You probably already have an inkling of the benefits of simplifying your space. Less complexity and less distraction means less overwhelm in your daily environment.

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 number one 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 it.

The flow of your spaces can be disrupted by clutter, even when it isn't obvious day to day. It shows up in small hiccups and inconveniences instead.

If this sounds like you, start with some minor decluttering of the 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.

#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 bins.

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 it

I'm a huge fan of basic bins and shelves meant to hold one type or category of items. The bigger and bulkier the organizer, the more visual space it takes up.

These big organizers also encourage you to hold on to things you normally wouldn't. When organizers are that complex and large, it becomes easier to conceal clutter and misplace things inside it.

Here are two examples of how I keep my own organization simple. For jewelry, I use one small dish, and for makeup, I have just one small zipper bag, so everything I need is always in one place.

This gives me spatial constraints for my belongings, so I only keep the things I really love. If I need to grab something and go, I can.

To simplify your space is to have less complexity.

#3. Lean Into Your Strengths, Know Your Limits

When I think of this, I think of the hobbies or extras we thought we'd be into but weren't. 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 and pruning them and doing all the things plants need. That meant plants constantly dying, which was sad to look at, so I had to get real with myself.

If you aren't going to invest the time into something you own, it's complicating your space.

This goes beyond clutter. It can be something perfectly fine that's still adding extra steps, like a greenhouse full of plants🌵.

Of course, there may be things you're not great at yet but are working to get better at. With those, you're really just deciding whether to invest the time to get better at the thing, or accept where you are and cut back.

And when I say "cut back," I mean instead of having five or six plants, have two or three, whatever you're actually able to maintain. 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.

#4. Get A Memory Box

This is something I've talked about quite a bit, and that's to get a memory box. It's great for keeping down clutter, but it also gives a dedicated space for sentimental items.

It becomes a space where you can more quickly and easily go through things you'd normally put off because they felt stressful or emotional. That gives you a little relief, since there's a spatial constraint for the things you want to hold on to.

It can be simple to have an emotional backup for the belongings that matter to you. Otherwise, those items are constantly pulling at your attention, energy, and emotions just by sitting out front and center.

A memory box gives you a space to dig into those emotions and memories when you want to, so the rest of your space can stay simple and emotionally neutral.

#5. Go Small

When I say go small, I really mean don't go bulky, whether that's a giant elaborate floor lamp or an air fryer that's going to take up half your kitchen.

Large, bulky things take away from the simplicity of a space. You end up with less visual room to look around, and sometimes even less room to walk around.

Picture an open concept kitchen and living room merged together. A big bulky couch, a huge elaborate floor lamp right next to it, a big diffuser sitting front and center on the kitchen table, and a giant air purifier constantly running on the floor.

Any one of those things on its own might look fine, even beautiful. But add them all into one area and it quickly starts to detract from the space, so look for smaller or sleeker versions if you still want to keep them.

#6. Minimize Your Groceries

It's easy to walk into a grocery store hungry, fill up a cart or two, and bring home a bunch of food 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 was never enough time to eat them all before they expired.

Give yourself a grocery shopping reality check. How much food is your family actually eating on a daily basis, and what do they actually want to eat?

It's easy to hope that the ideal version of me would love eating some vegetable chip thing I'm buying, but I'm not actually going to eat it. Being real about what you'll eat, and how much, can simplify your space in a number of ways.

First, you won't be losing food in the back of the fridge, which is annoying when you just want to grab something to eat. Second, you avoid wasting and throwing out food that's perfectly good, which for me personally can feel pretty guilty.

I've even gotten irritated with my family over apples going to waste that they didn't eat, and I know I'm probably not the only one 🤞. Third, having all that excess food can make you feel like you need to overeat just to not waste it, which adds its own stress and doesn't simplify anything.

#7. Fewer Cords and Plugs

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

When you have a space with giant black cords or multicolored cords strung across the room or down the wall, it can drive you insane and make the space look chaotic.

It complicates the space in a number of ways. It can be a tripping hazard, a fire or electrical danger, and it's visually distracting, plus you may never find a spot to plug something else in.

Methods I'd suggest to minimize your plugs:

• Use power strips, since they can manage quite a bit of wattage.
• Go cordless where you can. Some kitchen items and appliances no longer need to be plugged in, which is a dream.
• Find versatile appliances. Our PlayStation functions as our DVD player, streaming device, and entertainment all in one.

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 things, from having too many clothes to find what you want to wear, all the way to having two shampoos in the shower and picking which one to use.

It takes up mental capacity and physical space when items are constantly forcing you to make another decision. In today's day and age, we're making more decisions than ever because there are almost always options.

Decision fatigue is the idea that the more choices you make in a day, the less ability you have left to make good ones, and that applies to any weight of decision.

Limiting your 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 idea with me during our holistic spaces mini-series.

This was something I was already doing but didn't have a word for. A reset point is a set time, or maybe two times, in a day where you get back to neutral.

This looks different for every home, but for me it's usually putting things away, doing a quick reset, or destressing with a little meditation. It helps me not let things pile up during the day or week and spiral out of control.

#10. Go Analog When Possible

Bear with me, I know this sounds insane in the techie world we live in.

We're already required to have so many tech items, like computers and phones, so why not get back to basics wherever you can?

If you look around your home, you'll find a lot of items that don't need to be digital.

Analog items also tend to look sleeker and cordless, and it's been shown that we use things more happily when they look nice.

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

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about using tech. I even have my 15 systems that have simplified my life.

That's exactly why I'm saying to limit it wherever you can, no need to go back to the Stone Age.

These 10 changes are small on their own, but stacked together they make a real dent in how your space feels day to day.

A simpler space is really just one piece of a simpler life. If you want the bigger framework behind it, how to simplify your life for more time, energy, and mental capacity is the natural next step.