Three stages of Simplifying your Home

Let us first acknowledge that Simply Living is hard to define. Although there is plenty of research that simply living add to feelings of happiness. Hence why we spend our holidays in caravans, tents or simple holiday cottages. Still it is very hard to define what exactly simply living or simplifying your home (homekeeping too) is. 

Ask it a millionaire and he/she might point out his/her private island resort as simply living. Ask it a religious brother or nun: he/she will point out his/her simple room with a bed and desk next to spending days praying and doing monastic tasks. Ask it a parent of three energetic toddlers and the answer is: less toys and less noise! Others will point out an automatic vacuum cleaner, a better car, hermit aspirations and so on.

To step out of our hedonistic lifestyle is not easy. Not all of us can buy a simple cottage in the mountains or woodlands and live a harmoniously stripped lifestyle based on its surroundings.

We have been thinking how to be able to discuss Living Simplified without preaching.

Just kindly offering ideas for you to consider.

Before we dive in, let’s clarify the lovely Swedish concept mentioned in the first paragraph. Swedish Death Cleaning (döstädning) is the gentle, intentional art of decluttering your home and life before you’re no longer here to do it. Popularised by Margareta Magnusson, it’s not about morbidity—it’s about kindness.

It’s a way to simplify your space so your loved ones aren’t left with the burden of sorting through a lifetime of belongings. Also, to reflect on what truly matters—keeping only what brings you joy, serves a purpose, or holds meaningful memories. Last, it aims at leaving a lighter legacy, both physically and emotionally, for those you care about.

Unlike frantic decluttering, this practice is thoughtful and unhurried. It’s about letting go of the unnecessary—whether it’s old gifts, unused items, or even emotional baggage—so you can focus on what enriches your life now. At its heart, Swedish Death Cleaning is living well, with acceptance, intention, and a good dose of Scandinavian practicality.

Our Late Father’s Home

Our father was a widower for a quarter of a century. After his death,we faced the difficult task of sorting through his belongings. He loved antiques, vintage items, memorabilia from his travels, family history, and—luckily for us — our mother’s belongings. Our mother, when she was ill, had already done rounds of Swedish Death Cleaning long before the term became widely known outside Sweden.

Fast forward a year after our father’s passing, we’ve drawn two key conclusions:

I. Antiques and vintage items are flooding the market, and their financial value has painfully decreased.

II. Our father chose aesthetics and sentiment over practicality. He collected objects that evoked pleasant memories of his youth but served little functional purpose.

We donated artworks to the descendants of the artists. We gave to Emmaus and other charities. We recycled, reused, and repurposed as much as we could. But through it all, a realization took root: a home works best when aesthetics are either combined with practicality or given lower priority than practicality.

Let us explain

When you can combine aesthetics with practicality, you’re the King or Queen of your castle. At Handmade Luxury Home, we aim to create beautiful and functional needle and fine art—lovely multifunctional throws, art cards that can be gifted, framed, or sent, and so much more. We live and work by that rule.

Say your home is 80% practical and 20% eye-catching. Isn’t that wonderfully simplified living or not? Make sure the basics—your kitchen tools, bed covers, pillows, pet supplies—serve you. Then, reserve 20% for the things that bring you joy: wall art, lovely notebooks, beautiful candles, or stunning dinner plates.

Let go of a lot. Let go of what bugs you. Let go of what you bought for sentimental reasons but now only pulls you back into the past.

First Level: Simplifying Your Home by Decluttering

Sit down calmly in every room of your home. Bring your coffee, matcha, or tea. Have a notebook and a pencil. And look around.

Make a few lists:

• What annoys me...

• What charms me...

• What evokes sentiment—and is that comfortable and/or necessary?

Then, ask yourself: How can I increase practical possessions while letting go of the ones that weigh me down emotionally?

Perhaps you could start a few rounds of letting go—of decluttering?

Create space, also called white space -like one empty shelf, or 'Ma' in Japanese (space that can be filled in, 'possibility'  or 'suspence'). Create room. Space is the most important 'furniture' of a room.

Advanced Level: Hybrid & Multi-Functional Items

For those one step up being ambitious about simplifying their home, design, and upkeep, here’s the next level:

Invest in hybrid & multi-functional items:

• A throw that doubles as a bed blanket and a couch throw.

• Place-mats with two sides: one for breakfast, another for lunch or dinner.

• Art cards that can be framed or sent, or serve as a gift.

We’ve written about this level in more detail in this blog post.

We have a next level! Only read this if thinking about preparing for possible calamities doesn’t provoke anxiety.

Graduate Level: Preparedness

For those who love simplifying home design and home keeping, here’s where we gently nudge you toward preparedness. It might sound daunting, but think of it as an extension of the kindness you’re already practicing—this time, toward your future self and your loved ones.

Incorporate preparedness into your home’s transformation by choosing items that serve you in both everyday life and times of calamity. It’s not about fear; it’s about thoughtfulness and care. Here’s how:

• A new bedside lamp? Consider a solar-charging camping light—cozy for now, practical for later.

• A new bed cover? Choose one that fits in a backpack for possible evacuations.

• Budget and space for new plates? Opt for a disposable bamboo set for when water is scarce, and the dishwasher can’t run.

• Downsized on towels? Buy a pack of paper towels ready for water supply disruptions.

• Cleared out old personal papers? Stock up that vacant space with candles, matches, and high-calorie energy bars.

Think of it this way: the Scandinavians and Finns have long embraced this mindset, and their homes are all the more peaceful for it. By preparing to stay indoors comfortably for at least 72 hours without electricity or water—covering food, light, personal hygiene, and pet care—you’re not just simplifying your home. You’re creating a sanctuary that sustains you through both happy and challenging times. Also, you are helping your country too by being resilient. 

In Short

Simplifying your home design and keeping means gradually investing more in practical (yet beautiful) possessions. Then, move to the next level: multi-functionality, followed by preparedness.

With every step toward simplification, you create a home that sustains you through both happy and stressful times. And remember: this isn’t about living in fear of the future. It’s about living with intention, kindness, and a quiet confidence that your home is ready to care for you—no matter what life brings.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer,  Fine artist at Handmade Luxury Home

&

Marga van der Vet, Textile artist at Handmade Luxury Home