26 Ideas to Help you Set Up a Gorgeous, Organized Home (that actually stays that way) 

By Ellie Azerad, Founder of Frum Minimalism 

Over the years, I’ve helped clients set up vacation homes, new apartments, renovated spaces, and just about every kind of home situation imaginable. And no matter the size or budget, I always come back to the same few tricks that make a space feel peaceful, clean, and easy to live in. 

Some of these are classic organizing tips. Some are about ambiance and design. But all of them work together to help you feel more settled, calm, and more at home, even during a busy season.  

If you’re setting up a new home, going to your summer home, or just want your home to feel more elevated, here are 26 of my go-to tips: 

1. Don’t Start with Shopping 

Skip the bins and baskets at first. Focus on systems. How do you use the space? Where do things need to go to make your day smoother? Once you know that, you can get the exact items to support it.

2. Stick to Calm Colors 

You don’t need a designer to tell you this: calm, neutral tones change everything. Go for white, oat, ivory, sand, or flax. They instantly make a space feel high-end and calm. Towels, linens, even containers should all be  within the same color palette and everything feels more cohesive. 

3. Label Everything 

I label drawers, bins, shelves, and even inside cabinets. This way everyone knows where things go, and it makes your life 100 times easier. 

4. Take a Photo of Each Setup 

After you set up a drawer or cabinet the way you like it, take a photo and tape it inside. That way, whoever helps out (kids, housekeeper, guests)  knows what it’s supposed to look like. 

5. Use Beautiful Storage for Everyday Items 

Swap branded bottles for glass or matte pump bottles. Use jars for Q-tips and cotton rounds. These little upgrades add so much to the feel of your home.

6. Think in Zones, Not Rooms 

Instead of organizing “the bathroom,” create a skincare zone, a hair zone, a guest zone, a kids’ zone. It helps you get more specific about what you actually need and use. 

7. Build in a Reset Routine 

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a quick daily reset, right after dinner or before bed, where the family pitches in and puts things back in place. When you expect messes and have a plan for resetting it, you can stay calm throughout the day. 

8. Match Where You Can 

Matching towels, matching bins, matching containers…might seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference. Pick one look and one brand or type and stick to it. Suddenly the whole space feels clean and elevated. 

9. Invest in Uniform Hangers 

This one thing will transform your closet. Matching hangers (velvet, wooden, or even sleek plastic) instantly makes your closet look like a boutique. Goodbye to the mix of dry-cleaner wires and freebie store hangers. 

10. Give Everything a Home 

The reason clutter builds up is because things don’t have a proper and easy spot. Designate a place for every item (and not on your counters, or flat surfaces!). Things like your chargers, tape, sponges, extra shampoo, even backup toothbrushes should all have a real home. If it has a home, it's easy to put it away.

11. Use Closed Storage When Possible 

Hide the mess! 

Open shelves can be beautiful, but for most families, they end up collecting clutter. If you do have open shelves, be very mindful to keep only beautiful items on them. 

Bonus tip: If you see clutter accumulating on your open shelves, put a large, beautiful, deep, non-transparent basket there so you can corral the items and still keep the shelf looking beautiful. 

12. Create a Mood 

Even without renovations or fancy furniture, you can create a vibe. Add soft lighting, candles, gentle music, cozy throws. Make your home feel like a retreat. 

13. Pretend a Guest is Coming 

You don’t need to go overboard. But when you set up your space like someone special is coming over, it helps you keep things just a little more thoughtful and peaceful.

14. Leave Space on Purpose 

Don’t fill every drawer to the brim. Leave at least 20% of each space empty. That extra breathing room makes it easier to stay organized, calms your brain, and gives you space for the inevitable new stuff. 

15. Fold Drawers Like a Pro Organizer 

File folding isn’t just pretty, it lets you see everything and actually makes  things easier to maintain. Works great for clothing, towels, even kids’ clothing.

Bonus tip: Always place the rounded edge as the showing thing. 

16. Create a "Can’t Decide" Bin 

Designate a box for items you're unsure about keeping. If you don't retrieve them within a set time, get rid of them. 

17. One Cleaning Kit Per Floor 

Set up a simple cleaning caddy on each floor with the basics: antibacterial wipes, glass spray, paper towels, garbage bags, and whatever else you use often.

That way, you don’t have to run up or down the stairs every time you want to quickly clean something. 

18. Use a "Clutter Basket"

Put a neutral beautiful large and deep basket at the bottom of the stairs or by the entryway. It’s where things go when they’re out of place but you don’t want to deal with them right now. It helps avoid clutter piling everywhere. 

19. Keep Open Surfaces Empty 

Want your space to look like the fancy homes in magazines? Don’t overdecorate. One vase. One tray. A couple of candles. That’s it. Let the negative space do the work. 

20. Overstock, But Hide It 

You can buy in bulk. Just don’t place it in your prime real-estate areas. Put extras in labeled bins on high shelves or storage closets/rooms. Bulk storage is fine when it’s invisible. 

21. Scent the Space Intentionally 

We love having our clients do this, especially in vacation homes. Pick one signature scent for your home, like subtle vanilla, soft cedar, eucalyptus, or clean linen, and use it in a few different ways: a diffuser, room spray, and candles. It makes the whole space feel intentional, fresh, and luxurious. 

22. Hang a “How to Help” Sheet / SOP

This is one of my favorite low-effort tricks. Just make a simple list of things that keep your home calm and tidy, and post it somewhere visible (like inside a cabinet or on the fridge). I call it an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), but it’s really just a cheat sheet so people can help without asking. It’s perfect for kids, guests, even housekeepers. No more repeating yourself or nagging, just point to the list.  

23. Clear the Fridge Door 

Magnets, schedules, papers, and grocery lists on the fridge make a home feel chaotic. Use a magnetic inside-the-cabinet organizer, or one pretty pin board near the kitchen for papers. Let your fridge look sleek and calm. 

24. Upgrade the Light-bulbs 

Switch to soft white or warm LED bulbs. Harsh blue lighting kills the vibe. A $10 light-bulb swap can completely change the feel of a room. 

25. Use Beautiful Everyday Utensils 

You don’t need a gourmet kitchen to feel like you're living in one. Upgrade your everyday utensils to ones that look good and feel good in your hands. Think: wooden spoons instead of cheap plastic, metal tongs instead of broken ones, matching serving pieces, ladles, spatulas, and peelers that don’t look like they came from the dollar store. 

Same goes for the rest of the house, invest in aesthetically pleasing items that you use daily. The broom. The toilet brush. The step stool. The laundry basket. When even the most basic tools are beautiful, your whole home feels elevated. These little swaps quietly upgrade the entire home.  

26. Corral Items 

Grouping things together instantly makes a space feel neater. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just intentional. Use trays on the bathroom counter for daily skincare. Even a random collection of chargers, coins, and keys can look organized if they’re all corralled into one nice-looking bowl or basket. It’s one of the easiest tricks we do! 

Ellie Azerad is the founder of Frum Minimalism, author, speaker and professional organizer. She offers workshops, and hands-on home setups, specializing in vacation homes in Israel. 

www.frumminimalism.com