Right now we have four kids living here – our three kids and our bonus daughter (our best friends’ daughter who is living with us while she’s in college). I mean, they’re all young adults in their early to mid-twenties, but kids, you know? Anyway, they’re all on different schedules with some in school and some working. And with all those people and schedules, comes backpacks and shoes and lunch bags. Oh my.
So before school is out for the year, and they’re in and out for all their summer activities, I need to get the house cleaned up. Which is why today I’m sharing 5 simple ways to reset our homes for summer, without spending a single dime.
If you’re ready for a full house declutter, you might also love the step-by-step workbook I created called Calm Happy Spaces, it’s perfect for this or any season.
5 Ways to Reset Your Home for Summer
1. Clear the Summer Entryway
You know the front door chaos, the area that gets bombarded with flip-flops, beach towels, and school backpacks that no one’s quite sure what to do with.
Start your reset here. Clear out all the school-year stuff and create a grab-and-go summer zone instead. Use what you’ve already got: baskets, hooks, even bins or cardboard boxes that you’ve stashed away in the garage.
If you’ve got little ones, label bins with pictures. If your kids are older or grown? Label them for them and yourself, because let’s be honest, we all forget where we put the sunscreen.
2. Declutter the In-Between Zones
Counters. Stairs. Coffee tables. All those surfaces where things magically accumulate.
Give yourself 10 minutes and sweep through just one category at a time: papers, cords, cups, water bottles. You don’t need perfection, you just need it to feel lighter.
3. Re-Set Your Daily Rhythms
Summer tends to throw routines right out the window. One day blends into the next, and before you know it the laundry’s backed up and the dishes are multiplying.
Instead of trying to overhaul everything, anchor your day with one or two steady home habits. A 15-minute tidy in the evening. A quick load of laundry or a dishwasher load in the morning. Just enough rhythm to keep things running without the chaos piling up.
4. Create a Summer Sanctuary Spot
In the shuffle of summer, moms often end up last on the list.
So here’s what I’ve started doing: I choose one corner just for me. Maybe it’s a chair by the window. A blanket and pillow outside. Or just a tidy dresser top with a candle I love.
It doesn’t have to be big or fancy. Just a place that makes you breathe deeper when you see it. Trust me — you’ll show up better for everyone else when you’ve got a place to recharge.
5. Do a Gratitude Walk-Through
This one might sound simple, but it’s so powerful.
Instead of focusing on what’s messy or unfinished… walk through your home and notice what’s working. What you do love. What’s served you and your family well.
This kind of mindset shift is what inspired me to create the free 5-Minute Gratitude House Walk. It’s a simple guide that helps you fall in love with your home exactly as it is right now, in just five minutes a day, without changing a single thing.
FAQs
Start small. Even one drawer, one surface, or one daily rhythm can make a difference. The goal isn’t to overhaul everything, it’s to bring a little more peace to your space.
Absolutely. These tips are all about using what you already have, shifting your mindset, and building habits…not adding more stuff to your home.
Begin with the area you see first when you walk in the door. Clearing that entryway sets the tone for the whole house.
A no-spend summer reset doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by clearing your entryway, decluttering key zones, resetting your daily rhythms, carving out one space just for you, and walking through your home with gratitude.
With a few intentional changes, your home can feel lighter and calmer. even in the middle of summer fun and chaos.
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Next Steps
If you’re ready for a deeper reset, don’t forget to check out these helpful tools:
They’ll help you go from overwhelmed to peaceful, one step at a time.
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