Simple Ways to Fall Back in Love With Your Home

We’ve all been there: you walk through the front door after a long day, and instead of feeling a sense of peace, you feel a spike in cortisol. Maybe it’s the pile of mail on the counter, the shoes tripping you up in the hallway, or that one "junk drawer" that has officially migrated to the entire kitchen island.

Your home should be your sanctuary, not another item on your to-do list. Resetting your space should be about small, intentional shifts that reclaim your environment.

Here is how to clear the mental and physical clutter and start loving where you live again.

1. Identify Your "Micro-Stresses"

The best place to start is with your eyes. Walk through your front door and notice the first thing that makes you sigh.

• The Problem: Maybe the kitchen table becomes a magnet for clutter within minutes of cleaning it. Or perhaps coats always end up draped over chairs because the closet is too "fussy" to access.

• The Fix: Create a designated landing zone. If mail always piles up on the counter, put a beautiful tray there. If coats are the issue, add a few sturdy wall hooks right where people naturally drop them. Stop fighting your habits and start designing for them.

2. The "Five-Minute Sweep"

Cleaning doesn’t always require a bucket and a mop. Often, the feeling of a "messy house" is actually just "visual noise."

• The Tip: Set a timer for five minutes before bed or right when you get home.

• The Action: Focus only on horizontal surfaces—coffee tables, counters, and desks. Clearing these planes gives the immediate illusion of a deep clean and allows your brain to relax.

3. Edit, Don’t Just Organise

You can’t organise your way out of having too much stuff. If a cupboard is overflowing, adding fancy clear bins will only hide the problem temporarily.

• The Strategy: Pick one small category (like coffee mugs or socks).

• The Rule: If you haven’t used it in a year, or if it’s "the one you always skip over" to get to the better version, let it go. Giving yourself permission to discard things that no longer serve you is the ultimate act of home-love.

Once the space is cleared, add a "soul" element. Light a candle with a scent you love, buy a $5 bouquet of flowers from the grocery store, or simply open the windows for ten minutes to let the air circulate.

Resetting your space isn't about perfection; it's about making room for the life you actually want to lead.

Your home should be the antidote to the world, not a reflection of its chaos.” — Peter Walsh