20 Tiny Changes to Instantly Simplify Your Home (and life)

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when your house is full of stuff. I may or may not have learned this firsthand. Over the past year or so, I’ve been on a journey to simplify my life, home, and possessions. What surprised me was that the biggest impact didn’t come from massively decluttering, like clearing out our garage, but rather through the tiny changes I made to our home. These simple tweaks instantly brought more ease to our lives. So, here are 20 tiny changes you can make to simplify your home and life.

First, there’s the five-five rule, a simple but effective challenge I came across. This week, try removing five items from five rooms in your home. It might not sound like a big deal, but these tiny changes can make a massive difference in how you feel in your space. Next, consider using a family calendar. We started doing this after our second baby was born. Between school events, appointments, and work deadlines, we realized we needed a system to stay organized. We use a synced Google Calendar, which has been a game changer for us. It’s a simple way to ensure nothing is missed.

Another powerful change is minimizing your wardrobe. This can be truly life changing. When you open your wardrobe in the morning and see only clothes you love to wear, it makes getting dressed easier and more enjoyable. Along the same lines, having a “uniform” for different seasons can save time and mental energy. For example, in the summer, I love wearing light trousers and a simple top, and in the autumn, leggings with a cozy knit sweater become my go-to.

While organizing your wardrobe, try folding your clothes the Marie Kondo way—upright in drawers. This small adjustment allows you to see everything at a glance, and it’s surprisingly effective. Another helpful mindset shift is learning to say no. When you say yes to keeping an item, you’re saying no to creating space and saving time. This realization helped me become more intentional about what I bring into our home.

I also started applying practical lessons from Gabe Bolt’s Skillshare class, which changed my perspective on managing my home and time. Skillshare offers so many creative and practical courses, and learning new skills has been a huge boost for my productivity, business, and even personal hobbies.

In terms of practical organization, giving everything a home is crucial. Every item should have a designated spot, from batteries to paperwork. That way, items don’t end up scattered across flat surfaces or cluttering your space. A simple habit that helps is not putting things down randomly but instead putting them away immediately. This only takes a few seconds but saves so much time and stress in the long run.

It’s important to remember that all the clutter around you used to be money. I learned this the hard way when decluttering and realizing how much I spent on items I no longer needed. This realization has made me a more intentional shopper.

Another easy trick is to always take something with you when moving around the house. For example, if you’re heading to the kitchen, grab any mugs or dishes lying around and bring them with you. This habit prevents mess from piling up. I also use an “outbox” system where I collect items for donation in one spot, so it’s easy to declutter regularly.

An inbox system for mail and paperwork is also a game changer. Have a specific spot for letters, invitations, and important documents to prevent them from cluttering your countertops. Speaking of mail, recycle junk mail immediately and go paperless whenever possible. Most of our bills and paperwork are digitized, which keeps physical clutter to a minimum.

For families, having coat pegs at eye level for kids can make a big difference. Instead of hanging their coats on high hangers, they can easily hang them on their own, teaching them responsibility and keeping things tidy. I also created a dedicated spot for school papers, so we know exactly where to find homework or important notices when needed.

Visual clutter can also weigh on your mind, even if you’ve already decluttered. Simplifying your decor doesn’t mean removing everything you love, but it can reduce that “heavy” feeling in your space. Another tip is to set up a charging station where all devices and cables are stored neatly. This keeps cords from cluttering your house and makes it easy to charge everything in one spot.

While cooking, try to tidy as you go. Put away ingredients and tools as soon as you’re done with them. This keeps the kitchen from becoming chaotic and makes cleanup after meals much quicker. Also, keep fewer appliances on your countertops. My rule is that if I use an appliance at least five days a week, it can stay on the counter; otherwise, it’s stored away.

Implementing these small changes has truly simplified our home and life, making everything easier to manage. These tweaks may seem tiny, but together, they have a massive impact on reducing stress and creating a more peaceful, organized environment.

One of the most effective changes I made was introducing an inbox system for mail and school papers. It’s a simple concept but can make such a big difference. Designate a spot, whether it’s a folder, a tray, or a drawer, where all incoming mail, bills, and school papers go. This way, you can avoid those piles of paper on countertops or scattered around the house, and you’ll always know where to find important documents when needed. We also went paperless as much as possible, receiving most of our bills and paperwork digitally. This shift eliminated the need to sort through stacks of papers and reduced visual clutter.

I also created a charging station for all our devices, which has been incredibly helpful in keeping cables organized. All of our phones, tablets, and laptops are charged in one place, and it prevents chargers and cords from being scattered around the house. It’s such a simple change but makes a big impact in maintaining a neat and tidy environment.

Tidying as you go while cooking has been another game-changing habit. Instead of letting dishes, utensils, and ingredients pile up during meal prep, I clean up as I cook. For example, I put away the cooking oil as soon as I’m done with it, wash the cutting board after chopping, and wipe down counters as I move through each step. By the time dinner is ready, the kitchen is mostly clean, and cleanup after the meal becomes a breeze.

One final small but significant change was to reduce the number of items on our kitchen counters. I use the “five-seven” rule to decide what stays out. If I use an appliance at least five days out of the week, like our coffee machine, toaster, or kettle, it earns a spot on the counter. But if I only use something occasionally, like the blender, it gets stored away. This has freed up valuable counter space, making the kitchen feel more open and easier to clean.

By implementing these tiny but impactful changes, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in how manageable our home feels. These small habits have streamlined our daily routines, reduced stress, and created more space—both physically and mentally—for the things that truly matter.

Another strategy that has been incredibly helpful is teaching my kids to stay organized with eye-level coat pegs. Instead of hanging their coats on tall hooks or hangers they can’t reach, I installed pegs at their height. This way, they can easily hang up their jackets when they come home, reducing the number of times I find coats strewn across the floor. It’s not perfect every time, but it’s a small change that encourages them to take ownership of their belongings and keeps our entryway clutter-free.

We also created a designated basket or tray for school papers. Whenever my kids come home with homework assignments or reading materials, everything goes into one place. This keeps our surfaces clear and ensures that when it’s time to tackle schoolwork, we know exactly where to find the necessary papers. It’s such a simple system, but it has saved us so much time and stress in those frantic moments when we used to be searching for lost school assignments or important notes from teachers.

Visual clutter is another area I’ve learned to tackle. Even after decluttering, a home can still feel chaotic if there’s too much on display. Simplifying decor doesn’t mean stripping away everything you love, but instead focusing on a more streamlined and intentional setup. For me, this meant reducing the number of knick-knacks and opting for a more cohesive look that feels calm and relaxing. Everyone’s taste is different, but finding that balance has helped make our home a more peaceful space.

Another tip that’s been a game changer is using the “don’t put it down, put it away” rule. Anytime I pick up an item in the house, instead of placing it on the nearest surface, I make sure to return it to its designated spot. It only takes a few extra seconds, but it prevents clutter from accumulating throughout the day. Over time, this habit has become second nature, and the impact on keeping our home tidy is remarkable.

Finally, the “outbox” or donation box system has been an absolute lifesaver. We have a small basket in our home where we place items we no longer need. Whether it’s toys the kids no longer play with, clothes they’ve outgrown, or things I’ve decided to part with, it all goes into the basket. When it’s full, I take it to a charity shop or fill up a donation bag. Having this system in place makes decluttering feel less overwhelming, and it’s a small way to keep our home constantly refreshed.

These seemingly minor changes have been monumental in simplifying our daily lives. Each little habit, whether its keeping things organized, minimizing visual clutter, or regularly decluttering, has contributed to a home that feels lighter, more functional, and easier to manage. They might seem like small steps, but together, they make a world of difference in creating a calm, organized, and stress-free environment.