Taryn Williford

I recently moved to a new place, and the process gave me a much-needed opportunity to survey the things I own and decide if I wanted to keep them.

It's not a sink full of dirty dishes.

It worked on my planters too! And I already had everything I needed!

Don't toss that water down the drain!

Not today, microplastics!

These suggestions are all so easy, you could start today.

Actually, this rule works for every room of the house, too!

If Ina does it...

No more what-ifs or just-in-case excuses!

This one’s for my black-thumbed brethren. The folks, like me, who ran out to buy a dozen succulents once word got around about how easy they are to take care of. And the folks who, again like me, almost instantly found a way to let their easy-going succulents down. RIP, Sally the Succulent, you will be missed. It turns out that location might have been the piece you were missing.

So, so satisfying.

We explained the CDC's recommendations for how healthy people should be cleaning their homes right now.

These options are equally effective and may be easier to find.

Sometimes, you just need to cram five pounds of stuff onto a two-inch shelf.

Set a timer and you'll be done in just 180 seconds!

There's a big hint in this photo. Any guesses?

Just pick one for now ...

Start here and there are clear rules about what should stay and what should go.

Here's how to make it work.

They have to come down eventually.

"Host" doesn't have to be a four-letter word.

Don't just toss those bags in the garbage!

They'll help you be more ruthless!

The kitchen doesn’t get to have a monopoly on junk drawers.

Set that timer!

Check!

A salad bowl doesn't just have to be for salad.

Before we all hibernate for the season, we need to channel some of this end-of-summer energy into making our homes the calm and in-control sanctuaries they ought to be.

Dusting doesn't have to be futile.

These things can all wait until September!

Used and approved by an Apartment Therapy editor!

Any of you who have ever thrown a party at home (or attended one at someone else’s home!) know that people are drawn to gathering in the kitchen. It’s the same for other things, too — mail, pizza boxes, your partner’s dirty dishes, etc. For this reason, the kitchen is the one space that is most in need of a rigid plan to keep it clutter-free around the clock. So here’s a little tough love, in three easy-to-follow rules.

Choosing the right houseplant for your space isn’t exactly a science. Also not a science? Astrology. But much like covering your kitchen in greenery, exploring what your zodiac sign might reveal about your personality is a ton of harmless fun (for not a ton of money). We’ve taken the joy of mapping sun signs to their houseplant counterparts based on the traits of both the plants and the personality that will be caring for them.

One of the greatest gifts the internet ever gave us was fellowship. Your fingertips impulsively tap out a random thought, hit send, and seconds later the entirety of Twitter is liking it and retweeting it in solidarity. Like they’re saying, through emoji hearts, “I know the feeling, too.