10 Tiny Ways To Simplify Your Space

You probably already have an inkling of the benefits of simplifying your space. A big benefit is being less overwhelmed in your living environment. It’s the result of there being less complexity and less distraction in your daily environment. So, let's get into the 10 ways you can simplify your space.

#1. Declutter – Let Some Stuff Go

If you’ve been here long then it should be no surprise that the #1 thing you can do to simplify your space is to declutter! Getting rid of excess makes your space feel more functional and is the easiest way to simplify your space.

The flow of your spaces can be disrupted by clutter. Maybe it isn’t as noticeable when you’re living with it every day, but it shows up in daily hiccups and inconveniences. If this sounds like you I’d suggest to start by trying to do some minor decluttering of things that are visible, front and center.

That little bit of simplification can unjumble the energy of your space more than you might realize. I’m not going to dive too deep into this because almost my entire channel has to do with decluttering and clutter-free living. You can see tons of different topics on how to declutter or even reasons you should declutter. For now, let’s move on to the second way to simplify your space!

#2 Use Simple Organizers

A lot of people think that the more complex their organizational system is the more effective it is. You’ve probably seen the trendy videos on Instagram or TikTok where people organize with labels and color-coded organizers. Every perfect, intricate, detail is so satisfying to watch, but I’ve found the opposite to be true in practice. The simpler the organization, the easier it is to find what you need and stay consistent. 

Complexity complicates your space rather than simplifying your space

I’m a huge fan of basic bins and shelves that are intended to hold one thing- one type or category of items. The bigger and bulkier the organizer the more space they take up which draws visual attraction from the room. Not to mention these big organizers encourage you to hold on to things that you normally wouldn’t. 

When organizers are so complex and large, it becomes easier to conceal clutter and misplace things in that clutter.

Two examples of ways I keep my organization simple:

• Jewelry –  I like using a small simple dish
• Makeup – I have just one small zipper bag, it is easy to pack, and everything I need is always in one place.

Not only does this give me spatial constraints for my belongings, to make sure that I’m only keeping the things that I really love, but it’s also just simpler. If I need to grab something and go I can do that. If I need to find a new place to store something I can easily do that. To simplify your space is to have less complexity!

#3 Lean Into Your Strengths In Your Space / Know Your Limits

When I think of this I think of the hobbies, or the extra things that we thought we were going to be into but aren’t necessarily. In my case, I really liked the idea of having plants but I was terrible at keeping them alive.

I didn’t feel like watering them, pruning them, and doing all the things you need to do to plants. This meant plants constantly dying, which was really sad to look at. I had to get real with myself.

If you aren’t going to feel like investing the time into something you own then it’s complicating your space. It’s not even just clutter, right? It can be things that are perfectly fine but if it’s complicated or adding extra steps, (like a greenhouse worth of plants🌵) then that’s automatically removing the simplicity from your space and from your flow.

Of course, there may be things that you’re not great at now but that you’re working to become better at. 

With these things they are really just two decisions that could be made:

• invest the time and the energy to get better at whatever the thing is and to really make it worthy of being in your space 
• accept where you are in that thing and cut back

And when I say “cut back” I mean instead of having five or six plants, have two plants or three plants, just whatever you’re able to maintain at that time. Know your limits and lean into your strengths to really simplify your space, instead of items turning into an extra source of struggle.

Speaking of knowing yourself a little better, #4 is a big one for simplifying your space.

#4 Get A Memory Box

This is something that I’ve talked about quite a bit and that is to get a memory box. This is great not only for keeping down clutter, which it does really help to do, but also gives a dedicated space for sentimental items. It becomes a space where you can more quickly and more easily go through things you would have put off because it was going to be stressful or emotional.

This gives you a little bit of relief and a little bit of a reprieve since there’s a spatial constraint for the things that you want to hold on to.

It can be simple to have an emotional backup for the belongings that are emotional to you. It can be simple to not have all of those things constantly pulling at your attention and your energy and your emotions. Which easily happens when they’re always out front and center.

A memory box allows you to have a space to get into those emotions and dig into memories when you want to. Otherwise, you’re constantly feeling emotionally bombarded or complicated every time you see those sentimental items. Instead, you have this space that you can go to dig into it and the rest of the time your space can have a more simple and emotionally neutral flow.

#5 Go Small

When I say go small I’m really saying don’t go bulky. Whether you’re looking at a giant elaborate floor lamp or an air fryer that’s going to just take up half of your kitchen space, go small.

The large bulky things that we try to fit into any given room takes away a little bit of the simplicity in that space. You have less visual space to look around and sometimes you even have less space to walk around.

For example, a lot of homes have an open concept kitchen and living room to where they’re kind of merged together, right? 

Now picture this, in the living room you have a big bulky couch and you have a huge elaborate floor lamp that’s right next to it. Then right next to that in the kitchen you have a big diffuser that’s sitting front and center on the table. You know something that looks large and decorative and maybe smells great. But next on the floor on the other side of the kitchen you have a giant air purifier that’s constantly running.

All of these enormous things when you look at one might look fine, it might even look really beautiful. But then, when you add all of these large things into one area it quickly starts to detract from the space. If you still want to have all of those things, I recommend trying to look for smaller or sleeker versions that aren’t quite so obtrusive when it comes to your space.

#6 Minimize Your Groceries

It can be really easy to go into a grocery store and quickly fill up a cart or two, especially if you’re hungry or your kitchen was really empty. Then bring home a whole bunch of groceries that may or may not get eaten.

I’ve had this problem too. I’ve said before that I had an issue with going to Trader Joe’s and trying to buy out all of their salads. Then I’d get home and realize there would never be enough time to actually eat all of those salads before they expire. Have a grocery shopping reality check. How much food you and your family are actually eating on a daily basis? What types of food is your family actually going to want to eat.

It’s easy to hope that the ideal me would love eating this vegetable chip thing that I’m buying but…I’m not actually going to eat it. Being real about the things that you’re going to eat and the quantity that you’re going to eat can really simplify your space in a number of ways.

First of all, you’re not going to be losing food in the back of the fridge. It can annoying when you want to go grab something to eat but now you’re having to search in the fridge just to find something you want.

The second is having to waste and throw out food that’s perfectly good. Speaking for myself, this can make me feel really guilty. It’ll even get that I’m irritated with my family because they didn’t eat all the apples that I bought and I know how they’re wasted. Hopefully, I’m not the only one 🤞.

Third, if you have all of this excess food maybe you’ll feel the need to overeat in order to not waste it. Then you’re packing on the pounds and that’s also stressful for most people. It’s just not adding any levels of simplicity to your space.

#7 Fewer Cords & Plugs

You might be thinking well how am I supposed to do that I have these things they need to be plugged in?

When you have a space that has just giant black cords or multi-colored cords strung across the room or down the wall It can drive you insane and make the space look chaotic.

It really complicates the space in a number of ways. It could be a tripping hazard, it can be a fire danger, or an electrical danger it’s visually unappealing and visually distracting. Who knows if you’ll ever be able to find a spot to plug something else in either!

Methods I’d suggest to minimize your plugs would be:

• Use power strips. They can manage quite a bit of wattage.
• Go cordless. Some kitchen items and other appliances now don’t need to be plugged in. What a dream!
• Find versatile appliances. Our Playstation functions as our DVD player, streaming device, and entertainment.

Not to mention you’re likely to cut down on clutter when you have fewer cords.

#8  Limit Your Options

This can look like a number of different things from having too many clothes and not being able to find what you want to wear all the way to having two shampoos in the shower and picking which one you want to use.

It takes up mental capacity and physical space a lot of the time when there are items forcing you into making another decision. In today’s day and age, we are making even more decisions than ever before because there are almost always options.

Decision fatigue is this really interesting concept that the more and more choices you make in the day the less and less ability you have to make a decision. This refers to any weight of a decision.

So limiting the options straight out of the gate can set you up for making better decisions the rest of the day and ultimately simplify your space.

#9 Use Reset Points

I have to give a shout-out to Melissa from Intentful Spaces. She’s the one who shared this way to simplify your space with me during our recent holistic spaces mini-series. This was something I was doing but didn’t have a word for. Basically, a recent point is a set time (or 2 times) in a day where you get back to neutral.

This may look different for every home but most of the time for me it is putting things away, tidying up, or destressing (maybe a little meditation).

This allows you to not be overwhelmed by what needs to be done around the house because you know at a certain time everything will be reset. It helps me not let things pile up during the day or week and get out of control.

#10 Go Analog When Possible

Bare with me. I know this sounds insane in the techie world that we live in but since we are required to have so many tech items like computers, phones (and maybe a tv), why not get back to the basics where you can.

If you look around your home you’ll find there are a lot of items that don’t need to be digital. A great thing about analog items is also that they usually look sleeker and they are cordless! It has actually been proven that we use things more happily whenever they look nice!

Not to mention how annoying it is when the power goes out and there are a million flashing clocks to reset when it comes back on🙄. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about using tech. I even have the 15 systems that have simplified my life. That is why I am saying to limit it, wherever you can. No need to go back to the Stone Age. This is just one more way to simplify your space.