25 Brilliant Ways to Simplify Your Home

If you’ve ever looked around your house and thought, Why does this place still feel so crazy even after I’ve decluttered?—you’re not alone. Let’s talk about ways to simplify your home!

Sure, you’ve done the big stuff. You’ve KonMari’d your closet, tossed expired pantry items, and even tackled that one junk drawer (or three…no judgement here!). But if your home still isn’t feeling as simple as you’d like, you might need to try some fresh ideas.

Lucky for you, I’ve got 25 lesser-known, yet totally brilliant, ways to simplify your home—without spending a fortune or dedicating an entire weekend to organizing.

Let’s get into it!

Declutter Smarter, Not Harder

1. Set a “clutter expiration date.” If you hesitate to get rid of something, put a sticky note on it with today’s date. If you haven’t used it in 30 days, out it goes.
2. Give every family member a donation bin. When someone outgrows something, it goes straight in—no big decluttering sessions required. Everyone can keep one in their closet or room in a handy location. It also works for toys, gadgets, outgrown decor.
3. Create your Deferred Decisions Box. A great way to simplify your home is with this awesome trick. If you’re on the fence about an item, pack it up in your Deferred Decisions Box. If you don’t retrieve it in a month, you don’t need it.
4. Limit your sentimental storage. Give yourself one memory box per person and make a rule that each person’s special keepsakes and memorabilia has to fit within that space. This memory box was a game changer for me. I use to have so many little cards, notes and gifts from my children (and now grandkids) that I just couldn’t part with but they were scattered everywhere and anytime I came across them in my inbox or on the counter or fridge, I was flustered by what to do with them. When I finally created my memory box, I swear I could hear angels singing “Hallelujah” somewhere in the distance. All of my sentimental stuff finally had a home! I never again had to question what to do with those random things. When my memory box gets full, I go through it and usually discover there are a few things I’m ready to part with and I clear out a little space for treasures of the future. This is such a gentle way to keep sentimental stuff under control that it’s not difficult or overly emotional. Best of all, I never get stuck on what to do with these things anymore. Ever.
5. Go digital. Scan old papers, take photos of sentimental items, and finally toss those piles of just in case documents.

Tame the Paper Chaos

6. Set up an Inbox. My system is simple: bills get handed to my husband, who has his own Inbox on his desk, and everything else I need to keep gets put in my Inbox: mail, kid’s artwork, and receipts always go in the Inbox. That way nothing gets lost or forgotten. I try to throw away all the junk mail immediately. If something requires an RSVP, I write it on the calendar and deal with it right then and there. If something needs to go on the calendar, it only takes 10 seconds to write it on my calendar. I would rather spend 3 minutes dealing with my paperwork as it comes into my house, than deal with a huge pile of it down the road.
7. Switch to paperless billing. Less mail+less paper=less stress. This is a perfect example of how to simplify your home by reducing what comes into it in the first place.
8. Snap a photo of important info. If you need to remember an appointment card or a flyer, take a picture and toss the paper. I have a temporary picture album in my photo app just for these so it’s easy to purge every so often.
9. Keep all gift cards in one envelope. I like to keep ours all together so nothing ever gets forgotten or lost. Also, if you have a few unused ones and you need a last minute gift, bam instant gift!
10. Use a “Sunday Reset” for paperwork. Once a week, spend 5-10 minutes dealing with any lingering papers before they take over.

Simplify Your Storage

11. Use “first in, first out” for everything. Not just food—apply it to toiletries, cleaning supplies, and office supplies too.
12. Use Simple, Clear Labels to Keep Everything in Its Place – Labeling bins, shelves, and containers eliminates guesswork and makes it easier for everyone in the house to put things back where they belong. Instead of overcomplicating with fancy categories, keep it straightforward—think “Snacks,” “Toys,” “Cleaning Supplies,” or “Winter Gear.” This works wonders in pantries, closets, and playrooms!
13. Keep an “exit basket” by the door. Keep a basket by the door for anything that needs to leave the house—library books, returns, borrowed items, or packages to drop off. Instead of scrambling last minute, everything is in one spot, ready to grab on your way out. No more forgotten errands or lost items!
14. Adopt the one-shelf pantry rule. Keep all open snacks and frequently used items on one shelf for easy access. This limits the areas in the pantry that will get rifled through by hungry kids, looking for a quick snack. By limiting it to one shelf, you are left with only one shelf that need daily tidying rather than the whole pantry.
15. Use your Quick Clean Box. This is one of my favorite ways to keep a clean and simplified home! Before bed, walk through your home with a laundry basket or a Quick Clean Box and collect out-of-place items. Once corralled, these things can usually be put away in just a few minutes.

Make Cleaning Stupidly Simple

16. Use a spray bottle of cleaner in every bathroom. I keep one bottle of my favorite all-purpose cleaner and a roll of paper towels in each bathroom. It’s so easy to pull it out and give everything a quick wipe down that I do it every single day. The smaller bathrooms take about 2 minutes each. My larger master bathroom takes about 5-10 minutes.
17. Give every family member their own laundry day. No more mystery sock mixing!
18. Keep a “5-minute tidy” rule. Set a timer and do a quick cleanup before bed. You’ll wake up to a fresher home. If everyone pitches in, you can really get a lot accomplished in these 5 minutes!
19. Declutter your cleaning supplies. You don’t need 15 different sprays—stick to a few multi-use cleaners.
20. Leave an empty basket in the living room. At the end of the day, toss in all stray items. Deal with it when it’s full. Bonus tip: If it ends up full of things that no one ever asks about again, consider donating them!

Daily Habits That Make a Big Impact

21. The One-Minute Rule – If a task takes less than a minute (like putting shoes away or wiping the counter), do it immediately.
22. Simplify your wardrobe. Create a capsule collection of your go-to outfits and ditch the “just in case” clothes.
23. Embrace a “buy one, donate one” rule. This very easy rule can really simplify your home. If something new comes in, something old goes out.
24. Keep kitchen counters 80% clear. More space = a calmer, more functional kitchen.
25. Create a “done for the day” zone. A tidy space to wind down at night signals to your brain (and family) that the day is officially over. For us, this is our living room. This is time for herbal tea and fun!

These Small Habits Will Make a Huge Impact

Simplifying your home isn’t just about getting rid of stuff—it’s about creating systems that make life easier.

You don’t have to do all 25 of these today. Just pick one or two that sound doable and try them out. You might be surprised how much lighter your home (and your mind) will feel!

What’s your favorite simple living hack? Let me know in the comments!