An overloaded sink, toys scattered about, laundry on the sofa: this scene will speak to you. Beyond mere disorder, these small piles feed stress and anxiety, remind you of everything that still needs doing, and create the sense of chasing after time. Many households give up, lacking energy or a method. Yet a few well-spent minutes can be enough to change the mood of the home.
An American organizing expert based in New York, Diane Lowy has made this issue her playground. Founder of the company New York at Home, she sums up her signature tip as: “Dedicate 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening to waking up in a pleasant space, ready to enjoy the day,” she explained to House Beautiful. A minimalist routine, but designed for a home that is ready to be appreciated as soon as you wake up.
A 15-Minute Morning-and-Evening Method by Diane Lowy
Before devising her 15-minute morning-and-evening method, this organizing professional studied in the United States and later worked for companies such as Google or Chanel. In 2016, she founded New York at Home in New York City and has since helped clients declutter, sort, and organize their interiors, from urban studios to large family apartments.
For her own home, Diane Lowy follows a very simple routine she likens to small daily chores. It consists of reserving two fixed windows for tidying: fifteen minutes after waking up, fifteen minutes before bedtime. “This is something anyone can do, and it truly changes the game in terms of a sense of control over one’s life,” she explains, the aim being to make “these everyday moments more pleasant.”
What to do during these 15 minutes to prevent clutter
These express sessions aren’t about washing windows or scrubbing the entire apartment, but about preventing the mess from exploding. Lowy advises focusing on the zones that most affect mood on waking or returning home: the kitchen, the entryway, the living room. In practice, the morning session often consists of straightening what was left out the previous day and preparing a calmer return in the evening.
For example, in the morning, you can empty or run the dishwasher, quickly wipe the countertop, put the sofa cushions back in place, open the windows, and gather misplaced objects to place them in the right room. In the evening, Lowy stresses a key point: do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, because nothing is more pleasant than having breakfast in a clean and orderly kitchen.
The Effects of Diane Lowy’s Method on Home Well-Being
Applied daily, this organization of micro-tasks gradually becomes automatic. According to the article in el Economista that covers her, after a few weeks people get into the habit of these short sessions, which makes the chore less tedious and almost mechanical. The major advantage is avoiding waking up to large accumulations of waste or items lying around, often sources of stress and poor mood in the morning.
This technique also has another very concrete effect: the big weekly cleaning is reduced, since there are fewer things to wash or sort. Heavy tasks take up less space on weekends, and the home remains more stable day by day. Little by little, this 30-minute daily ritual offers a tidy home almost continuously and a calmer inner climate for the whole family.
