I was packing recently for a big trip and while looking through my closet and planning what to take – let’s be honest, I love to plan and re-plan but won’t actually pack until the night before I leave! – I felt the usual temptation: “I need to buy one more outfit. One more option, just in case I haven’t prepared for every possible scenario.”

Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this?! 

I had to stop myself, because every time I travel, I realize that I actually love having fewer choices. Less in my suitcase means I spend less time deciding what to wear and more time enjoying where I am. Less time managing the things I brought – and have more space to bring home souvenirs! It also gives me more space (both literally and mentally) for the experiences I came for.

That little voice saying I need to add more – whether it’s an extra dress in my suitcase, another pillow on the sofa (which will always end up on the floor anyway), or one more motif in a design – can be so hard to resist. But really, isn’t “just enough” where the magic happens?

Oddly enough, my son was looking at my sketchbook that day and compared one page I had filled with slightly chaotic flowers to another with really simple flowers and pointed out, “I really like this full page, but it’s funny how these other flowers can be so interesting even though they’re very simple!”

It was a good reminder to me that simplicity requires courage. It takes faith to believe that what you already have is enough – that you won’t be happier with a little bit more. It takes confidence to trust that your work, your space, or your style won’t be improved by adding more – that it will only become cluttered.

That same lesson applies to our homes. We often think the next piece – the extra pillow, the new shelf, one more accessory – will finally “complete” the room. But the truth is, knowing how to simplify home decor allows us to create a space that feels calmer, more intentional, and more beautiful.

Why We Tend to Add More (and End Up With Too Much)

I think it’s our nature to want “just one more thing.” In design and decorating, it can look like:

• One more piece of art on the wall
• One more decorative pillow on the sofa
• One more color in a palette or motif in design

But often that extra addition tips the balance. What once felt peaceful starts to feel busy or overwhelming. Instead of highlighting what we love, the “extra” starts to compete for attention. Remember the style advice (possibly from Coco Chanel) “After you’re all dressed, a good rule to follow is to go back to your mirror and remove one piece of jewelry – usually the last piece you put on.”

The Courage to Edit in Home Decor

Editing isn’t always easy – it feels safer to add than to take away. But in both creativity and interiors, simplicity takes courage.

It takes confidence to stop at just enough.
It takes faith to believe that your room, just as it is, has everything it needs to feel welcoming and stylish.

Sometimes more is more, but sometimes less is more, and when you edit your home with intention, you create space for the pieces you truly love to shine.

How to Simplify Home Decor: 5 Practical Tips

If you’re craving a calmer, more intentional home, here are five ways to simplify your decor:

1. Start with one focal point

Instead of filling a room with competing features, choose one element to shine. A bold wallpaper, a favorite piece of art, or a vintage rug can set the tone while everything else supports it.

2. Edit your accessories

Walk through your space and remove one or two decorative pieces. Notice how the room feels with a little more breathing room. If you love it, keep it that way, if not – add the pieces back in. You can make or break your own rules.

3. Limit your color palette

Simplifying doesn’t mean only using neutrals, it means choosing a few colors and repeating them throughout the room for harmony.

4. Prioritize function and joy

Keep items that are either useful or make you smile. Everything else is just clutter disguised as decor and you can slowly remove the extra until it feels just right.

5. Trust “just enough”

When you feel tempted to add more, pause and ask: “Does this make the room better or does it just feel busier?”

Simplicity in Creativity and Design

As a wallpaper and fabric designer, I’ve learned that my strongest patterns are often the simplest. When a design has space for the eye to rest, the details stand out.

The same is true in a home. A thoughtfully chosen piece of wallpaper, a favorite textile, or a few intentional accessories will often make more impact than a room full of “extras.” You can find more home decor tips on the blog here!

Final Thoughts: Less Isn’t Just Enough, It’s Better

If you’ve been wondering how to simplify home decor, start trusting yourself to stop at just enough.

Because whether you’re editing your suitcase, your creative work, or your living room, simplicity frees you to enjoy what’s most important.

✨ So here’s a challenge: This week, try removing one thing from a room (or your wardrobe or your schedule) and notice how the space feels. You may be surprised at how much lighter and more welcoming it becomes.