When you start self-hosting, everything feels simple. A few containers here, a few scripts there. Then it grows. Before long, you have dozens of containers, folders, and services running all over the place. That is when organization becomes the difference between enjoying your setup and fighting with it every day.

Here is how I keep my own environment organized and easy to manage. Nothing fancy. Just a clean system that keeps me focused on creating instead of fixing.

Proxmox for LXC Containers

Proxmox is the foundation of everything I run, hosted on a compact Intel NUC that handles it all quietly and efficiently. It gives me a clear view of my machines and containers while keeping power use low. I use it to create LXC containers for smaller services that do not need a full virtual machine. Each container has its own clear purpose and name, like “docmost,” “grafana,” or “komodo.”

This setup keeps my stack clean and easy to manage. LXC containers are lightweight and start almost instantly, so adding new services takes only a moment. Proxmox gives me a clear view of CPU and memory usage, which makes it simple to spot when something goes wrong. I can also take quick snapshots before making changes, so if I break something, I can roll it back in seconds. That safety net makes experimenting easier and encourages learning without fear of messing things up.

Proxmox Backup Server for Backups

Backing up everything is one of the best habits I ever learned. Proxmox Backup Server makes that simple. I have it running on a separate machine with plenty of storage space. Each night it takes snapshots of my containers and keeps them for a few weeks.

If something goes wrong or I change a setting that causes issues, I can restore everything within minutes. It has saved me more than once. I make sure to back up key containers like n8n, Docmost, and Komodo regularly. Backups might not be the most exciting part of self-hosting, but they give me the freedom to test and explore without risk. With Proxmox Backup Server, I can even pull out a single file when I just need one thing instead of restoring the whole container.

Komodo for Docker Management

For managing Docker containers, Komodo is my daily driver. It has a clean interface that makes it easy to deploy, update, and monitor my stacks. I like that it connects to my existing containers without getting in the way.

I keep my Docker apps grouped by category. Media, automation, monitoring, and tools each have their own section. Komodo helps me keep everything labeled and organized so I know exactly what each container does. I also use it to check logs and restart containers when needed.

Using Komodo keeps my workflow calm. Instead of jumping between terminals and dashboards, I can manage everything in one place.

ByteStash for Code Snippet Management

As someone who builds and experiments a lot, I collect small bits of code constantly. ByteStash is where I keep them all. It is a simple, self-hosted app that stores my snippets in organized folders.

I tag each snippet by type. Bash, JavaScript, Docker, or n8n. That way I can find what I need in seconds instead of searching through old files. When I come up with a command or script that works well, it goes straight into ByteStash.

Having a central place for snippets has made a big difference. It keeps my ideas from getting lost and saves time when building new things.

Docmost for Notes

Docmost has replaced all my scattered text files and notebooks. It is where I write guides, ideas, and reminders about my self-hosted setup. Each service has its own page that explains how it is configured, where its data lives, and what to do if it stops working.

I also use Docmost for planning future projects. It gives me a clear view of what I have already built and what I want to improve next. Writing everything down has become part of my workflow. It is not just documentation. It is memory.

Excalidraw for Visualizing Diagrams

Excalidraw is a great tool for mapping out your self-hosted environment. You can sketch your server layout, network flow, or app connections in a simple, visual way. It helps turn complex setups into something you can see at a glance, making it easier to plan future changes and keep track of how everything fits together. Developers will also appreciate how easy it is to collaborate on ideas, diagram API flows, or visualize data pipelines without overcomplicating the process. It’s flexible enough for quick brainstorming yet detailed enough for technical documentation.

n8n for Automation

n8n ties everything together. It runs my backups, sends notifications, updates dashboards, and cleans up logs automatically. Once you start using automation, it is hard to imagine working without it.

I have small workflows that check container health and notify me through ntfy if something fails. Others pull in data for Grafana or send me daily reports. n8n keeps my environment self-maintaining. I can add new workflows anytime without breaking what already works.

Automation is what turns my setup from a collection of tools into a living system.

Grafana for Monitoring

Grafana is how I keep an eye on everything. It pulls metrics from my servers and containers and shows them in one place. CPU, memory, disk usage, and uptime all display in clean graphs.

I keep the dashboards simple and focus on what matters most. If a service starts to use more resources than usual, I notice it right away. Grafana also helps me understand trends over time, like which containers grow fastest or which machines need more storage.

Application Dashboards...

This really has been a love/hate relationship. I stopped using self-hosted dashboards because they never stay consistent. Every time I remove or replace an app, something breaks and I end up rebuilding half the layout just to keep it organized.

Some I really like are Homarr, Dashy and Homepage. They’re fun to build at first, but if you’re like me and always tinkering, you’ll spend more time adjusting them than actually using them. Every little change leads to another round of edits, turning what should be a shortcut into a chore. What was meant to make things easier turns into another project to maintain. I’d rather open what I need directly than waste time fixing a page that’s supposed to save me time. For now, browser bookmarks do the job, and I’ll stick with them until something truly better comes along.

Final Notes and Thoughts

At the end of the day, you have to decide what’s worth your time in your homelab. Not every project or setup needs constant attention, and sometimes the smartest move is focusing on the things that actually make your system better instead of just busier.

Proxmox gives structure, Komodo handles containers, ByteStash keeps my code in one place, Docmost organizes my notes, n8n automates the boring stuff, and Grafana shows me what is happening behind the scenes.

Together they form a system that feels reliable and clear. It grows with me instead of against me. That is what makes self-hosting fun again.