How do we keep a clean and organized home while managing 2 businesses and 3 kids under 3? The key is having less. Our food philosophy of keeping things simple applies to maintaining our home as well. While not every drawer and cabinet is Pinterest-perfect, and not every corner of our home has the latest updates, this is what real-life simplicity looks like for us in this season. My goal is to purposefully create a space that brings us peace and calm. We follow these guidelines loosely and we are constantly adjusting as needed. I hope sharing what works for us inspires some new habits in your home life too!
Here are 10 practical tools and rhythms that help us achieve this.
Everything has a designated “home”. It makes tidying up much less intimidating when you don’t have to find a spot for things and it’s less likely to become disorganized. It will also force you to be more intentional about what you bring into your home.
Consider hiring a professional for deep cleaning as often as needed—I find it necessary every other month. I don’t enjoy doing it myself, and it’s a great way to get me motivated to keep things tidy.
Purge often. If I haven’t used something in the past year—whether it’s decor, linens, spices, pantry items, toys, kitchen gadgets, or clothing—I typically part with it. I either trash or donate these items, avoiding the temptation to store things for later use.
Just because you have the space doesn't mean you have to fill it (kitchen cabinets, countertops, closets, basement, large rooms, etc.).
Avoid creating multiple storage areas for the same type of item, such as shoes in both a closet and a mudroom, coats on wall hooks and in a coat closet, clothing in dressers and closets, etc. Our motto: If it doesn’t fit, it’s time to purge and simplify instead of creating a second storage space.
Invest in fewer, higher-quality, timeless pieces instead of many smaller, cheaper items. This applies to everything from toys with countless tiny parts to furniture and clothing (there are many frugal ways to do this). Really consider if the item is a functional need or just a trendy want that serves no purpose.
If you can, limit sentimental items to a single storage container.
Prioritize cleaning and tidying up areas of the home that get the most use, such as the kitchen and living room. Establish non-negotiable home rules, like keeping food in the kitchen and taking shoes off at the door.
If a task takes less than 5 minutes, do it now. Cleaning in small pockets throughout the day helps prevent a huge mess from accumulating by evening. Before settling on the couch each night, spend a few minutes doing a speed cleanup/reset. There’s nothing better than starting the next day with a clean slate!
Not sure where to start? Begin with the area of your home that feels the most overwhelming or causes you anxiety. For me, it’s everything that catches my eye when I first enter a room—like wall decor, stuff/furniture sitting on the floor, colors, throw pillows/blankets, cluttered countertops and surfaces, etc. I've found that having less not only reduces stress but also makes cleaning much more manageable.
Below are all the links of our favorite and most frequently asked about home and kitchen items!
