatly folded -- even kids will be more likely to hang them back up.

• Light from above. Install wall-mounted swing-arm lamps on either side of a bed. "It keeps the bedside table clear so you don't have to dust around a lamp," Bowden says.

• Capitalize on closets. Shelves in the closet free up dresser drawer space for the jewelry and perfume that are normally left out. Child-level shelves in your kids' closet are perfect for toys and games. Close the closet door and the room is clean.

• A place for everything. Decorate with organizers: a flat-backed basket on the front doorknob for keys and wallets; an antique coatrack for jackets, hats and purses; a masculine-looking tabletop basket for Dad to stash papers from work.

• Consolidate collections. Instead of scattering your Hummel figurines around the room, bring them together on one beautiful tray. The display will be more appealing, the table easier to clean. Or just pare down your collections: It takes a lot less time to clean one big, spectacular vase than five little ones.

• All-in-one toy storage. Use colorful laundry baskets that match the decor of your kids' rooms (and the family room) as a catch-all for toys.

• If you can't make it look clean, at least make it smell clean. Keep unwrapped scented soaps in your bathrooms and drawers. Stick fresh-scent dryer sheets under sofa cushions. Use light bulb rings that hold aromatic oils. I even have a friend who will run through the house squirting Windex in the air, right before friends come over, to make the house smell clean.