After tiring myself out by reading a few heavier titles lately, I want to refresh myself by reading fun, lighthearted romps and titles that don't require too much thinking. Just y'know relaxing episodic works that don't need underlying themes or heavy drama. Kinda like elevator music, if that makes any sense.

Preferences:
-shonen/seinen
-not a 4koma, really just the traditional manga format
-good background art and linework is a big plus
-may contain some light romance, but isn't the central focus
-rather not have heavy dialogue or exposition
-doesn't need to have much plot development but subtle character growth would be nice
-eccentric humor works well here

Some of the more famous series that fit the bill would be:
Yotsubato! the prototypical cheerful, carefree and innocent example
Bakuon!!
Dagashi Kashi
Shinryaku! Ika Musume
Otoyomegatari
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatte Iru
Mushishi more engaging to the reader but manages to retain a sense of serenity
Franken Fran oddly enough, gore's played off in a more humorous manner to me atleast

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Bonnouji

Yome Ga Kore Na Monde.

Joshi kausei
Kyou no asuka show
Chio chan no tsuugakuro

Dainana Joshikai Houkou, maybe.

I appreciate all the suggestions! I checked them out and they were all really charming little gems. Please don't hesitate to share any more similar (and perhaps even lesser known) work you'd like to recommend!

As a side note, I'm honestly amazed at how well many artists who worked on more erotic titles in the past transitioned nicely into writing comedy and other tamer projects.

You may already know about him, but pretty much anything written by Kumeta Kouji would probably fit your request nicely. That being said, he does have a lot of sly social commentary in his works, so they're not 100% light-hearted, either. But since you like Franken Fran, you might enjoy them.

Then there's Douman Seiman, who tends more towards black humour (nothing really extreme, though, so no worries). There's quite a bit of explicit content as well, but his art style makes everything seem non-pornographic, so...

You may want to try Horimiya. Pretty fun romance manga.
Super Secret is also a cute one as well.

Why am I like this

Fujiyama-san wa Shishunki

Welcome to the NHK! is good for irreverent, black comedy-type humour.

Try:
Mahoraba
Fujimura-kun Meitsu
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
Denkigai no Honya-san
Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san
Nagasarete Airantou
Yumekuri

Aria
Aqua
Amanchu!
Barakamon
Bartender
Bonnouji

Stretch