Reevaluating Home Essentials: More Items I've Decided to Live Without

Over the course of my career, I've learned that we often accumulate things simply because somewhere along the line we were told we should. Turns out you don't actually need to own anything you don't truly want or need - and if you pause to question the items that surround you, you might just find you can dramatically lighten your load.

I wrote about home "essentials" I was opting out of a few months ago, and the post was so popular I thought I'd share another roundup of items I have found I can happily live without.

Wrapping Paper and Most Gift Wrap

This is a biggie because most homes I've organized are teeming with gift wrap - cabinets and closets overflowing with gift bags, ribbons, tags, gift cards, and rolls upon rolls of gift wrap for every imaginable occasion. It's like people are running full-fledged gift shops out of their homes! I've found I can wrap literally any type of gift with a single roll of butcher paper and some pretty cloth ribbon. Sometimes I'll get fancy and tie in a sprig of greenery or dried florals. I'm not winning awards for best wrapper, but it feels good to at least know it's all biodegradable - and so much less to store.

Plastic Wrap and Ziplock Bags

I've been on a mission to stop buying single-use plastic for years and despite some resistance from my family (cue the dramatic sighs and eye rolls), I've finally managed to completely ditch plastic-wrap and ziplock bags. Now we opt for aluminum foil, unbleached paper sandwich bags, or my favorite glass food storage containers depending on the situation. I feel victorious!

Office Supplies

When I allowed my children to kick me out of my own office many years ago, I realized that I did not actually need to keep a single office supply. Now my "office" is the dining room table (or co-working space in San Francisco) and aside from my laptop, I own a stack of blank notecards and a couple of pens.

Athletic and Camping Gear

Time to sheepishly admit I don't play any sports or ever go camping. When my kids need gear, we rent or borrow from our sweet neighbors who are legit backpackers or from our local sporting goods shop which rents everything from skis to sleeping pads.

Placemats and Napkin Rings

While I do love cloth napkins and tablecloths, I just can't bring myself to care about placemats or napkin rings, which just feel superfluous to me. Much respect to those who enjoy an elevated table, but I've made peace with my casual table setting tendencies.

Beverage Minimalism

As someone who doesn't drink soda, coffee or tea (nothing against them, just not my preference), our fridge is practically a beverage desert compared to most households. We always have black coffee for Jordan's daily cup and I keep a box of herbal tea on hand for guests because I'm not a complete monster. Other than that it's milk for cereal and maybe a bottle of rosé or bubbly for when we need to pretend we're adults. Our beverage cabinet could fit in a shoebox, and honestly, I couldn't be happier about it.

Books Without Bookshelves

This may be controversial for fellow book lovers, but our 1916 home simply doesn't accommodate extensive bookshelves. Instead, I practice a "read and release" approach—purchasing books from local shops, enjoying them fully, then passing them along to friends or our neighborhood library. My children swap with friends and utilize their school library. We remain devoted readers who own very few actual books.

🔎 READER QUESTION: What everyday items have you discovered you can happily live without? Drop your answers in the comments!

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