It’s easy to imagine that your life and your home might be different if you owned, say, crystal bowls in every size. Or a full set of fish forks. Or designer towels that perfectly coordinated with your designer sheets.
But you don’t. And that’s not a bad thing.
Even Martha Stewart, whose storied collections of glassware, table linens, vases and more stretch across her multiple homes, a magazine and television show and straight into our houses via her product lines, would agree. Why? The answer is simple — woven through all of Stewart’s glossy-magazine lifestyle advice is a core idea that many people overlook while gaping at the contents of her latest butler’s pantry: If you choose your practical things carefully, you don’t need a lot of stuff to have a beautiful home.
“I have always been an accumulator of beautiful things” says Stewart, “but if you come and look at my things you’d see that I dont have a lot of ornate florals, the very decorated Spode, that sort of thing. It’s elegant but simple and it’s all edited.”
She might have made her name on her perfectly set tables, but Stewart gets simplicity. “There are lots of ways to be organized and simple,” she says, “but still when people come they say ‘Oh you really know how to do this, you really have great style.’ And that’s the goal.” So, whether you’re drowing in heirloom collections or just trying to choose your first set of flatware, Martha has advice on keeping your home simple and beautiful. “You have to look at and evaluate every object,” she says. “Is it beautiful? Do you use it? Do you like it? Is it important? Is it practical?” Choosing with care when you decide what should be in your home can lead to living well, but more simply.
Aim to make everything a multi-tasker.
Practical things should also look good, and vice versa. So if you need a new can opener, buy one that pleases your eye and opens your canned tomatoes. Have one set of dishes that you love — and use them for everything. “I have drabware, it’s my favorite pattern, and bone handled flatware. I use it every day,” says Stewart. “My daughter Alexis, who is a very organized person, chose the simplest wide band china and she uses it every day, for dinner parties, for everything. She’s had it for 15 years.”
Eye multiples with suspicion.
If you have wine glasses, beer glasses, cocktail glasses and water glasses, you might also have a cabinet overflowing with seldom-touched glassware. Save space and upkeep by switching to one economical set of glasses that you love, and serve every kind of drink in it. You’ll be happy no matter what you’re drinking, and guests will complement your confident style. One caveat: Give yourself leeway for things that really express your personality. If glassware is your one true love, so be it. Though Stewart uses her favorite dishes at nearly every meal, she’s still a collector at heart: “I use drabware every day,” she says, “but for a holiday or something I might go all out and use a different color plate.”
Cull things you don’t use.
Even Martha Stewart does this “I have a little table with a sign that says ‘Please take'” she says, “and I’ll put things out and people take them. And we also have a company-wide tag sale, so I’ll add things to that.” Whether it’s donation or garage sale, simplifying means letting go.
Make a place for everything.
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A house full of things that don’t fit is a chaotic house. Once you’ve ditched things you don’t need, you’ve gained space, and you can focus in on organizing what’s left. “Good organization can be beautiful,” says Stewart. “We have a new line of home office supplies at Staples, things like stacking boxes in shagreen paper, they’re practical but they look so great.”
Pick only what you love.
When you’re ready to make a purchase for your home — whether it’s a sofa or spoon — don’t buy until you see one you really like. Rather than settling. pass up those “good enough” purchases until you find one at your price point that makes you happy. Sticking to your guns on purchases is the surest way to keep things simple and to make sure that you have a home filled with things you love.
Consider the maintenance issues.
“”I like to use plates that I can put in the dishwasher,” says Stewart. “Its an idea that resonates with younger people but also people like me. After a dinner party it’s good to be able to throw things in the dishwasher. And a lot of the very fancy dishes can’t be washed in the dishwasher.” The lesson? Fancy things that require a lot of maintenance are fine, as long as you’re game to do the upkeep. If it’s a burden, stick with something more practical.
Embrace the idea of a standard.
If you like the idea of having a signature scent, why not apply that concept to your house? How about a signature towel, signature sheets, a signature style of vase? Once you’ve honed in on a basic that you love, make it your standard and stick to it. Every kind of flower looks great in a simple glass cylinder. And every bed, no matter the duvet or coverlet, looks great in white sheets. Remember — having signature items isn’t a cop out, it’s embracing your own style.
Enjoy your newfound freedom.
By reducing what you have and sticking to standards on certain basic items, you not only gain space, you gain the freedom to focus on the finishing touches that bring you real joy in your home. Once the kitchen is streamlined, you’ll be able to stop thinking about your overflowing cupboards and just cook those meals you’ve always wanted to cook. Once you stop obsessing over whether your sheets will match the new comforter, you can choose the covers you really like. Or just curl up under them and read a book.
For your consideration
Dishes — Reducing to one favorite, easy-care set means you can change up your table using colorful napkins or flowers; or just keep it spare and serene.
Glassware — One thin, elegant glass in a 12 or 16-ounce size can work for any beverage.
Kitchen gadgets — These can be far to specific to be practical. Pare down to just the tools you really use, and you’ll make cooking easier.
Pantry items — Ditch specialty ingredients that you haven’t used, and stock up with staples that suit the way you cook. Make sure you end up with enough room to see what you need and grab it easily.
Towels and sheets — Consider switching to good quality white towels and sheets, which means they are interchangeable between bathrooms and bedrooms, can be washed all together, and can mix with colorful details.
Pillows — Opt for comfortable down throw cushion inserts on sofas and chairs, then simply change the covers when you re-style your home.
Cleaning supplies — A few basic supplies and tools should clean your whole house. The broom closet is a prime candidate for a reorganization.
Containers — Consider standardizing the pantry containers and labels you use, to make storage areas easy to see and easy to rearrange as your needs change. Magazine holders and baskets are great for visible areas, clear plastic for cupboards and closets.