As the school year wraps up, our home always feels like it’s holding its breath — backpacks half-unpacked, counters cluttered, shoes and towels piled by the door. If your house feels like the end of the school year exploded inside it… same here.
I used to think summer meant slower mornings and more peace. But what it usually meant was sandy floors, snacks on repeat, and random shoes everywhere. So over the years, I’ve figured out a better way. Today I’m sharing 5 simple ways to reset your home for summer — without spending a single dime. If you’re in full-on declutter mode already, you might also love the step-by-step workbook I created called Calm Happy Spaces — it’s perfect for this season.
1. Clear the Summer Entryway
You know the spot — the door 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.
If you’re craving more structure or want to go deeper, the Calm Happy Spaces Workbook is a great way to take the guesswork out of what to declutter and when.
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 in the morning. Just enough rhythm to keep things running without the chaos piling up.
Need help establishing those small-but-mighty habits? That’s exactly what The Essential Home Habits Course is for — it’ll help you create custom daily rhythms that actually work for your real life.
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 dolove. What’s served you and your family well.
This kind of mindset shift is what inspired me to create the See the Good: 30 Days of Home Gratitude Prompts. They’re short, gentle reminders that help you appreciate your home, even if it’s still a work in progress.
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 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.