Setting up a Simple Living Home
Setting up a simple living home is a wonderful way to create a space that feels more organized, less chaotic, and easier to manage. By letting go of the things you don’t really need, so you can free up space, it will be easier to streamline each room.
Then, you can transform your home into a place that truly supports living a simple life. It’s about reducing the overwhelm and making your everyday routines a little smoother.
Life today often feels like it’s moving at full speed, doesn’t it? With days packed full of tasks, endless to-do lists, and constant commitments, it can feel like there’s no finish line in sight. One day blurs into the next, and before you know it, you’re collapsing into bed, completely drained, wondering if anything meaningful got done.
Whether you’re an empty nester like me craving slower, more peaceful days, or a young homesteader aiming to be more self-sufficient, this guide is here to help you create the life you’re looking for.
What is Simple Living?
Simple living is all about focusing on what truly matters by letting go of the excess that weighs you down. It’s a mindset and a lifestyle that helps you create space—not just physical space in your home, but mental and emotional room as well. When you focus on keeping only what you need, use, and love, you free yourself from the distractions of a chaotic, overstuffed home.
A simple living home isn’t about stripping everything away; it’s about being intentional with your choices. Decluttering allows you to give priority to the things that add value to your life and making room to focus on what’s important. Without constant distractions from cluttered spaces or overwhelming schedules, you can glide through your days with more ease and purpose. Tasks feel manageable, and you’ll have the time and energy to spend on what really fulfills you.
Simply put, decluttering lets you swap chaos for clarity, creating a home and a life that genuinely support you instead of working against you.
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Simplicity is Not Minimalism
Simplicity does not need to mean minimalism, which may have some of you breathing a sigh of relief. Let’s break it down so you can see how these ideas differ and work together.
Simple living is all about easing the chaos and complications of a busy life. Minimalism, on the other hand, focuses on reducing the amount of stuff in your home to create space.
To truly create a simple living home, you’ll need to weave in some aspects of minimalism, it’s true. But don’t worry—I’m not suggesting you toss everything you own! It’s more about being open to the idea of cutting back on what you keep, making room for what really matters.
At its heart, simplicity emphasizes joy and purpose. Sometimes, having less can actually feel like so much more.
Setting up a Simple Living Home
Creating a home centered on living simply is a step-by-step process. Each day you will make decisions about what is essential and what you can let go of.
Step #1. Remove the Excess
Start your simple living home by letting go of the things you don’t need. It sounds straightforward, but it can feel tricky if you get caught up in emotional attachments to your stuff. Instead, try to approach this like any other task on your to-do list, keeping emotions out of it.
One way to make this easier is to build it into your daily routine instead of treating it like a massive project. As you move through your day, pay attention to items you’re not using or tend to avoid. Here are some common examples to watch for:
- Too many multiples. Do you really need five sets of measuring cups?
- Clothes that no longer fit. Is it helping anyone to hold onto those jeans from 10 years ago?
- Items you’ve outgrown. Give yourself permission to donate those dusty old DVDs sitting in your living room.
At first, decluttering might feel overwhelming, but it gets easier with practice. Before long, you’ll find it freeing, maybe even fun.
Step #2. Simplify Every Room
Once you’ve cleared out the extra clutter, it’s time to focus on simplifying each room in your home. The idea is to make each space both functional and inviting, so it serves its purpose without feeling overwhelming. Here’s a quick look at the goals for each room, plus an easy action tip to help you get started:
Simple Living Room
Your living room should feel cozy and welcoming, like a place where you want to unwind or gather with loved ones.
Action Tip: Add a stylish basket next to the sofa to hold blankets or a few extra pillows, keeping them handy but out of the way.
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Simple Kitchen
A streamlined kitchen makes cooking easier and more enjoyable, with everything in its place and only the tools you actually use.
Action Tip: Choose one overcrowded drawer and add dividers to help organize items more easily. It’s a game changer when you can grab what you need without digging.
Simple Bedroom
The goal for your bedroom should be your peaceful retreat, with calming colors, a cozy bed, and minimal things on the wall or on shelves.
Action Tip: Keep your nightstand clear by sticking to just a lamp, a book, and a glass of water. Use a small dish or tray for loose items like jewelry.
Simple Bathroom
This space works best when it’s stocked with only your go-to essentials, creating a clean and refreshing vibe.
Action Tip: Use a shelving unit around the toilet for storing extra supplies. Things like toilet paper, tissues, and even extra bath towels. This will free up vanity space, allowing it to be used for storing things you use routinely.
Simple Home Office
Your office should be a space that keeps you focused, with everything organized and a clear, open area for getting work done.
Action Tip: Set up a “To File” basket to toss in papers that you want to keep. At the end of the month, go through this basket and file away each paper inside.
By breaking it down room by room and focusing on small, actionable steps, you’ll transform your home into a space that supports simple, intentional living.
Step #3. Simplify Your Day-to-Day
This might be the best part of simplifying—building a routine that gets things done without taking over your time or draining your energy. Look for ways to bundle tasks, find shortcuts, and create habits that help keep your home neat with less effort.
Streamline Your Cleaning Routine
Having a clean home feels great, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend hours scrubbing every day. Try focusing on one room each day and spending just 20 minutes cleaning up. It’s so much easier than tackling the whole house on a Saturday. Here’s an example of how you can spread out your cleaning routine:
- Monday – Bedrooms
- Tuesday – Bathrooms
- Wednesday – Laundry
- Thursday – Kitchen/Mudroom
- Friday – Family Room/Office
- Saturday – Outside
- Sunday – Bills/Planning
Switching to natural cleaners is another smart move. You can DIY most of your cleaning products, saving money and avoiding harsh chemicals.
Simplify Your Meal Planning
Meal planning doesn’t just make dinnertime smoother; it’s a great way to eat healthier and waste less food. Stick to recipes using similar ingredients to simplify your shopping, or cook double batches to save yourself time later.
Here’s another fun idea to cut down on decision fatigue: assign meal themes to each day. For example:
- Monday – Chicken
- Tuesday – Pasta
- Wednesday – Fish
- Thursday – Beef
- Friday – Pizza
- Saturday – Soup/Sandwiches
- Sunday – Potluck
Reduce Your Monthly Chores
You don’t need to tackle everything daily or even weekly. Chores like washing your car, cleaning windows, or mopping can be done less often, freeing up time for the things you enjoy.
Get a list of all our Midlife Productivity Tips here!
Opt for Multi-Purpose
Choose items that do more than one job. Think furniture with built-in storage, beauty products with multiple uses, or a tablet that doubles as an e-reader, journal, and TV. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Making small changes like these can make your daily life a whole lot simpler while giving you space for the things that truly matter.
Choose Simplicity in Every Area of Life
While the focus here has been on setting up a simple living home, the truth is that integrating simplicity into every part of your life leads to a more fulfilled and happy sense of welbl-eing. Pare down on your stuff, streamline each room in your home, simplify your schedule, and focus on doing things in an easier way.
Setting up a simple living home is a great way to create a life that is more enjoyable and less stressful. By taking these tips and putting them into action, you can transform your living space into a sanctuary where you can easily relax and laugh in.
