Over the years, I’ve realized that one of the easiest ways to simplify your home isn’t always getting rid of what you already own. Sometimes it’s simply deciding what you’re going to stop bringing into it.
I definitely like to keep things simple around our house. I love a cozy home, and I enjoy decorating, but I don’t like having a lot of stuff sitting around.
Especially trinkets.
Because do you know what I see when I look at a shelf filled with little trinkets?
Things I have to dust. 😂
The older I get, the more I realize that everything I buy eventually requires something from me. I have to store it, organize it, clean it, maintain it, or eventually get rid of it.
So I’ve become much more selective about what comes into our home.
And there may actually be something to that feeling. UCLA researchers studying everyday family life found that managing an excess of possessions can become a source of stress. Their look at America’s “clutter culture” could probably make quite a few of us look at our closets and cabinets a little differently.
Here are seven things I’ve stopped buying, and they just might help you simplify your home, too.
1. Trinkets and Too Many Little Decorations
I still love decorating my home, especially for the holidays, but I’m much more selective about the little decorative things I buy.
A shelf doesn’t need twelve things sitting on it to look cozy.
I’d rather have two or three things I really love and leave a little empty space around them.
And when it’s time to dust?
Much easier.
Sometimes the best way to simplify your home is to give yourself permission to leave a little empty space.
2. Kitchen Gadgets I Probably Won’t Use
There are some pretty clever kitchen gadgets out there.
I’ve also learned that a gadget can look absolutely amazing in the store and then spend the next three years hiding in the back of a kitchen cabinet.
Before I buy one now, I try to think about how often I’ll actually use it.
I don’t mind owning kitchen tools that make my life easier. I love those! But if something only does one very specific job that I rarely need done, I probably don’t need it.
3. Organizing Bins Before I Know What I’m Organizing
Oh, those pretty baskets and matching storage containers can get me.
They make everything look so organized.
But buying more containers isn’t necessarily the same thing as getting organized.
I’ve learned to figure out exactly what needs to be organized first. Then I can buy the right container for that particular space.
If you’re trying to simplify your home, figuring out what actually needs organizing before buying the containers can keep you from storing a bunch of empty baskets and bins simply because they were cute.
4. Things Just Because They’re on Sale
This can be a hard one.
Something that’s 50% off feels like a bargain, but it’s not really saving me money if I didn’t need it in the first place.
I still love finding a great deal. I just try to ask myself whether I’d want the item if it weren’t on sale.
That one little question has stopped quite a few unnecessary purchases.
5. Too Many Duplicates
I like being prepared, so I’m certainly not against having extras of things we regularly use.
But I’ve learned there is a difference between being prepared and having so much that I forget what I already own.
I don’t need five backups of everything.
Having a reasonable amount on hand gives me the security of knowing we have what we need without creating more clutter to manage.
It’s another small change that’s helped simplify my home.
6. Clothes I Don’t Really Love
I’ve become much pickier about clothing.
If it’s uncomfortable in the dressing room, it’s probably going to be uncomfortable at home.
If I’m already trying to convince myself that I’ll wear it someday, I probably won’t.
I’d rather have a smaller closet filled with clothes I genuinely like than a packed closet where I only wear the same few things.
Having fewer choices can actually make getting dressed easier.
7. Decorations Just to Fill Empty Spaces
I used to think every table, shelf, and corner needed something.
Now I actually appreciate a little empty space.
I still want our home to feel warm and welcoming. I just don’t think cozy has to mean full.
A lamp, a favorite family picture, a plant, or one meaningful decoration can sometimes make a space feel more inviting than filling every available surface.
Learning to appreciate a little empty space has taught me that sometimes one of the easiest ways to simplify your home is simply not to fill every available spot.
Simplify Your Home by Buying Less
I think we sometimes assume that the answer to an organizing problem is buying another organizing product.
Sometimes it is.
But sometimes the easiest solution is simply having less to organize.
Before I bring something new home, I try to think about whether it will actually make our life better or easier.
Because everything we own takes up a little bit of our space, our money, and our time.
And these days, I’m much more protective of all three.
A Cozy Home Doesn’t Have to Be Full
I still love beautiful things. I still decorate for the seasons, and I still get excited when I find something for our home that I absolutely love.
I’m certainly not trying to live in an empty house.
I just want the things around me to be things I actually use, need, or enjoy.
For me, learning how to simplify your home isn’t about following strict minimalist rules. It’s about owning fewer things that create extra work and keeping more of the things that make your home feel comfortable, welcoming, and cozy.
And if I don’t have to dust 47 little trinkets along the way?
Even better. 😂
Sometimes a simpler home really does make room for a cozier life.
Helping you create a home filled with warmth, organization, and everyday joy, one cozy tip at a time
