Keeping the surfaces, shelves, and cabinets of your home streamlined can feel like an impossible task, especially in busy households.

I have experienced this keenly as my family has grown and our jobs have moved to a remote-work setup at home. That’s why I am snapping up the $1.25 tray organizers from Dollar Tree, currently available in a bulk-buy offer, before they sell out. Their versatility is ideal for tidying up your whole home with minimal energy or planning.

Applying a simple organizing system, such as matching trays, is one of the best storage ideas professionals use to keep things easy to manage in the long term – a must for busy homes.

The rectangular trays come in an assortment of long and short sizes, and a gold or rose gold trim along the top. This subtle color difference can help you with a straightforward tidying system. Use it to allocate types of items, or to a particular member of the household.

Adding labels, with an easy-to-use, print-at-home label maker available affordably from Walmart, will add further organization to your belongings and be a clever tool you use time and again. This could be because of a change in the function or categories of your storage trays and bins, or because you’re switching things out as the seasons and your household's needs change.

I’ve found it to be particularly useful when organizing my pantry or decluttering kitchen cabinets.

As this is a bulk buy, the retailer notes that some colors may vary. If you’re placing them inside cabinets, this won’t matter, but if you’re planning to utilize them on open cabinets, this may be something to consider so you don't add visual clutter to open storage.

More to Shop

If you like the idea of a home-wide clear-out but would like a few more organizers to choose from, I have selected some other affordable Homes & Gardens favorites, along with streamlining staples that may come in handy.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

I have used the easy-clean, stackable Amazon trays to clear the mess from all over my home, and they are a fantastic budget-friendly alternative.

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If your bathroom is feeling cluttered, you’re not alone. I’m ruthlessly decluttering mine as it’s the only solution for the ‘clutter creep’ that has spread across every surface and cabinet in recent months.

Bathrooms are one of the most functional spaces of any home, and the products and potions you’ll find in these rooms largely have to stay put. A great solution to clearing the mess that can silently build up is using smart organizers that do not impede your access, whilst also using the vertical height available to you.

That’s why I am returning to my trusty 76-cent Amazon organizing tray, a product I have used all over to organize my home.

Why Bathrooms Get So Cluttered in the First Place

Jenny Dietsch, Founder & CEO of Getting It Done Organizing, says, ‘Bathrooms get cluttered so easily because we have adopted a "more is better" philosophy, and we see so many products being sold to us on social media. I encourage you to analyze how many different lotions and potions you have and how many you truly use or need.’

She advises asking yourself the following questions to easily remove and declutter your bathroom:

• How many bathroom products do you have that are partially used, that you do not plan to use again, or maybe are expired?
• How many hair tools do you have?
• How many do you actually use?
• How much makeup do you actually use? How many different bottles of hair products do you have?

Jenny adds, ‘My advice is to truly evaluate what you need, want, and use. If you have duplicates and back-stock, store it in a container in a cabinet and shop from your back-stock before buying anything new.’

Ruthlessly decluttering your home will also help form new habits when it comes to shopping so you don't accumulate things as rapidly again.

As for your bathroom, only keep out what you use daily, and keep rarely used items under a bed or a cabinet elsewhere in your home. ‘I do the same thing with holiday dishware,' Jenny explains, ‘We do not keep it in the cabinet with the day-to-day dishes because that would be too crowded.’

Why Easy Stacking Trays Help to Easily Organize Crowded Bathrooms

I use the affordable Amazon trays all over my home, and I particularly like that they stack but are see-through, meaning when you use them on shelves or in drawers, you can still find what you’re looking for easily.

Professional organizer Jenny likes them too. She says, ‘My team of organizers love these types of inserts to store items inside drawers. They are shallow inserts and best in a drawer, not on the countertop.

‘They are a great idea because they allow you to separate your items into usage categories and keep your drawers neat. There should be a home for everything, and inserts are a great way to corral all of your different items. I also love the mesh over-the-door rack from The Container Store.’

More Bathroom Organizing Essentials

Restore order and calm to your bathroom by ruthlessly decluttering, then implementing smart organization systems that allow your household easy access to everyday essentials without overwhelming surfaces and storage areas with clutter.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Ensure the functionality of this busy room isn't compromised by brushing up on the mistakes to avoid when organizing bathroom cabinets.

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During a recent trip to Spain, where many compact residential homes were designed to sacrifice kitchen space for more outdoor cooking and living areas, I noticed one clever feature that instantly cleared clutter inside.

Instead of dish drying racks next to the sink, they were hidden in wall cabinets, allowing you to double up your drying and dish storage space and keeping the area around your sink clear.

The cabinet above many Spanish sinks I saw allowed space for water to drip into the basin below, but you can easily and quickly recreate this space-saving kitchen storage idea with IKEA’s KUNGSFORS $45 dish drainer, which comes with a drip tray and can be wall-mounted.

I visited Iran a lot as a child to see my family, and this vertical storage trick was also a common feature in apartments across Tehran and beyond. Keeping dish racks tucked into cabinets above sinks was a space-saving design feature that served multiple purposes, and I saw it this week in Spain too.

The benefits of this setup I’ve often spotted in hot and humid countries include:

• Instantly clears sinkside clutter.
• Opens up extra countertop space for food prep in small kitchens.
• No more manual drying of dishes is required.
• As you wash items, you’re also putting them away, reducing chores.
• Removing sink-side drainers allows space for washed pots and pans to dry.

Design Experts Agree It’s a Genius Dish Rack Replacement

Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens, and our resident design expert, Hebe Hatton, explains the problems switching to this style of dish rack can solve.

She says, ‘You could invest in the chicest dish rack, which looks fine when empty, but as soon as you actually put it to use and stack it with dripping dishes, any potential design statement is gone.

‘It's clutter, and it's noticeable – right at countertop level, which can be a busy place at the best of times. If your kitchen design does allow for a dish rack to be taken up off the countertop, it can make a lot of difference, especially if you make it part of a shelving display with shelves above it that you can style with crockery and cookbooks.’

If you need to store wider items, the IKEA item’s separator spikes can flatten down, transforming it into a shelf, while the IKEA KUNGSFORS Suspension rail and shelf combination comes with a shelf for exactly this.

Hebe adds, ‘This IKEA product frees up space around the sink and is more subtle both when not in use and when filled with dishes.’

The fact it has a drip tray and can be moved into a hidden spot makes it extra useful in busy hosting periods.

How the IKEA Drainer Can Help You Replicate This Design Feature

As it can be placed sink-side, inside a cabinet (it has a drip tray) or mounted on the wall, it allows you to corral wet dishes in a multitude of ways to best suit your compact kitchen or busy sink area.

It’s made from non-toxic stainless steel, and the steel wire has a galvanized coating for longevity. The tray that catches the drips from your wet dishes is also made from stainless steel, making it easy to clean lowers the risk of mold, which makes keeping it hygienic all the easier. Simply wipe clean with a spot of dish soap and dry with a clean cloth.

Avoid any harsh chemicals or rough scourers that can impact the surface, however, or it might become scratched.

You can also pair it with the KUNGSFORS suspension rail for an alternative mounting route.

More to Shop

Sinkside clutter is an issue for many, even in bigger kitchens, as the items there are in permanent rotation and a constant cycle of wash–dry-use. Here are some clever sink-side solutions to keep yours as functional as possible without creating an eyesore.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Say goodbye to the traditional dish rack with a clever alternative.

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If you haven't done so already, now is the perfect time to switch bulkier winter bedding to something a little lighter for the summer months.

The Whitmor, Inc Plastic Storage Bag, available at Wayfair, is the perfect solution for packing away items you don't immediately need, as it's lightweight, conveniently transparent for easy identification, and, most importantly, affordable. Plus, it'll make the perfect linen cabinet extension for those bulky beach towels and extra guest essentials when they're not required.

Here's why we recommend it for storing away your best duvet inserts until fall and winter roll back around.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Even the most organized linen closet usually doesn't have space for extra bulky items, such as comforters, duvet inserts, and thick blankets. That's why the Whitmor, Inc Plastic Storage Bag, available at Wayfair, with it's large capacity and durability, alongside the strong handles for convenient portability, is a simple and instant way to expand your storage.

The material of this storage solution will ensure your bedding remains free from dust and any mold and mildew, as well as keeping pests at bay, too. Keeping your bedding free of dust is an essential hypoallergenic storage tip for allergy sufferers.

What Shoppers Say

As shopper Megan attests in her on-site rating, there's plenty of space for all your bedding storage needs.

She says, 'Holds up really well, I've packed and unpacked the same large padded mattress cover in and out of this bag to the max capacity and there are no tears in the plastic and the zipper holds up well.'

Another shopper, Candace, notes it 'can fit two queen duvets in it with room to spare,' and plenty more reviews comment that it's particularly well-suited for underbed storage.

I'd agree − that way it's a storage ideas that's easily accessible but conveniently hidden from view. Its also equally useful for seasonal storage when transitioning your wardrobe, such as a fall wardrobe swap or spring closet swap, for example.

'I purchased several of these bags when they were on sale,' adds verified shopper Kathleen. 'I was able to store many winter sweaters, summer tops and other clothing items in these bags.

'I like that they are clear so you can see what is inside. The bag can really be stuffed and zipped up. Good value, very happy with the purchase.'

What to Shop

Once you've washed, dried, and cared for your comforters and duvet inserts, perfect your bedding storage with my Sleep Editor-approved selection of essentials.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Don't forget that it's essential to air out your bedding, particularly before and after storing it away for long periods of time. Never store it away unless clean and fully dry.

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Stacking organizers vertically is the ultimate cheat for space-saving functionality. That’s why IKEA’s clever pine food stacker is perfect for busy kitchens.

Not only do the curved lines add visual intrigue and allow easy access for cooking, but the materials used are non-toxic and ideal for safe food storage and, therefore, a healthier home. No wonder shoppers love IKEA's CHOKLADHAJ food boxes.

Use them side by side or stacked, in a pantry, drawer, or on your countertop – this compact $14.99 set is so useful for clearing clutter across multiple areas when organizing your kitchen.

The materials of this item are perfect if, like me, you’re switching out harmful plastics in your kitchen to help create a more non-toxic home.

Forever chemicals and microplastics in cookware can leach into or onto your food, which is why IKEA’s pine offering has caught my eye. It’s finished with natural oils, and with stainless steel nails and hardware. This makes the entire set safe for contact with food.

Though, of course, you don’t have to use it for food. It’s a great small kitchen organizer for your smaller utensils and accessories, or even as an easy-access herb and spice storage option.

Why Smart Organizers Keep Kitchen Clutter at Bay

Having simple organizing systems in place so every item in your home has a permanent place is the key to keeping your space tidy long-term. If items don’t have a set home, especially in busy rooms such as kitchens, they’ll end up cluttering your counters, jamming up drawers, or worse, going to waste at the back of your pantry or fridge.

That’s why IKEA’s CHOKLADHAJ food storage boxes are so handy. They’re not oversized, so they can live on your counter if you wish without blocking the space you need to prep meals. They’ll also stack neatly on a pantry shelf, inside an accessible drawer, or on a rolling island. This makes it a useful addition to small kitchens without feeling like you’ve had to sacrifice vital prep and serving space.

To clean, use a damp cloth. The pine is lightweight, and the non-toxic steel fixings make it a sturdy organizer for those heavier produce items. Avoid making it too wet or using harsh soaps, as the oil that’s been used to protect the pine provides a protective layer to stop it cracking or splintering over time.

You can refresh it with food-safe wood oil, such as Howard Products Food Grade Mineral Oil for Wood, available on Amazon. The oil is also perfect for maintaining wooden butcher blocks (our in-house chef loves the Boos Block available at WILLIAMS SONOMA), oiling your wooden countertops, and for taking care of cooking utensils.

What Shoppers Say

Rated an average of 4.5/5, IKEA shoppers love how handy and compact these stacking organizers are in the kitchen, using them for decluttering, space saving on items in the kitchen, or on the table, and even at their home office desks.

Several shopper reviews note the size being smaller than they were expecting from the photos, and note that the boxes will hold enough produce for two people, so if you have a larger family, consider buying two or more sets to allow enough room for the volume of fresh produce your household will go through in a week.

Sheryl did just that. She gave the set 5/5 stars for ‘great’ counter storage, adding, ‘I bought two sets. Needing something for potatoes and onions. Along with somewhere to stow my mortar and pestle. At first sight, they look small, but these are perfect. It is a great solution. I'm going to be getting some more for my pantry.’

Donna, who also awarded the item five stars, says they are ‘so useful and cute’, and bought multiple sets for her home. She says, ‘Bought three and loved them up side by side, perpendicular to the wall, to create a 6” wide “slot” behind them to hold my cutting boards. Bonus: Bread knife slips between two of them, so it’s handy instead of being shoved into a drawer. Love these!’

Megan used it to instantly fix her countertop clutter problem: ‘I bought these for fun because I was annoyed by how much fruit would spill over out of a previous fruit bowl, and I cannot believe how much capacity this has while still taking up so little space on my counter! I bought two sets, and it's plenty of storage for apples, garlic, onions, etc. I have a small kitchen, and it feels like I got a whole new space because of how beautiful these are and how much counter space this saves.’

Others use it as a makeshift coffee station, holding their Keurig K-Cup coffee pods without sacrificing ‘a lot of space on my counter’, cementing the set's versatility.

More Useful Non-Toxic Kitchen Organizers

Keeping your kitchen streamlined is a constant, evolving process as your cooking style changes from season to season, and new small appliances and non-toxic cookware are brought in. It’s important to declutter your cabinets every six months to ensure that your storage’s functionality still matches your lifestyle.

Here is a selection of my most useful and favorite organizers that enable long-term tidiness in my kitchen.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

IKEA's non-toxic bamboo fruit storage tower is also excellent for space-saving organisation of fresh produce, and pretty enough to leave in view.

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For years, the dish rack has been one of those necessary but slightly frustrating kitchen staples. It does the job, of course – but it also takes up precious counter space, crowds the sink, and has a habit of making even the most considered kitchen feel a little cluttered.

Lately, though, there’s been a noticeable shift in how to declutter countertops. Instead of accepting the dish rack as a permanent fixture on the countertop, designers – and increasingly homeowners – are rethinking where it lives altogether. The focus is on using space more intelligently, lifting everyday essentials off the worksurface and integrating them more seamlessly into the kitchen.

Over-the-sink designs are a perfect example of this approach. By positioning the rack above the basin, they free up prep space instantly while allowing water to drain straight back into the sink. No drips, no damp patches – just a cleaner, more streamlined setup that makes the whole space easier to use.

Why Choose an Over-the-Sink Dish Rack

'One of the easiest ways to make a kitchen feel instantly more organized is to rethink the everyday items you leave out,' says Chiana Dickson, Kitchen Appliance Editor at Homes & Gardens.

'Traditional dish racks might seem harmless, but they often dominate the counter, trap water, and make even the tidiest kitchens feel cluttered. Moving your dish rack to a more functional position – like over the sink or onto a sleek draining board – instantly frees up space and creates a calmer, more considered environment.'

A great example of this in practice is the Sakugi over-the-sink dish drying rack from Amazon. Designed to sit neatly above your sink, it uses vertical space that would otherwise go unused. It’s adjustable, surprisingly spacious, and has room for everything from plates and bowls to utensils and chopping boards – all while keeping your kitchen countertops organized and completely clear.

If you don’t have the vertical space for a larger setup, the best-selling OXO Good Grips Extendable Over-the-Sink Dish Rack is a smart alternative. It sits neatly over the sink, keeps countertops clear, and can be easily adjusted or tucked away when not in use.

What makes this kind of solution so appealing is how effortless it feels once it’s in place. You’re not adding anything new – just reworking what’s already there in a smarter, more considered way. Drying becomes part of the sink area, rather than spilling out across your countertop, and suddenly the whole kitchen feels more spacious and functional.

If you have the chance to design a bespoke kitchen, many interior designers recommend installing a cabinet directly above the sink with a built-in dish rack. These clever racks sit inside a bottomless cupboard, so once the dishes are done, you simply close the doors. Everything stays neat while the dishes drip-dry, and there’s no need to transfer them elsewhere – once dry, they’re ready to use again.

The Rise of Off-Counter Kitchen Design

And if a bulky over-the-sink design isn’t quite your style, pot hangers and slimline rails offer a notably sleeker alternative. They’ve become something of a quiet design movement in their own right, spotted in everything from modern kitchens to beautifully curated, celebrity homes – and they strike that balance between form and function effortlessly.

'Hanging storage in the kitchen is one of those simple touches that instantly elevates both style and function,' explains Helen Parker, Creative Director at deVOL. 'A straightforward pot rail above the cooker – nothing fussy, just clean, utilitarian design – lets you store and reach your heaviest pans with ease. It’s practical, of course, but it also makes a real visual statement. You can fit far more than you ever could in a cabinet, and everything is instantly accessible.'

I actually made the switch myself after spotting one in Kendall Jenner’s California home a few years ago, and it completely changed how my kitchen functioned. Everything is within reach, the countertops stay clear, and there’s something undeniably satisfying about turning everyday cookware into part of the display – it's not just for chefs' kitchens.

What I love most is how adaptable they are. Whether mounted above a backsplash, along a narrow wall, or tucked beside the stove, they make use of space that often goes overlooked. The result feels intentional rather than improvised – less about kitchen storage for the sake of it, and more about creating a practical kitchen that works beautifully and looks the part, too.

Shop Over-the-Sink Drying Racks

In a small kitchen, letting dishes dry across the countertop isn’t always the most practical – or elegant – solution. A vertical, over-the-sink drying rack frees up valuable surface space while keeping everything neatly contained. Here, the top-rated designs to shop now.

If an over-the-sink rack isn’t an option – say, due to cabinets above – you might consider the Yamazaki Home over-sink rack, which is sleek, minimalist, and effortlessly movable. Another smart pick is the Joseph Joseph Tier Expandable Draining Board from Amazon: streamlined, practical, and designed to dry plates and crockery quickly without taking up extra space.

Shop Over-the-Sink Pot Racks

It's not just plates; over-the-sink pot racks are having a serious style moment. From sleek modern kitchens to celebrity homes and classic farmhouses, they blend form and function seamlessly – no wonder they’ve become a global design staple. Below, I’ve rounded up my favorite picks.

Ultimately, the appeal of an over-the-sink dish rack – or pot rail – comes down to how naturally it improves the flow of a kitchen. In smaller spaces, especially, it makes an immediate difference – clearing the countertops, easing visual clutter, and giving everything a more open, breathable feel. What was once purely practical starts to feel considered, even quietly elegant. It’s a small adjustment, but one you notice every day – in how the kitchen looks, and in how easily it works.

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Clutter doesn’t just make a home look messy – it can take a toll on your physical and mental health. From stress and anxiety to disrupted sleep and reduced focus, living in a disorganized space can create more strain than most people realize.

Luckily, there are some easy fixes you can implement that will have an almost immediate effect on your mood, at the very least.

Here, wellbeing and psychology experts reveal the ways clutter might be harming your health, and the health decluttering methods you can use to tackle the problem.

Why Clutter Can Impact Your Body and Mind

There are several psychological reasons clutter builds at home, and the more clutter there is, the more clutter tends to build. This clutter avalanche can turn into a vicious cycle that eventually harms your physical and mental health.

Several studies, including one 2010 social psychology study shows that those who perceived their home as cluttered experienced elevated cortisol (the stress hormone) throughout the day. This was particularly true for women.

It is just one of the many reasons your home could be increasing your stress levels. From decision fatigue to physical strain, the increased mental load should not be ignored.

Elika Dadsetan-Foley, a social worker, educator, and mental health practitioner, explains that these signs you need to delcutter can manifest differently for people, be it physically, mentally, or both.

Elika explains, 'Clutter often acts as a form of visual and cognitive overload. I’ve worked with clients who describe feeling constantly “on edge” or unable to relax at home, not because of acute crises, but because their nervous systems never fully downshift.

'A cluttered space continually signals unfinished tasks, which can increase anxiety, reduce focus, and contribute to sleep disruption. For people already experiencing depression or burnout, clutter can become demotivating and reinforce feelings of failure or paralysis.

'For clients with chronic illness, neurodivergence, or fatigue-related conditions, clutter can increase physical strain,' she continues. 'Navigating crowded or disorganized spaces requires more energy, increases sensory overstimulation, and can exacerbate pain or exhaustion. I’ve seen how this can quietly compound health challenges over time.'

Using adaptive pacing while cleaning or decluttering with health challenges, and reducing nervous system triggers when streamlining, can help you start moving the dial carefully.

The Quick and Easy Fixes

It is all well and good to dream of the beauty of a tidy home, but when you're noticing the physical impacts of mess on your system, the dream can feel far off. To declutter when feeling overwhelmed, you need to start small.

Elika recommends the following to organize your home with health and well-being:

• Reduce visual noise: Do not aim for perfection. I often encourage clients to focus on one visible surface, such as a bedside table or kitchen counter, rather than tackling an entire room. Using these low-lift tasks to help you relax when your home is a mess, and clearing a single visual anchor can immediately lower stress and improve sleep or focus.
• Create low-demand zones: Designating one area of the home that is intentionally clutter-light and task-free (even a chair, corner, or nightstand) gives the nervous system a place to rest. This is especially helpful for people managing chronic illness or emotional fatigue.
• Match organization to capacity: One of the most common issues I see is clients trying to maintain organizing systems that don’t match their energy levels or cognitive load. Open bins, fewer steps, and visible storage often work better than complex systems, especially during periods of stress or illness.

The real goal when trying to get on top of clutter creep and restore some sense of control is to stay motivated. That is where the smaller tasks come in clutch, says Ashley Win, organizer and founder of Outstanding Organizers.

'When a home feels overwhelming, people often shut down and avoid tasks altogether, leading to a cycle where more housework is left undone. The most effective way to break that cycle is to lower the bar. Instead of trying to “get organized,” I encourage clients to reset one surface or one category at a time. Small wins rebuild momentum.'

After a few small wins, you might just find yourself more motivated, helping you spring into something such as the Domino decluttering method, Sunday Butterfly method, or Desire Path method.

Our Decluttering Library is packed with different methods we've tested for streamlining, and organized based on your time, energy, problem area, motivation, or lack thereof.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Don't forget to unwind properly after a tough tidying session with the STOP method, else you might end up with decluttering resentment.

A desire to achieve tidying perfection, with everything hidden and perfectly organized, can easily hinder or hijack your efforts to keep your space tidyorder. That is where the Calm Limit organizing method comes in with a brilliant technique for avoiding just that issue.

Instead of striving for housekeeping perfection, this method encourages you to set clear and reasonable boundaries for yourself on how much clutter or mess you can live with right now, so the task of sorting it out doesn't overwhelm you.

I tried this pared-back decluttering method, and it has fast become my favorite way to reset my compact home without all that stress. Here's how to set your own calm limit and use this technique to its full benefit in your home.

What Is the Calm Limit Organizing Method?

The Calm Limit helps you recognise how much tidying you need to do right now to reach a comfortable middle ground between 'perfectly organized' and 'tidy enough to relax' without overwhelm. This method helps you identify the minimal amount of tidying you need to do so you can feel happy in an acceptably clear space and relax, without physical exhaustion.

Pushing through tidying your home when you feel overwhelmed is a sure-fire way to end up with decluttering resentment.

We all have a different 'limit' to relaxation. For instance, my partner is happy to sit and relax on the sofa when the coffee table is covered in everyday mess. Me? It needs to be stripped to the bare essentials for my mind to turn off.

The easiest way to introduce the Calm Limit to your list is by selecting a few low-lift tasks to help you relax when your house is a mess. That way you can quickly restore order without striving for a standard that is neither reasonable nor doable.

Dr. Debrah Kissen, founder and CEO at Light On Anxiety Treatment Centres, explains that this slow decluttering method isn't just ideal for balancing your time; it is a fantastic 'psychological' protector.

'This is a solid approach to reframing cleaning and organizing into the emotional regulation tool, not a perfection project,' she explains. 'Most people don’t need magazine-ready spaces to feel okay; they need visual and cognitive relief. When clutter crosses someone’s personal calm threshold, their nervous system will feel it and send the 'danger' signal.'

That's why decluttering can often prove to be stressful, triggering a stress response in your body that gets in the way of decision-making.

The Calm Limit is also perfect for those who feel too busy to clean or are struggling with emotional burnout.

Dr. Kissenexplains, 'For people short on time, easily overwhelmed, or with perfectionistic tendencies, this method is especially helpful because it sets a realistic stopping point. Instead of thinking, I need to clean the whole room, the goal becomes, what’s the smallest reset that helps my brain exhale?'

In practice, that might mean clearing one surface, putting five things away, or restoring one functional zone. Dr. Kissen adds, 'Those small resets prevent mess from snowballing without requiring a full decluttering session.

'It’s also psychologically protective. Overcommitting to cleaning when you feel overwhelmed often backfires when people start feeling behind and then avoid the space altogether. The calm limit permits doing “good enough tidying,” which increases follow-through and consistency.'

Setting Your Calm Limit

The trickiest part of this method, Dr. Kissen notes, is setting a limit. 'Simply saying you are going to clean until the room looks good enough is hard to define. You end up inadvertently following the domino decluttering method, never reaching your goal.'

This can be further complicated if you often split chores with a partner, adds Cathy Orr, professional organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life. 'One feels overwhelmed by what’s in the room, and the other person thinks it’s not messy or cluttered at all. We organize many homes, so we see this pattern.'

To overcome this and define your limit, Dr. Kissen urges, 'It works best when people set a defined outcome, such as organizing for 30 minutes or cleaning up all laundry off the floor. You have a measurable stoppage point with these types of defined goals.'

In larger households, Cathy also suggests open communication with those you live with. 'Discuss what makes them feel comfortable and what feels overwhelming. It’s a discussion about boundaries, too, as we have seen couples argue that one person is taking up more space in their shared closet than another.'

When working on my more/less list goals and setting my own clutter limit, I made a conscious note of the times I felt at ease in my living room and looked around. I paid attention to what state the room was in and picked up on patterns. The coffee table and area around my fireplace were usually clear, even if the sideboard was not, or there was something sitting at the base of the stairs waiting to go up. This became my Calm Limit baseline.

I Tried the Calm Limit Organizing Method at Home

As someone with neurodivergent tendencies, I am particularly prone to feeling stressed by visual clutter. If the area immediately around me is a mess, I can't 'turn off' my brain and relax. That being said, I am often too tired or too demotivated to have a full tidy up at the end of every day on top of a big reset each weekend.

By setting a calm limit and agreeing that certain everyday signs of life, such as items waiting on the stairs, or the odd coat on the back of a chair, had little to no impact on my ability to switch off, it was instantly easier to find a better cleaning balance in my home. I still tackled the areas and cleaning non-negotiables that irritated me, often taking me less than 10 minutes to do, and could sit down and enjoy my evening afterwards without guilting myself that my home didn't look like a Pinterest board.

It is a fantastic way to make a to-do list overwhelming, which is certain to be my saving grace throughout the low-energy winter.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Need a quick and easy place to start resetting your home? Try the floor method.

Oftentimes, a house is messy not because of having too much stuff, but because it is not put away properly, and this results in messy piles that are then 10 times more overwhelming to conquer.

This is where the Complete Journey organizing method comes into play. It is a simple mindset shift designed to train your mind (AKA hack your brain) into keeping your house tidy with ease.

I tested this decluttering method for a week in my home and found it to be a far more effective one than others I have tried.

What Is the Complete Journey Organizing Method?

The Complete Journey Organizing Method is about mindset and here, you must think of tidying as you would dropping a friend off at home. Since you wouldn't stop the car halfway to their house, you'd take them all the way to do their front door, apply the same rule in your house when tidying.

Don't leave your belongings somewhere that is halfway to their permanent home. Every item has a final destination, and stopping short before you put it back there is what creates clutter.

As a neurodivergent thinker, I am always looking for smart mindset shifts that help prevent clutter. It is rarely enough for me to put items away because that is what I am 'supposed' to do, making it harder to stop clutter before it starts.

I used to be somewhat alright at following a similar one-touch rule. It was a habit instilled in me by my father when I was a kid, but as I got older and I realized he wasn't going to crop up around a corner to tell me to tidy up, it became a lot easier to ignore.

As a result, my home can descend into chaos easily, especially my dining table, which acts as our entry dumping zone for bags, coats, and mail.

The complete journey changes this. In theory, it is the one-touch rule in that you always put something away, not just down, but it reframes the language to help motivate you to declutter.

This subtle mindset shift is a smart way to keep your home tidy when you feel overwhelmed.

Professional organizer Cathy Orr, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life explains, 'This is a great mindset shift. The Complete Journey method is great to keep clutter from accumulating.

'Many people do only half the work of moving something from point A to point B, and this is where the problem lies. If it’s an easy task that only takes a few extra minutes and steps to complete, that should be the rule. It will, eventually, retrain the mind to complete rather than go halfway.

'Some of our clients with ADHD have trouble completing tasks, and we help them see the benefit of completion because it reduces the amount of visual noise in a space. Reducing visual noise increases the likelihood that tasks will continue to be completed entirely rather than only partially.'

Repeated often enough, it helps to break bad home habits and will stop clutter creep in your living spaces.

You don't have to commit to the method with big tasks right away, either, making it a smart habit that can help you build into the domino decluttering method.

Cathy suggests, 'An example is bringing in the mail and sorting it into the recycle bin. It can be done repeatedly so that it becomes a habit. Another example is putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of leaving them in the sink or on the counter. Again, this is a habit that can be used to retrain the way we care for our things and helps prevent a mess around the house.'

It is a known factor in human learning that to ingrain a new habit, it takes at least 30 days of doing it for the neural pathways to build deeply enough for it to become the norm. Don't give up to soon, and if you hit a bump in the road, try again without guilt or judgement of yourself.

What Happened When I Tried the Complete Journey Method

As part of my more/less list for 2026, I aimed to spend less time cleaning up after myself, and I can see how the complete journey method will help me to achieve this in the longer term, having tried it at home for a week.

Usually, I will rely on the ski slope method to reset my home when the visual noise becomes overwhelming, and I can't concentrate, zigzagging back and forth across a room to collect all the stuff I have left lying around and not in their homes.

But not only is this time-consuming, but it is tiring, too. I have also lost many items as a result of my not returning them immediately to their homes (a beautiful gold necklace being one of them).

By reframing the one-touch rule as dropping 'friends' off at their home, helped to give me a new appreciation for my stuff. I have tried personifying my possessions to declutter in the past, and it felt a lot like that. To imbue an item with a sense of 'personality' made me want to take care of it. In my dining space, for example, the coats I love so much were usually slung over the backs of chairs, where they would be rubbed up against or dropped on the floor frequently. I wouldn't treat a friend like that, so they started to be returned to the safety of the hooks on the back of my office door, out of the way of potential damage.

Conversely, I channelled the hate I have for the junk mail that would so often clutter the table to motivate me to take it to the recycling bin. After all, not every item has to be treated as a friend. As with the Kon-Mari method, it's a wonderful means of deciding what to declutter for good, too.

While I haven't been entirely perfect with it, and some hobby items still find themselves lingering on my coffee table for days after I have done with them, the approach is making a difference elsewhere in my home. Now it's just a case of enforcing the habit.

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Meet the Expert

While it can he helpful to optimise tasks for a neater home, there are some tidying habits you can quit to make maintaining your home easier and lower stress.

For years, I kept buying items that weren’t truly useful – they just looked impressive. These purchases weren’t about functionality or fun; they were performative, bought to signal success, style, or financial comfort to others, and often influenced by my social media habits.

Now I am starting to try and cut contact with my previously dependable influencers; however, my eyes are being opened to just what does and does not serve me, and what was acting as a 'if you know you know' signal to people whose opinions ultimately didn't matter.

Now, they all just feel like clutter. These are the three things I've stopped buying to stop clutter and wasted money, and the pro decluttering methods for clearing out the current collections.

Performative Clutter You Can Clear Out Guilt-Free

1. Expensive Clothing

My shopping habit is well-documented and often excused by the fact that the pieces I buy nowadays are well-made from natural fibers. However, just because they're 'investment pieces' doesn't mean I need all of them. In fact, many of them, including several bought mainly for their logos, were purchased under the influence of others. What else screams 'I'm secure' more than good tailoring or a well-known brand stitched onto a blouse? It's safe to say I should have used the ETC method a little more liberally before heading to checkout so many times.

However, these garments are infamously difficult to take care of, clogging up the space next to my laundry basket waiting to be taken to the costly dry cleaners (as I am not confident enough to dry clean clothing at home). In the worst case, they are hardly worn, taking up space in my closet organization, in fear I will damage them.

I am not going back to buying cheap polyester by any means. Instead, to save money at home and stop clutter before it starts, I am going to shift to simply buying less, using the law of least regret to make decluttering easier, and invest in a handheld clothes steamer from Wayfair to make daily maintenance that little bit easier, hopefully enticing me to use existing pieces more often.

Diana Moll, professional organizer and founder of D's Declutrr, also suggests, 'Before buying something new, ask: Would I use this on a regular Tuesday? Does it make my life easier – or just look good? Your home isn’t a performance. It’s a support system.

'And when we choose function with beauty, not image alone, life gets noticeably lighter. If something adds hesitation, stress, or extra steps to your routine, it isn’t comfort,' she adds, 'it’s work. '

2. Decorative Tchotchkes

I have realised that purely display items, such as coffee table books and random figures, really are performative. If you have money and space to sacrifice on items you don't look at, just because it's trendy must mean you're doing okay, right?

Diana says, 'Performative clutter thrives on external pressure. Social media, trends, and “upgrade culture” quietly tell us what our homes should look like and what success should feel like. When we buy into that narrative, we stop trusting our own instincts. Our homes fill with things that look right but don’t function well – and we’re left wondering why nothing feels settled.'

For me, the coffee table books that covered my sideboard were completely unread, and the hand-me-down novels collecting dust on shelves took up valuable space for putting down bags daily, or storing books I actually want to read, for the sake of making my home look a little more like the ones I see online.

Diana continues, 'Here’s what often gets misunderstood: Function doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty. A home can be both visually appealing and easy to live in. True comfort comes from spaces that support your routines, flow naturally, and don’t require constant managing while still reflecting your style.'

When deciding what to do with the items I am decluttering, I assessed the quality before using either a book-selling app or donating them to my local thrift store. I was never going to get the full amount of 'wasted' money back, but at least they could go on to be more useful to someone else than they were to me.

3. 'Comfort' Items That Weren't Very Comforting

Don't get me wrong, I love it when a home looks and feels cohesive. I wouldn't work for a home magazine if I did not. As such, I went a little overboard, replacing items that worked perfectly well with items I didn't actually like to use anywhere near as much, just because they looked better. It was a colossal waste of money, and sometimes created unnecessary trash at home, if not piles of clutter, as I refused to let go of the replaced items.

Nowhere is this more true than of my blanket collection. And yes, it is truly a collection at this point.

When it comes down to it, my favorite throw is a super old one my partner has had since he was in high school. It's far from 'aesthetic', but it is thick and warm and comfortable, and has been with us, moving from house to house with us, for nigh on six years. However, I have tried on several occasions to replace it with alternatives that matched the color scheme better, or were 100% wool, because I felt like I had to – just because designers so often recommend them.

In the end, I go back to that same grey fleece blanket I always have. More importantly, though, I have lost so much storage space to blankets I don't use, with several shoved into untouched vacuum storage bags, from Target, to try and reclaim my space (and I hate to think how much I spent on them).

All in all, Cathy Orr, professional organizer and co-founder at The Uncluttered Life, assures that, 'Homes are to be lived in, not showcases. They are there to support our families and our lives, no matter what they look like to others. As long as a home is clean, decluttered, and organized, any items can fit into the decorating scheme.

'It’s better to work with what makes our house feel like a home than it is to make our house feel like a showcase,' she presses. 'Styles change, and we don’t need to keep replacing just to look like influencers' Instagram accounts.'

How to Avoid Performative Purchases

Preventing performative purchases is so much easier once you recognize the bad habit and make a few mindset shifts to prevent clutter in the future.

For Gayle Gruenberg, professional organizer and owner of Let's Get Organized, this means asking yourself a few core questions before you spend money.

He explains, 'I ask many questions of my clients in order to drill down to the explanations for their behavior, for example, what's at the core of the need to buy these things? Is it the media that convinced them to make the purchase, promising a better life if they own "the thing?"

'Is it peer pressure, goading them to acquire something to fit in with a certain assumed persona? Is it a deep-seated belief system? The voice of someone from their past telling them they aren't enough if they don't have the item?

'Did they grow up in poverty, come from another country, or as a child of parents who lived through The Depression? People are complex and can go through life in a fog, never really mindful of their actions. Getting to the root of why we do what we do takes time.'

Creating a more/less list can be a good way to help you identify what you really want more of in your life, and encourage you into more value-based decluttering.

'I invite my clients to consider their core values around getting organized: What's their big why?' Gayle adds. 'Many have never thought about their core values before, and this can be a shock to their systems.'

If you feel like you're trying to declutter when you feel overwhelmed, it might be a sign that it's time to hire a professional organizer, who can make the process less daunting.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Of course, if any of these items do make your day better and boost your mood, they should stay in your home – they are serving a purpose, after all. There are plenty of other ways to own less without being a minimalist you can try if you're still looking to cut clutter.

Bathroom closets have a way of becoming quiet clutter zones. Half-used products, expired backups, and “just in case” items pile up until the space feels cramped and hard to manage.

Mine is long overdue for a good, clear out, becoming a complete jumble of towels and holiday gift sets, making the doors more difficult to shut every day.

I hardly have time to declutter a bathroom fully, however, so I'm starting with these three things to make a big difference, quickly. Here's why the experts think they're great to boot first.

3 Quick Things to Instantly Declutter a Linen Closet

1. Worn Out Towels

If you want to make a drastic change to your bathroom storage, I find that towels, wash cloths, and linens are the best place to start. They are typically the bulkiest items in your closet, after all, which means getting rid of just one big item, or a few smaller cloths, can make an instant difference.

When clearing out my closet this time, post holiday-hosting maddness, I was on the lookout for the signs you need to replace your towels – fraying edges, scratchy fabrics, staining and bleaching, to name a few. This makes deciding what to declutter a lot easier. The next items on the chopping block were wash cloths that I simply never use, not even when my house was full of guests who may have forgotten some of their own essentials. If they weren't used under pressure, they likely aren't going to be used again.

Towels are one of the many items I never throw out if I can help it. Instead, they are reused as household cleaning rags or used for DIY. Pinking shears, from Amazon, make fabric easier to cut without fraying. If I have no other use for them, I offer them to my mother for craft projects, but they can also often be washed and donated to local animal shelters to help as bedding or extra cleaning supplies.

For the towels you are keeping, Ryan Eiesland, professional organzier at Home Sort, suggests, 'Bathrooms are another area where items tend to pile up, and you likely have multiple products that you want to be able to access easily. We recommend using baskets to store hand towels and washcloths, so they're available to you and guests but aren't in the way.' These Rosecliff woven bins, from Wayfair, are ideal.

While I keep my best bed sheets in my bedroom, if you keep your linens with your towels, it's a good idea to check through these, too. Assess which ones you never use, and which ones are looking worse for wear, before considering repurposing or donating, depending on their condition. For those you are keeping, consider using labeled bed sheet file boxes from Amazon to keep them neat.

2. Excess Cleaning products

Cleaning a bathroom is less than desirable at the best of times, which is why I keep my essential cleaning products in the room they are used in, removing one of the roadblocks to getting started.

However, an overflow of products can take space away from essential toiletries, while making cleaning that little bit more daunting. The solution? Pairing back down to the absolute essentials – A surface spray such as the non-toxic Attitude Bathroom Cleaner, from Amazon, washable cleaning cloths, also from Amazon, and a toilet cleaner such as Seventh Generation from Target.

Cutting back instantly saves space while making it easier to find the right cleaning balance in my home.

3. Non-Bathroom Items

Having lived in a small storage-less home for two years, I have been drawn into some unorthodox storage habits, such as keeping non-related items in one storage unit just to keep them out of the way. However, this unconventional organizing method has quickly led to clutter and makes it far harder to navigate my already tricky home storage ideas.

So, anything that is not directly related to the bathroom is removed. Small travel bags that had been kept tenuously with travel-sized toiletries, overflow laundry items that really needed to live nearer to my washing machine, those sorts of things.

To avoid them lingering elsewhere on surfaces around your home, find alternative storage. Meggie Mangione, professional organzier and author of Give Clutter The Middle Finger, available at Amazon, shares, 'Anywhere you can take advantage of unused vertical space is a win. Stackable drawers [available at Wayfair], small shelves, or risers can instantly double what you’re able to store. This setup may not be ideal for items you reach for every single day, but it’s perfect for things you only need once or twice a week.'

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Meet the Experts

Looking to make 2026 the year you ace your bathroom flow? Check out the five things people with tidy bathrooms always have for inspiration.

Deciding what to keep and what to let go of is one of the hardest parts of decluttering. Every item seems to carry emotional weight, and it’s easy to get stuck wondering if you’ll regret letting it go or regret keeping it and losing space.

That’s why I started using the Law of Least Regret, which is a useful parameter to streamline by. Simply consider which option you’ll regret least in the future: Keeping the item and living with the clutter, or decluttering it and losing the item?

Here's why the experts love this decluttering method, and where they use it the most for more successful decluttering sessions.

What Is the Law of Least Regret When It Comes to Decluttering?

Deciding what to declutter is one of the hardest parts of the process, and many of us find it easier to create a maybe pile that ends up back in home storage anyway. With the law of least regret, you have a better starting point for debating those items you are holding onto, 'just in case'.

To help make more secure decisions, consider the item and think of your life in five years – which decision are you likely to regret the least? Keeping the item and having it take up space in your home and heart? Or getting rid of the item and no longer having direct access to it?

For Cathy Orr, professional home organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, this approach is a great way to detach from material goods while avoiding decluttering regret. It's therefore perfect for tackling bigger chores such as decluttering sentimental items.

'I have found that material things will be missed much less than our relationships with ourselves and others,' she shares. 'People think that if they give something away, they are giving away the memory or the person. Nothing could be further from the truth.

'Memories live inside of us. Therefore, it’s best to let go of things others will not want as opposed to keeping everything to pass on or give to our family and friends. They won’t want what we saved.'

This approach can best be seen in methods such as Swedish death cleaning, Cathy continues. 'In five years, I would be happy that I didn’t burden other people with decisions I didn’t make. This is the philosophy behind Swedish Death Cleaning.

'Holding on to less frees us. Don’t hang on just to pass on an item that will eventually end up in a donation. There is no better time than the present to make peace with our possessions. It’s okay to let go now rather than burdening someone else in the future.'

Growing accustomed to this line of thinking can also make it easier to stop clutter before it starts in the future, too. When shopping, for example, ask yourself what you will regret least in the future: The money spent or leaving the item behind. It makes the approach one of the best ways to live with less without being a minimalist.

I Tried the Law of Least Regret to Declutter

I am at a point in life where I am starting to think more seriously about my next big steps, meaning that decluttering in my 20s has become less about maintaining my home and more about planning for a changing future. As such, it is increasingly important that I ditch maybe piles and declutter.

That's why I tried the Law of Least Regret decluttering method in my home and found that it made it easier to overcome decision fatigue. Using this rule as the litmus test for whether an object stayed or went helped me to be more reflective and honest about what I have in my home.

I used it to target one nuisance that's spread out across my home: Decorative tchotchkes I hardly use. I gave myself half an hour on a weekend, so that I wouldn't rush, and would also have the time to physically remove the item from my house.

What I found while trialling this helpful method was how easy it made letting go of items I previously held only because they were gifts, or because social media made me feel like I ‘had’ to own them.

My piles of completely untouched coffee table books, for example, were the first to go. I could see myself regretting holding onto them and having to pack or get rid of them when moving home soon, more than I would regret letting go of them now and maybe having to replace them if I really missed them that much.

This rule was so effective in fact, that I cleared significant surface space in my bedroom and living room, and now, it's easier to relax across my home. Not to mention that selling a few of the items on online marketplaces put a little extra money in my pocket.

Putting items into perspective by looking so far into the future gave me an immediate sense of relief, while making my home easier to manage.

Perhaps where it is most effective for me right now, however, is preventing future clutter. When shopping, especially for larger ticket items, I find myself asking what I will regret more within the next five years: Leaving it in the store now and not having this exact item, or committing to this item now and having to deal with it when I want to move home (or even move country). The question usually answers itself.

My Verdict: It is certainly a more ruthless way to declutter, and it is a fantastic way to protect your future self from tough decisions and logistical nightmares. It's a 10/10, for sure, and I will be using it moving forward.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

This method can involve making a lot of big decisions quickly. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, consider the smart ways to set yourself up for a successful decluttering session so you don't end up with decluttering resentment.

If you liked this easy rule, our testers also swear by the Didn't Know method. If you didn't know or remember you had a particular item, it's OK to let it go now. Plus, the 20/20 rule can make a decluttering decision much easier.

When we think about toxins at home, most of us picture nonstick cookware or black plastic utensils in the kitchen. But experts say bathrooms can be just as problematic – especially right now, when we’re spending more time indoors and doing seasonal clean-outs.

According to toxicologists, some of the everyday bathroom organizing items many of us rely on could quietly expose us to harmful chemicals without us realizing it. From organizers to bins and caddies, what you store your essentials in matters just as much as the products themselves.

Here, leading toxicologists break down which common bathroom storage items are worth replacing now to reduce exposure, plus safer swaps you can make for a healthier home

Toxicologists Say Plastic Storage Is the Most Toxic Part of a Bathroom

It might be surprising, but the worst toxicity offenders in your bathroom are usually storage items. While they might help keep things tidy, using ones made from toxic chemicals should be at the top of your bathroom decluttering checklists to make a home less toxic.

Bruce Jarnot, global materials compliance expert, toxicologist, and product compliance advisor at Assent says, ‘In the bathroom, personal care, storage, and cleaning products, including dental floss, often contain PFAS.'

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of long-lasting synthetic chemicals often used in plastics to make them nonstick, stain-resistant, or water-repellent. They can accumulate in the body and environment over time.

As we head into a new season and spend more time refreshing our routines and homes, it’s worth noting that studies show PFAS can disrupt hormones, contributing to low mood, low energy, and broader health issues over time. Reducing your exposure now –especially in the products you use on your body – can be a simple but meaningful step toward feeling better in the months ahead.

How to Easily Spot the Swaps to Make

To check if a bathroom storage item contains PFAs or BPA, you can try the following steps:

• Check the labeling or packaging – Look for terms like ‘BPA-free’ or ‘PFOA-free’ (a common type of PFAs) on the product itself, its box, or the manufacturer’s website. Many brands now label items if they are free of these chemicals.
• Look at the recycling code – Plastic items often have a small triangle with a number (1–7). Codes 3 (PVC), 6 (PS), and 7 (other/PC) may contain BPA or related chemicals, while 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE), 4 (LDPE), and 5 (PP) are generally considered safer.
• Research the brand and product online – Manufacturer websites or independent product reviews sometimes list whether PFAs or BPA are present.
• Contact the manufacturer directly – If the packaging or website doesn’t specify, email or call the company to ask about PFAs or BPA in that specific item.
• Use caution with unknown plastics – If you’re unsure, it’s safest to replace the item with ones labeled BPA-free, PFAs-free, or made from glass, stainless steel, or FSC-certified paper rope alternatives.

Luckily, it is fairly easy to switch over to non-toxic home essentials to make your routine less damaging to your health, but don't forget about the toxic items in your bedroom and elsewhere, too.

Bruce Jarnot, toxicologist, adds, 'When shopping, look for items made from natural materials like cotton, bamboo, wool, or glass, and labels that state "PFAS-free" or "PFC-free”. If the ingredient list is long, look for chemicals that include “fluoro” as that signals the presence of PFAS.’

When organizing your makeup and skincare, store them in opaque storage off the counters. This protects them from humidity and sunlight to prevent early deterioration, keeping them in top condition for longer.

Beyond storage, Amberly Johnson, certified toxicologist and director at Utah Poison Control Center at the University of Utah, adds, ‘Our bathrooms are filled with products that can cause toxicity, including medications, personal care items, and cleaning supplies.

'Medications can be dangerous if not taken as directed or if ingested accidentally by children exploring their surroundings. Young children might mistake personal care products or cleaners for something edible. Additionally, getting cleaning products on the skin or in the eyes or inhaling their fumes can also pose serious risks.’

Other Tips For Reducing Toxicity in Your Bathroom Storage

Additionally, when organizing makeup and organizing skincare, keeping products off your countertops is especially important right now, as rising humidity and longer daylight hours can speed up breakdown and reduce effectiveness.

Storing them in drawers or cabinets helps protect formulas from heat, moisture, and sunlight, preventing early deterioration and keeping products safer to use.

Luckily, it is fairly easy to switch over to non-toxic home essentials to make your bathroom storage less damaging to your health.

As we head into spring cleaning season, it’s a perfect time to revisit how we store potentially hazardous items at home. Amberly Johnson notes that organizing medicine cabinets properly helps keep medications safe and in good condition, preventing early deterioration.

She advises, 'Prevention is key to avoiding poison exposure in our homes. Store medicines out of reach or in places where they are not visible, such as behind closed cabinet doors or inside a locked box [available at Amazon]. Always keep medicines in their original, child-resistant packaging to make them harder to access and easy to identify.'

With more time spent at home during the winter months or during seasonal clean-outs, it’s also important to rethink where we keep everyday cleaning products. Amberly adds, 'Don’t forget to organize cleaning supplies the same way.

'Place cleaners, including dishwasher detergent, in high cabinets that children cannot reach, and store them away from food to prevent cross-contamination. Remember, your local poison control center is available 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222 if a poisoning occurs or if you have any questions.'

Taking a few minutes now to reorganize medicine and cleaning supplies can prevent accidents, protect your family, and make your home feel safer and more orderly for the season ahead.

What to Shop

FAQs

Are shower curtains toxic?

Shower curtains are relatively unassuming bathroom items, but they are potentially one of the most toxic.

Dr. Paul Savage, toxin expert and chief medical officer at MDLifespan explains, ‘Most of the ones on the market are made from PVC, which can release volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) into the air.

'These VOCs aren’t great, and they’ve been linked to respiratory issues and other health concerns. Swapping to a fabric or PEVA shower curtain is a simple change that can make a big difference.’

How you clean a bathroom can have a big impact on both your health and your home. Right now, as many of us focus on seasonal deep cleaning, choosing cleaning products that are gentler can make a real difference.

Opt for less harsh cleaners, like cleaning with vinegar, or explore plant-based alternatives to create a bathroom that feels healthier, safer, and more relaxing – turning your space into a true wellness retreat rather than a source of hidden toxins.

Spring cleaning has long been the go-to full home reset, designed to dust away the remnants of winter and prepare your home for brighter days and better moods. But why wait until spring to make improvements?

At the turn of the year, many homes are feeling cluttered, crowded, and mentally draining – making now the perfect time to reset. Rather than hold off for spring this year, decluttering during winter is a smarter, calmer alternative.

Here, experts reveal how investing what energy you have in winter to deep decluttering will pay off later.

Why You Need to Start Decluttering in Winter

When it comes to combating SAD at home, many of us take some vitamin D and hunker down, waiting for the cold and gray days to pass and spring to arrive to pull us out of our funk.

However, professional home organizers suggest that resetting a home to uplift your mood doesn’t have to wait until the better weather arrives. Rather, they urge you to rally what energy you do have to declutter in winter instead.

Cathy Orr, professional home organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, explains, ‘Decluttering can make you feel refreshed and not so bogged down during the winter months. In winter, some people tend to be tired after the holidays, which bring a lot of visual and mental overload and noise.

'When we declutter and get our lives back in order or on more of a routine, we feel more in control. This helps to alleviate the winter blues.’

This is all part of the beauty of a tidy home, Barbara Brock, professional organizer at Barbara Brock, says.

She explains, ‘Organizing a home with well-being in mind offers several benefits, including reduced stress, increased productivity, better sleep, and overall mental and physical health. A well-organized space promotes a sense of calm, making it easier to engage in self-care activities. It also promotes efficiency in tasks.’

When already feeling less than motivated, however, how do you declutter without feeling overwhelmed?

Heather Tingle, ADHD-focused professional home organizer and owner of Untangled by Tingle, suggests using a timed method to help make the task more manageable.

She says, ‘Many people struggle to declutter as they either wait for motivation, which never appears, or they attempt something too big, run out of energy, and end up in a big mess!

'The best way is to plan what you can do and estimate the time it will take, and ensure you have stopping points along the way – so for example instead of attempting a whole wardrobe edit, set yourself a 15 minute timer to declutter your socks and split them into white or black or trainer socks, or walking socks and just do that mini category.

'That way you can compare similar items against each other for easy decluttering, and if you run out of time or energy, you know what you have done, what's left to do, and no huge pile to deal with!’

The try-for-five method is another good option for making a start in the low-energy season. I use this trick to motivate myself to clean as a serial procrastinator. When you need to tackle a to-do list but feel like you have hit a mental brick wall, you try for just five minutes.

If at the end of the five minutes you still feel awful, you stop, knowing you at least got a little bit done. Nine times out of ten, however, I take the approach of ‘I’ve started now, so I’ll finish’, and I can tick the task off.

You can also make some small and calming changes so decluttering is less nervous-system-activating, and therefore, less stressful.

Cathy also suggests starting small. ‘Pick one or two easy things that need attention and do those. Little wins will boost your energy and your state of mind when you’re tired and overloaded. Small wins lead to bigger wins, so this is a way to get started.’

You may well find yourself falling into the domino decluttering method, where small visible successes give you the motivation to do more.

It can also help to focus on the rooms you are using the most, adds Barbara. The room that is most frequented, whether it be a living room, den, or open kitchen concept, is always one room where people congregate. It doesn’t take much to create clutter, so keeping this area helps to clear the mind and destress us,’ she assures.

Picking low-lift tasks to help you relax when your house is a mess, such as decluttering your immediate line of sight, is a good way to tackle these areas and instantly boost your mood without tiring yourself out.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Really want to make a change to managing your home in 2026? Try the declutter 365 challenge to make a small difference that adds up every week. Alternatively, if you need an extra boost, consider turning cleaning into a game to make the tasks easier when low on energy.

When the days get shorter, and we spend more time at home fighting off the cold, retail therapy can feel like the perfect solution. While a little treat on occasion is not a bad thing, it is vital that you avoid going overboard on seasonal shopping, experts say.

Not only are these items locked into use for only part of the year, but they are also rarely timeless and end up quickly looking dated, quickly contributing to clutter and wasted money.

With that in mind, there are five things minimalists never buy in winter to stop clutter before it starts, and what they opt for instead for smarter spending.

5 Things Minimalists Never Buy in Winter

1. Winter Themed Decor

Seasonal accessories can add a lovely, timely touch to your home, but experts say erring on the side of caution when shopping for decor in winter will help you avoid clutter buildup and wasting your money.

Cathy Orr, professional organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, says, 'These items just take up space the rest of the year, and storage becomes bulky. If it costs more to store an item (space or monetarily) then it’s not worth the purchase.'

Rather than picking up specific themed decor with winter motifs, you can opt for more classic pieces to create a feeling, rather than a theme. For instance, this year winter is all about cozy nostalgia, leaning into layering to make a home look cozy without it becoming a winter-theme park.

2. Extra Throws and Pillows

On the topic of layering, just because it is winter doesn't mean you need to go overboard, stocking up on new throws and pillows for the season.

Aaron Traub, owner and professional organizer of The Organizer Directory, shares, 'Minimalists avoid buying additional holiday pillows, throw blankets, or full bedding sets simply to swap them out for the holidays to decorate. They know that these items take up a significant amount of storage space, are only used for a short period of time, and are often forgotten about in bins or closets.

'So, instead, minimalists tend to keep their current high-quality linens year-round, even for the holidays, so things can be simpler, they can save storage space in their home, and they have less cleanup to deal with.'

When investing in the best bed sheets, consider what kind of sleeper you are, whether you sleep hot or cold year-round, or if you need a few timeless sets that can be switched out depending on the temperature outside. As for the best throw blankets, pick high-quality natural fiber pieces such as the West Elm 100% Cotton Knit Throw, which can be used year-round and will stand up to frequent usage.

3. Seasonal Bakeware

Storing bakeware can be awkward at the best of times, and adding seasonal pieces you only use at certain times of the year makes it infinitely harder. For this reason, minimalists will stick with their high-quality dishes no matter what the event.

Aaron says, 'Minimalists typically skip buying holiday-themed mugs, platters, baking dishes, or specialty kitchen tools that are only pulled out for a few weeks each year. These items often crowd cabinets and drawers in your kitchenand can make everyday kitchen items harder to reach or even find.

'Instead, minimalists stick with mainly keeping everyday kitchen items they can use all year, so they don't have to store, swap out, or reorganize their seasonal pieces, and can keep a decluttered, more minimal kitchen all year round.' The classic Staub ceramic baking dish set, from Wayfair, is a good example of this.

The same rules apply to their dining table styling, too.

4. Seasonal Candles & Scents

One of the most tempting displays when shopping in winter consists of home fragrances. With all the cozy winter scents to choose from, it can be tempting to pick up some cookie-scented candles to make your home smell nice.

However, Ottilie Blackhall, Solved's sleep editor and home fragrance expert, points out that it's a pitfall minimalists typically avoid, opting instead to find a signature scent for their homes and stick with it year-round.

'While I do love seasonal scenting and switch out my fragrances throughout the year, I use what I already have in my inventory before stocking up on anything new to avoid waste.

'There is something so elevated about choosing a signature scent and sticking to it. Not only does doing so help define what your home fragrance says about you, but it also serves to reduce clutter, cut spending, and curb overconsumption.

'In turn, this also leads to less household waste, and also means when you return home and smell that chosen signature scent, your body will know you're home. For example, I always use my Diptyque Ambre Reed Diffuser in my bedroom, though it's typically a more autumnal or wintery scent, I now associate it with relaxation year-round.'

5. Excess Winter Accessories

Winter is the most chaotic season for our entryways. An influx of bulky coats, shoes, and winter gear makes them tricky to keep organized. That's why minimalists avoid adding to the mess by limiting their winter garment shopping.

Unless your coats, gloves, and scarves are physically worse for wear and no longer keep you warm or dry, there is rarely a reason to add more to your collection. Doing so is one of the main pitfalls that make an entryway look cluttered.

If you decide you want a different style, follow the one in, one out method to avoid a serious buildup of mess by your front door. Keep the items you do have organized neatly in storage baskets from Target to keep them together.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

Looking for more ways to cut clutter and stress without downsizing everything you own? There are some great ways to own less without being a minimalist that can help you with your goals.

Vision Board Decluttering helps you get clear on your ideal lifestyle before you start decluttering, so your decisions are guided by vision rather than guilt or obligation.

As a professional organizer, it's a method I highly recommend, as the process of streamlining can often feel overwhelming, leaving people feeling stuck in the decision-making process. Using a vision board for the task helps you discover what truly sparks joy for you, not what you think you should want.

I've been hosting Vision Board Decluttering parties for years, and I've found that this process gives people awareness about what they want before they consciously know it. This decluttering method meets you in that space between not-yet-knowing and knowing. Here's how to tap into the technique.

What Is Vision Board Decluttering?

In the KonMari Method, before you declutter a single item, you're asked to envision your ideal lifestyle. In Japan, they call this kurashi, which means imagining what a perfect day looks like in your world. A vision board is a powerful way to do exactly that.

When deciding what to declutter, rather than starting with 'what should I get rid of?, you start with 'what kind of life do I want to live?' When you get clear on that vision first, the decluttering decisions become much easier. You're not just eliminating things. You're making room for the life you actually want.

A vision board creates a touchstone you can return to throughout the year when making decisions about what to keep, what to let go, and what to bring into your home. And it helps you move from reactive tidying to intentional living.

For example, years ago, I put a picture of a backlit microphone on my vision board. I had no idea why. I had a fear of public speaking. Today, I'm a paid trainer and public speaker. My deeper wisdom knew before my conscious mind was ready. This is what vision boards can do when you trust them.

Creating Your Decluttering Vision Board

There are two ways you can create a vision board for your home and set yourself up for successful decluttering sessions in 2026: Physical and Digital.

I prefer the tactile experience of physical vision boarding because it allows you to flip through magazines and let images find you, rather than searching for something specific. Digital vision boards work well if you prefer screens or want something you can access on your phone.

The format matters less than the approach. Trusting your intuitive pulls rather than your logical mind, and protecting what emerges.

Creating a vision board in a community adds another layer: Shared witnessing. When others hold your vision with tenderness and care, it takes root more deeply. You also see how uniquely each person's vision unfolds, which permits you to trust your own pulls. Working together or body doubling can also be a fantastic way to feel motivated to declutter.

For Physical Vision Boards

• Prime your intuition first. As with value-based decluttering, before you flip through a single magazine, spend some time journaling on these prompts:
  • What does a perfect ordinary day look like for you? Walk through it from morning to night.
  • How do you want to feel this year? What qualities do you want to embody?
  • What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?
    What are the important things in your life that you want to protect?
• Gather your materials. For physical boards: A stack of magazines, catalogs, or old books you're ready to release; poster board or large paper; glue stick and scissors; a comfortable space to spread out.
• Flip and rip. Let the images find you. Flip through magazines without hunting for anything specific. When something sparks, whether it's a photo, a word, or a color, rip it out. Don't question it. Don't analyze it. Just collect. This is about receiving, not searching.
• Sort and notice. Spread out everything you've collected. Look for patterns, but don't force them. Notice what surprises you. You might be living a busy life and find your images are all calm and serene. Trust what emerges.
• Arrange and create. Follow your intuition for placement. Some people use mostly photos, some prefer words, and some draw. There's no right way, only your way. A simple list can work too. Write down words, phrases, and descriptions of scenes that appeal to you. This is essentially what the journaling prompts accomplish.
• Protect your vision. Keep your board somewhere private, ideally your 'power spot', as Marie Kondo calls it. That place in your home that feels most sacred to you. This could be your home office, or a cozy nook where you go to relax, for example.

For Digital Vision Boards

The key to keeping the discovery aspect intact when searching digitally is to search for feelings, words, and categories rather than specific objects. Search 'serenity' or adventure', 'creativity' or 'connection', rather than 'beach house' or 'new car'. You can also search around different pillars of life: Love, friendship, creativity, rest, work, spirituality, and community. This keeps you open to surprise rather than hunting for things you've already decided you want.

A folder of images on your phone or computer, gathered over time, that you review periodically, can also work as a quick vision board for decluttering.

Essential Tools

For physical decluttering vision boards:

• Any magazines you have around the house, catalogs you've received, or old books you're ready to release (this is decluttering in action!). You can also find vision board books designed for cutting up on Amazon if you have nothing at home.
• Poster board, from Target, or large paper. I like standard foam board from any craft store.
• A good glue stick, such as Elmers, from Target.
• Comfortable scissors, also from Target.

For digital decluttering vision boards:

• A canvas to build your board: Canva, Milanote, Adobe Express, or Google Slides
• Image sources to search: Unsplash, Pexels, Pinterest, or Google Images

What to Avoid

• Don't overthink your choices. The whole point is to trust your intuitive pulls and avoid decision fatigue rather than use your logical mind. If you find yourself analyzing why you're drawn to an image, you've moved out of the creative flow.
• Don't share your vision board with everyone. Your vision is a delicate seed. Not everyone in your life will hold it with care. Keep it somewhere private and be selective about who you show it to.
• Avoid goal-driven searching. If you're making a digital board, search for feelings and qualities rather than specific objects. And avoid algorithm-driven platforms that feed you more of what you've already seen. You want fresh discovery, not confirmation of your past.
• Don't skip the journaling. The prompts aren't busywork. They prime your intuition so the image-gathering process is richer and is a great mindset shift to help prevent clutter, too.

Why it Works

Vision comes before decluttering success – this is the heart of the KonMari approach, and it's the method we use inside KonMari Club, Marie Kondo's official membership community.

When you're clear on how you want to feel in your home, whether that's calm, creative, or connected, every decluttering decision becomes easier. Instead of asking, 'Should I keep this?', you ask, 'Does this support the life I'm creating?'

The vision board becomes a filter for decisions throughout the year. When you're deciding whether to keep something, you can ask: 'Does this fit the life on my board?' When you're tempted to buy something new, you can check: 'Does this align with my vision?' When your space feels cluttered again, you can return to the board and remember what you're making room for.

Inside KonMari Club, members revisit their vision throughout the year across 12 life areas, which is why the transformation sticks; the vision isn't a one-time exercise, it's a living guide you return to again and again.

The same benefit can be had from your decluttering vision board.

What to Shop

Tidying isn't just about having less stuff. It's about creating space for the life you actually want.

A vision board makes that life tangible and gives you something to move toward, not just away from.

Just be sure to avoid some of the most common Kon Mari tidying mistakes to really reduce stress.

Clutter doesn’t just take up space – it can drain your time, energy, and even your finances. The good news is that you can take control by changing how you approach what you own and working to own less overall.

From reducing unnecessary purchases to streamlining daily routines, having fewer belongings can make your home easier to manage and your life less stressful. You don't have to be a minimalist, but picking higher-quality belongings over higher-volume ones can have a drastic impact on your home.

Here’s how to put these slow decluttering principles into practice, with expert tips for buying less, selecting better, and creating a home that truly works for you.

3 Small Mindset Shifts So You Can Own Less in 2026

1. Identify and Avoid Duplicates of Items

There is a beauty to a tidy home, but it stretches beyond the visual aesthetics. Choosing to be content with fewer, higher-quality items can instantly result in a less stressful, less cluttered space.

Meghan Cocchiaro, certified professional organizer and founder of Organized by Meg, explains, 'You reduce stress when you own less because there’s less clutter to physically manage and a lighter mental load to carry.'

Clutter can cloud thinking, reduce productivity, and force you to spend time on things that don’t add value to your day, she adds.

While you may associate this way of living with stark minimalism, Heidi Ganser Lang, professional home organizer and owner of Juniper Organizing, emphasizes that it doesn’t mean deprivation or tiny-home living. Instead, owning less is about creating space for the things you love, for your family, your schedule, and your budget.

One practical way to live with less is to avoid costly duplicates. Start by identifying items you already own in multiples and ask yourself:

• Do I use this regularly, or is it gathering dust?
• Does this version serve a different purpose, or is it redundant?
• Would keeping just one or two meet my needs without feeling restrictive?

Meg adds that this intentional decluttering saves significant time, as you are not constantly fighting to tidy your home when you feel overwhelmed, and dealing with stress after decluttering.

By assessing duplicates and being intentional about what you keep, and what you buy next, you not only own less – you make your home more functional and more peaceful.

2. Consider Materials Closely When Shopping

It may sound obvious, but deciding to purchase fewer, higher-quality items is one of the best ways to be more sustainable at home.

Purchasing less means fewer opportunities to create unnecessary trash at home, while investing in higher-quality products means they are less likely to need frequent replacements.

In a similar vein, owning less means you can optimize storage to avoid costly duplicates.

To achieve this, use the Edit the Cart method to ask yourself several important questions before spending:

• Do I truly need this?
• Do I already have something that serves the same purpose?
• Will this item last? Considering not only how long you see yourself enjoying the item, but also what the item is made of and the quality of its construction.

The higher quality items you invest in will likely have a lower environmental impact, too.

While this is not the case for every item, shopping for pieces made from quality natural materials such as cotton and wool reduces reliance on plastic in production streams. This, in turn, has a knock-on environmental impact that stretches beyond your home.

This is especially true if the materials used are recycled or made from fast-growing natural products such as bamboo, which puts less of a strain on the production chain and planet.

This approach to shopping is also a great way to create a non-toxic home, helping to cut plastic use and toxic chemicals through swaps to natural materials such as glass.

3. Reconsider Your Spending Habits

When finding ways to save money at home, most of us consider how to cut energy bills first. While this is a noble pursuit and can also help you to be more sustainable, being content with buying less also equals savings.

Even when you are investing in more high-quality items, these pieces will usually last longer than the cheaper pieces you were buying en masse before. Over time, it all adds up to significant savings.

Meghan explains, 'You save money by not buying unnecessary things or things in unnecessarily high quantities. Items are not being wasted because they are not being used, and this goes for both clothing and hobby items, as well as food and personal products.

'I spend more money on the items I do purchase, but in fewer quantities and in timeless choices, so that those items last far longer than buying higher quantities of cheap stuff,' she adds.

To do this yourself, consider the following when adding items to your cart:

• Am I buying this because I need it or just because it’s available?
• Is there a higher quality version available that will last longer? Even if it costs slightly more.
• Do I already have something similar that serves this purpose?
• How long have I been thinking about this item? Is it a considered choice, or an impulse buy?

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Really want to cut down on waste and prevent clutter in your home? Consider taking part in the under-consumption trend to tackle bulk-buy build-up.

Now that 2026 is officially in full swing, your resolutions are likely focused on tidying, cleaning, and decluttering. And, if the latter is top of your list this year, where's best to get started?

It's easier than you may think, as there are seven things our professional organizers say you can throw out this weekend and not miss all year long.

Here, they share which items to banish with decluttering methods before next week.

7 Things You Can Get Rid of This Weekend for a Streamlined 2026

1. Say Goodbye to Clothing You Don't Wear

As Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, says, if your goal in 2026 is to dress with intention or maintain a capsule closet, utilize closet decluttering tips to support that look.

'A packed closet makes mornings harder, not easier,' she explains. 'When everything is fighting for attention, you default to the same few pieces anyway. Letting go of clothes that don't fit your style, your lifestyle, or your body right now clears the path for the version of you you're trying to show up as.'

For this, she suggests, start by defining the 'vibe' you're going for, whether it's casual, polished, comfortable, elevated, or a mix.

'Then, remove anything that doesn't fit that vision, doesn't fit your body, or makes you feel "off." Keep pieces that mix and match easily. Matching hangers and a simple closet divider,' such as the bestselling SKUBB Organizer available at IKEA, 'instantly make a capsule wardrobe feel intentional and calm.'

Cathy Orr, cofounder of The Uncluttered Life, adds that it's 'time to face the music and the mirror,' this January, and let go of any clothing that doesn't serve you well.

'Keep only that which makes you feel good about yourself and your future direction,' she advises. 'Let go of who you thought you were or might be. Stand in your present self and select clothing that represents who you are now.'

2. Declutter Your Paper Clutter

Next, according to Cathy, it's time to get rid of paper clutter.

'This includes to-do lists you never accomplished, journals that are half full, letters you meant to write, receipts you no longer need, and articles you meant to read,' she says. 'If you didn't accomplish them in 2025, don't carry them into the new year.

'Recycle paper wherever you can, and move on to 2026 without the heaviness of paperwork. This also includes holiday cards that you've kept for way too long.'

For any documents you do need to keep, organize your paperwork at home with file folders and wall organizers, such as the Pen+Gear Acrylic Wall Pocket available at Walmart.

3. Get Rid of Food You Haven't Eaten

After the holiday period, you'll often find your cabinets and pantries packed full of food you didn't, and probably won't, eat. Therefore, now is the perfect time to declutter your pantry.

'Take anything that isn't expired to your local food bank,' says Cathy. 'Leave guilt behind that you spent money on something and didn't eat it. Before food expires, let others enjoy it.

'Be intentional in giving so that each time you reach into the pantry, you don't feel guilty for wasting food or money.'

After decluttering, you'll be able to use some pantry organizing tricks and invest in some pantry organizers that professionals always buy. 'Clear bins work great because you can see what you have, which makes cooking feel less overwhelming,' adds Di.

For this, we recommend the YIHONG Clear Pantry Organizer Bins available at Amazon.

4. Don't Let Digital Clutter Follow You Into 2026

Once you've tackled your paper clutter, the same applies to digital clutter. You'll need some digital decluttering methods for this.

'Let go of pictures that don't bring you happiness, unnecessary mail in your inbox, projects that you never started,' advises Cathy. 'Again, start the year off right with a lighter load. Unsubscribe, delete, and let go so you can start fresh in 2026.'

We'd also recommend tidying up your digital items, such as your phone, smart watch, chargers, and laptop. The SUPERJARE Nightstand with Charging Station available at Amazon is perfect for this.

5. Clear All Surface Clutter For Less Visual Stress

'If your goal is to be more present with your loved ones, declutter surface clutter in your living spaces,' adds Di. 'Surface clutter is sneaky.

'Papers, random toys, remotes, mail, and half-finished projects pull your attention even when you’re not actively thinking about them. A cluttered space makes it harder to relax, connect, and actually be with the people in the room.'

So, to clear and reduce visual clutter in a living room, for example, begin by letting go of old magazines, random décor you don’t love, and toys that aren't being used. The same applies if you're looking to clear visual clutter in a bedroom or keep kitchen counters clear.

'Keep only what supports how you actually live in that space,' she says. 'Use baskets or lidded bins to contain what needs to stay, instantly reducing visual noise.' For this, we recommend this three-pack of Small Storage Baskets for Organizing available at Amazon.

Using the Sunday Butterfly Decluttering Method or the Roving Junk Drawer trick can really help if you struggle to focus or are short on time.

6. Remove Kitchen Items You Never Use

What about those kitchen items you never use? It's best to declutter those items like a line cook, suggests Cathy.

'Go through duplicates that you never reach for when cooking, appliances that are broken or don’t work right, things that have frayed cords, or that you have no use for,' she says. 'Let go of things that others can use by donating them.

'Now is a time to do a great kitchen reset for the new year. You’ll never miss what you never used. Go through chipped mugs, food containers without lids, and little packets from take-out or delivery that just accumulate. Let them go.'

The Didn't Know decluttering method is brilliant for this – if you didn't even know you had something, or had forgotten about it, you definitely don't need to keep it.

And, if you need any replacement food containers, we recommend investing in the Joseph Joseph Nest Lock 10-Piece Plastic Food Storage Containers available at Amazon. They are space-saving as they nest inside each other, and BPA-free.

7. Move on From Items That Are Tied to Guilt and 'Someday'

Finally, says Cathy, 'Let go of anything that doesn't make you happy and that causes feelings of guilt every time you look at them. This can include craft items, workout gear that you never used, books you thought you should read but didn't.

'Let go of projects that you just didn't want to do, but kept on your to-do list because of obligation. This also includes gifts you've been given in 2025 but didn't use because they didn't suit your tastes. It's okay to let all this go.'

As Di warns, any items that make you feel guilty steal your energy, and remind you every time that you see them that you should be doing something, but aren't. That's why learning to let go of them is one of the most valuable decluttering lessons you can learn.

'Letting these items go frees up mental space and time for what actually fits your life right now,' she adds. 'Keep only what you genuinely enjoy or realistically use. For what stays, store it neatly in one contained area so it doesn't bleed into your everyday life.' A storage basket, such as the Homezone Natural Handwoven Seagrass Basket available at Walmart, will work well for this.

You can read more about decluttering the items your fantasy self holds on to in our dedicated guide.

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

'The real reset happens when your home supports your goals instead of fighting them,' concludes Di. 'When your space matches your intentions, daily choices get easier – and that’s when change actually sticks.'

That's why it's important to be more ruthless when decluttering this January.

At the beginning of a new year, a big 'Declutter 365' challenge can sound like the fresh start your home needs. Unfortunately, many of us begin with good intentions, only to quit within weeks, frustrated by the magnitude of the commitment.

But it doesn't have to be this way, however. Professional organizers say the secret is consistency over intensity, focusing on small wins that build up over time.

Here's how they would complete a successful Declutter 365 challenge, and the decluttering methods you can use to see you through to the end. And, you can start yours at any time.

How to Do a Declutter 365 Challenge

A Declutter 365 challenge is exactly as it sounds. You commit to a small decluttering goal every day to gradually reduce clutter in your home over the course of a year, or to stop clutter before it starts by building new habits.

Decluttering every day can be a daunting prospect, however, and can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed when decluttering, leading to stopping before completion.

That's where professional organizers say so many of us get it wrong. The trick, they say, is not to see decluttering just as a big project, but as smaller, isolated actions that all contribute to less belonging over time.

This could mean recategorizing clutter to not only include those items clogging up home storage, but also smaller things lingering on surfaces, such as mail and trash. and using the no pile rule to reduce clutter each day.

Alternatively, for Cathy Orr, professional home organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, this means spreading the tasks out weekly, rather than daily, to ensure you are setting yourself up for successful decluttering sessions.

'I find the easiest way to look at a year of clutter reduction is to do one room at a time to get a really good handle on clutter. Take the total number of rooms in your home (including organizing a garage and/or attic storage) and divide it by 12. If you have more than 12, group like rooms together. For example, all your bedrooms.

'Next, get out your calendar [or invest in a stunning weekly desk planner, from Anthropologie, to help motivate you to declutter] and schedule by month. Actually write the room you’ll be focusing on each month.

'Then, take that room and divide it into sections. For example, in January, I am going to declutter the kitchen. The first week, I’ll do the pantry. The second week, I’ll do the refrigerator and freezer. The third week, I’ll do the cabinets. In the fourth week, I’ll do the countertops. Then, start.'

Another key reason people often quit the Declutter 365 challenge too soon is failing to give themself breathing room within the challenge.

Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, learning strategist and founder of Awakened Learning, explains that, all too often, people have an over-idealised view of the year ahead in January. As a result, 'there is a tendency to turn everything into a "challenge." A new regimen, protocol, or optimization system. But, these carry an energy of a sprint, which is by nature doable only for a short time.'

To avoid decluttering burnout, she urges us to consider and anticipate roadblocks alongside the potential successes. 'What happens when you or a kiddo gets sick? What about holidays, vacations away, and welcoming visiting friends and family? It's crucial to identify what might create friction in the coming 365 days. And, not just the external variables like family or work responsibilities and peaks in demands, but also internal challenges, like procrastination or waning motivation.'

Giving yourself some grace in advance can ensure that, should you hit a roadbump, you don't derail completely.

If you're prone to procrastination, you can implement a plan, such as the Try-for-Five rule, to try to keep yourself on track. And for those weeks when you're too busy to clean or declutter? Remind yourself that life happens, and you can always pick it up another day.

Saying goodbye to housekeeping perfectionism can alleviate some of the nervous system activation that happens when decluttering feels stressful. You can make things easier by focusing on the things you can safely get rid of and not miss first.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Pair your efforts with some simple home organizing ideas throughout the year, and by the end of your Decluttering 365 Challenge, you'll have a perfectly tidy home with stunning systems, ready to carry you forward for years to come.

My shopping habit for clothes has been well-documented. It is one of the many reasons why I can test so many clothes decluttering tricks, after all. However, for 2026, I've decided to make a real change to stop accumulating clothes clutter for good.

The solution is the Influencer Lookbook decluttering method. It may sound superficial, but I can assure you it is one of the most ruthless and in-depth closet decluttering tricks I have ever tried.

The premise is simple, even if the execution is time-consuming, you create styled outfits with every piece of clothing you own to create an influencer-style lookbook. Here's how it works to help you cut clutter and stop it from building in the future.

What is The Influencer Closet Decluttering Method?

This ruthless decluttering method was inspired by the online influencer trend of creating lookbooks – the practice of curating complete outfits and taking pictures of them to inspire others and showcase their styling skills. You will find them every time you search for outfit inspiration online.

I was tired of opening my closet, facing the cluttered mess of a rail, and feeling like I had nothing to wear, only to resort to wearing the same, safe outfit. Half of my clothes were going unused, and I was constantly shopping for new items, thinking it might fix the problem.

Spoiler alert: It was only making it worse, making my closet even harder to navigate, giving me more choices, and leaving me with decision fatigue.

So, desperate to make better use of the items I already owned to save money at home and stop creating unnecessary trash, I pulled all my garments from my clothes storage and fashioned myself as an influencer would for the day.

In a similar vein to the chaos decluttering method, pulling every piece out of storage meant that I was forced to pick up each piece individually and make a decision about it before putting it back into my storage.

With the Influencer Lookbook method, however, you try on every single item and try to make as many outfits as possible with it. My process involved working one top at a time (as I have more tops than skirts or trousers), and trying on every bottom I have in order.

When I found a combination that worked, I would then try on shoes and bags, styling the outfit as if I were about to leave the house to find new combinations I might not have considered before. I then took a picture of the result and moved on to the next.

Admittedly, it took hours. It is a far cry from the Lunch Break method, or the quick and easy Threshold Test, where you can declutter clothes fast. However, it is a great trick to streamline more ruthlessly and really think about how you can use and combine the items you keep.

What the Experts Think

For professional organizers, there are both pros and cons to this method.

Isabella Flores, cleaning expert and organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego, begins, 'The Influencer Look Book Method is successful for many reasons; most importantly, it forces individuals to interact with their clothing rather than simply possess it. Quickly, you will find items that are merely space hogs and items that consistently perform their duties as essential items in your closet.'

However, she warns that if you are not in the right frame of mind or try to do too much too quickly, it can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed when decluttering.

To counter this, you can break down the task of outfit creation. Isabella advises, 'Pull out around 20 of your favorite clothing and accessory items, and spend one hour creating five to 10 different outfit combinations.

'Take photographs or save the combinations to a Pinterest board, and use these combinations to evaluate the remainder of your clothing collection. Any items that are unable to be incorporated into at least one of the previously created combinations become eligible for donation.'

Alternatively, Nikki Venus, business style coach and owner of Nikki Venus & Company, suggests breaking the task down into categories, 'The issue is when you're building a lookbook around outfits that don't reflect your real life. If the majority of those looks don't support how you actually spend your day, you've created more visual clutter, not clarity.'

Letting go of the items your fantasy self holds on to is a mindset shift for sure, but it is a game-changer. Meeting your wardrobe where your life is at is the best way to make sure every item that remains really gets used.

Nikka adds, 'Once you identify your top three to four lifestyle activities, such as work, social events, travel, casual daily wear, fitness, etc., then you go to the closet and assess whether your wardrobe supports those areas. Those categories become the priority. Everything else becomes secondary.'

You can then donate, sell, recycle, or discard the rest.

I Tried the Influencer Lookbook Decluttering Method

All in all, the influencer method is a more intense streamlining process, but it is, by far, one of the most effective methods I have ever tried.

By trying on every single item of clothing in context, I was able to accurately identify the pieces that no longer fit me, looked unflattering, or didn't work with anything else I owned.

The method is also a great way to stop clutter before it starts, as trying on outfits allowed me to spot costly duplicates and identify gaps to guide what I should shop for.

For example, I realised that I didn't own a staple pair of brown shoes that would tie several outfits together. That will be my focus next time I am shopping for shoes, rather than a pair I like but ultimately don't need.

Similarly, I use jeans for a lot of my outfits, but I only own one pair, so a second pair will be a wise investment. This allows me to continue my shopping hobby, but in a way that is more conducive to preventing clutter and waste.

VERDICT: It is not a method I will be doing often, but with my bank of images saved in my phone, it has a lasting effect on the clutter coming into my home, regardless. For that reason, it is an instant 10/10 method for me.

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Meet the Experts

If this trick seems a bit daunting, consider slow decluttering rather than diving straight in at the deep end to avoid decluttering resentment.

You can also instantly get rid of items by using the Didn't Know method to wick away the difficulty of decision-making.

I am very diligent about rotating out-of-season clothing from my closet to my storage space under the bed. However, even with that, my tiny closet, which I had purposefully built to include less than 20 inches of hanging rail, has become obnoxiously packed with winter clothing.

I will confess that my weight has been moving in the wrong direction over the last year, so some of my favorites no longer fit, and I’ve been clinging onto the hope that my New Year health kick will pull them back into play.

However, in a bid to regain control of this chaotically tight space and restore functionality, I tried the Threshold Test, a smart decluttering method, and I was surprised to find it worked incredibly well to streamline my closet with ease. Here’s how to do it in any space.

What is the Threshold Test for Decluttering Easily?

In short, the Threshold Test decluttering trick involved assessing items in a specific zone, be it a cluttered closet, drawer, or cabinet, and testing each against one question. Simply: If this item crossed the threshold of my home today, would I let it in?

Another way to frame it is: If I spotted this in a store, would I buy it? If your instinctive answer is no, then it is time to donate, sell, or recycle it.

Looking at your old items as if you were about to buy them new will help you figure out do you really like it, use it, or need it, without any emotional obligations or considerations of sunk-cost fallacy.

Resident decluttering method tester and organizing expert, Chiana Dickson, says, ‘If you look at an item you no longer like or use but leave it in the closet or other storage space because you feel guilty about the money you spent on it, you’re losing out twice.

‘The money you spent on it is gone, so you’re not getting that back. Now, keeping it only serves chaos in your home. Put aside the sunk-cost fallacy and assess the item on its merits for usage and joy. If you don’t use it, and you don’t like it, get rid.'

Why The Threshold Test Works

A lot of the time, if you struggle to let go of items or feel overwhelmed when decluttering, it can come to placing too much consideration on the various links you have with that item. You might be struggling to let go of items because they feel sentimental, it feels almost 'illegal' to declutter them, or simply because you struggle to focus when doing these tasks.

Your concerns might also include the money you spent on it in the first place, the guilt of not wearing or using it, or perhaps, because it was a gift from a friend or loved one, the added guilt that their efforts have gone to waste stops you from saying goodbye.

Reducing this bias towards keeping anything and everything is what the Threshold Test is built on. And, it’s surprisingly effective, especially in categories of items steeped in sentimentality, for instance, jewelry or trinkets, or otherwise inertia-laden categories.

Chiana explains, ‘These accumulate gradually, leading to clutter blindness, and don’t often result in “conscious decisions”. These items in your home are kept not because they are of use or well-liked, but because they are already there.'

Inertia-driven categories grow, creating chaos in the home and a building sense that you’re seriously lacking enough space.

Applying the Threshold test to specific zones that are prone to building up items that stay put in the long term, such as clothes, and focusing on smaller areas, such as in closets, cabinets, and drawers, rather than a whole room, will help you make easier progress and banish the nervous system stress that can sometimes come with decluttering.

I Tried the Threshold Test in My Packed Closet

My tiny closet is packed with sweaters, knits, hoodies, and other bulky items I have accumulated over the last few years. I tend to take good care of my clothes, washing, drying, and storing them properly, meaning it’s not often that I have to throw something away because it’s looking tired or damaged.

My winter clothing has therefore become a collection that has grown exponentially, especially through yo-yo weight gain and drops over the last few years, and has definitely become an inertia-laden category.

Applying the Threshold Test to the hanging items in my winter collection meant I was able to remove nine knitted sweaters and a bulky fleece I bought recently, but do not enjoy wearing the way I hoped, in less than five minutes.

I also combined the threshold test with the Great Over Good method, when I realised I had five white knitted sweaters. Yes, five! That made it easy to strip back that costly duplication, as there is one in particular I love, that gets all my use, whilst the others languish.

Before the threshold test, I had been putting off decluttering my closet, but this compartmentalised approach, with a really clear rule and single parameter to judge my items on, made it incredibly easy to keep or toss items.

As for the items I have removed from my closet, I listed them all on Vinted in less than 15 minutes. It’s a really easy and quick way to sell items you no longer need, especially clothing, and I love that you can print postage labels in the app, making the physical task easier than ever.

VERDICT: 10/10 for ease and effectiveness, with the bonus being that it is super quick.

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If you're struggling with closet space, moving some clothes into longer-term storage will help. Similarly, decluttering your kitchen cabinets and other high-traffic, functional spaces will help your home feel more relaxing.

Facing off against a long decluttering to-do list is a certified way to instantly feel overwhelmed. It often feels easier to ignore the job altogether than even attempt to slog through it.

That is where the Domino Decluttering method comes in to offer an easy way into a big task, breaking the process down logically, and allowing you to stop whenever your energy runs out.

It relies on using your own successes to get motivated to declutter, experts explain. I gave it a try in my home and definitely rate this method for its ease and effectiveness.

What is the Domino Decluttering Method?

The Domino Decluttering method is somewhat self-explanatory. You start with a small, easy streamlining task, and use that to launch into the next, completing one after the other until you build up to the bigger tasks on your list.

This quick decluttering method offers you a gradual way into your chores, helping to use the dopamine boost of completing one task to motivate you to complete the next, and the next, like steam in an engine.

It can look as simple as clearing a few items from the surface of your nightstand, then decluttering the drawers, before clearing the visible clutter in your bedroom, and finally, streamlining your closet. Succeeding on each step serves as its own motivator, propelling you forward and wicking away procrastination.

For Cathy Orr, professional home organizer and owner of This Uncluttered Life, this domino trick is best for people who are new to large-scale chores, those who often find themselves tidying when overwhelmed, or those who have no idea where to start when decluttering.

'It’s a way to pace yourself and have a few good “wins” at the beginning,' she explains. 'This encourages people to continue to the bigger and harder piles, while getting an idea of how much time and energy decluttering takes. It also helps them experience immediate improvement in their space.'

The trick when using the Domino Decluttering method is to work out your start and end goals and work up from there. If you were laying out dominoes in a cascade, you would never knock the middle domino over first, after all.

Cathy says, 'A good place to start would be a drawer in an area, like the bathroom, that is usually easy to tackle. Start by going through personal care items, condensing where you can, recycling empty bottles, and checking for expired items. This may be one session of several. You can also just start with the countertop, proceed from there until the bathroom is finished.'

You can also adapt this to suit your ability to focus, much like the Sunday Butterfly Method, where you move through a set zone and declutter what you want until the task is completed.

Working room by room can also be helpful. It's a trick Cathy learned as a Kon-Mari consultant. Remember, too, that your dominos don't all have to fall on the same day.

Cathy explains, 'Do one little thing, such as take out the trash and declutter one drawer or cabinet, the first day. Live with it. See the difference just a little decluttering and organizing makes. Start, too, with an easy room.

'Then, stick with it until it’s finished. Then, move on to the next room that is just a bit harder. The key, however, is consistency, so you don’t have to keep going over your steps but actually move forward.'

I Tried the Domino Decluttering Method

I often use the ski-slope organizing method to restore order, but I was left with next to no energy after the recent very busy hosting period and needed something a little more manageable to tackle my entryway post-holidays.

Leaning on clever tricks like this can be a lifesaver when you're decluttering with health challenges such as fatigue, pain, or chronic illness.

I had fallen prey to the convenience of leaving coats on the backs of chairs rather than on hooks, and shoes all over the floor rather than inside the shoe rack. So, after motivating myself to clean by watching some body-doubling chore videos, I started small, just getting rid of trash, such as used packaging, opened mail, and cards.

With those out of the way and the space looking instantly tidier, I moved on to the slightly bigger task of putting all the shoes away in the cabinet (a slimline BRUSALI shoe unit from IKEA).

Finally, feeling motivated by the visible progress, I tackled the biggest decluttering task of all and put away the piles of coats that had accumulated. We have more jackets than our small, storageless entryway can comfortably house on our wall hook rack from Walmart. So I had to make more involved decisions about what to keep, which clothes to put in longer-term storage solutions dotted around our home, and what to hang back on hooks to keep the space practical.

While some experts suggest starting big to get the most tiring task out of the way, if you need the extra boost, starting small and working up is certainly the way to go.

VERDICT: It is certainly a 10/10 decluttering trick when you are seriously low on energy, but need to do something to tame home chaos.

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Meet the Expert

If you still find yourself struggling to get started, consider pairing the Domino method with the Try-for-Five method, where you start a task and give it a go for just five minutes. You'll likely find that within those five minutes, your energy has picked up enough to let you continue.

The Five-Day Clutter Shakedown also helps to make progress without leaving any big piles of mess behind

Over winter, our garages can become storage dumping grounds, offering the perfect out-of-sight storage for decorations, winter gear, and items we swear we will 'deal with later', leaving the space cluttered and chaotic.

Rather than leaving it all until spring and ending up overwhelmed, experts suggest using this one cleaning tip in January to quickly reassert some order.

A little effort now pays off in convenience, space, and peace of mind for months to come.

How to Quickly Tidy a Garage in January

While it is tempting to leave organizing a garage until spring, when the weather warms up a little bit, that is a time that often focuses on spring cleaning the rest of your home. Plus, leaving it a mess for the next few months is a surefire way for it to get worse or attract indoor pests as biting temperatures send them scampering indoors for shelter.

That is why it is so important to set some time aside to declutter a garage in January, when we have a slightly clearer to-do list now that winterizing tasks are complete, and we have some downtime before spring.

To start tidying when you feel overwhelmed, Professional organizer Ashley Wynn, owner of Outstanding Organizers, suggests sticking to a clear-floor policy.

She explains, 'The biggest tip I share for a garage that’s turned into a winter dumping ground is to start by reclaiming the floor. When everything is on the ground, the space feels instantly overwhelming, even if there isn’t that much stuff.

'I recommend pulling everything just a few feet away from the walls and doing a quick sort: Keep, donate, trash. If someone is feeling overwhelmed, I tell them not to aim for a perfect system right away.

'Focus on creating zones first, such as sports gear, tools, seasonal items, and donations, to help you decide what to declutter. Tidying a garage is much easier when everything has a general “home,” even if it’s not pretty yet.'

Targeting smaller zones is one of the things professional organizers always do in January to streamline their own homes without stress.

The number one golden rule for a clutter-free garage is to invest in smart storage ideas to keep itemsoff the floor in the future, Ashley continues. This means smart use of vertical storage to save space.

'Get items up off the floor as soon as possible,' she urges. 'Even temporary shelving [from Wayfair] or wall hooks [such as these heavy-duty utility hooks from Walmart] can make a huge difference. Once the floor is clear, the garage already feels manageable.'

Cathy Orr, co-founder at The Uncluttered Life, adds, 'Lastly, when storing items, label the outside of boxes or tubs. If you store overhead on wire racks, label both the sides and the bottom of the container so you can see what you have above.' A label maker, from Walmart, makes this quick and uniform.

'Garages are hard because a lot of things in the garage are heavy to lift and move,' Cathy reminds us. For this reason, consider working with a friend or family member to avoid injury. When putting items back, keep heavier items at the bottom of shelving units or on the floor against a wall for safety. 'And stay hydrated in the entire decluttering and organizing process,' she adds. 'It’s a lot of work to declutter and organize a garage.'

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Prevention is always better than the cure, that's what pro organizers have shared their best tips for stopping clutter before it starts to avoid tough decluttering sessions again down the line.

Chores are rarely anyone’s favorite way to spend the day. From dishes to laundry to tidying up, mundane tasks often feel endless, especially around the festive season and motivation can be hard to find.

That’s why I decided to try dopamine pairing, a simple way to hack your brain to make chores easier, which links a task you want to complete with a reward.

The results were surprising. What once felt like a slog became manageable, kicking procrastination to the curb. Here's why the experts love it.

What Is the Dopamine Pairing Rule?

The method is simple. Rather than tackling a tough task and then indulging in something fun, you do the fun thing at the same time as the chore, turning a reward into an active motivator.

Krista Walker, clinical director at The Ohana Luxury Addiction Treatment Center, says, 'Dopamine pairing can make chores much easier. When we pair an unpleasant activity, such as cleaning, decluttering or organizing, with something fun and rewarding, like a favorite TV show, the brain associates the not-so-fun task with a positive one. This increases motivation and makes follow-through easier.'

It is one of the best ways to avoid decluttering resentment.

For this to work, however, Krista urges that the pairing should be intentional, meaning you don't pick a fun task that will make the chore more difficult. Trying to crochet while cleaning is a bit tricky, after all.

She also advises setting windows of time to work on the task. Krista adds, 'It’s easier if you do it in 45-minute increments, for example, than taking a whole afternoon to declutter.'

I Tried Dopamine Paring

By pairing boring chores with small treats – such as listening to a favourite TV show, spending time with a friend, or playing music – I found myself tackling tasks with far less resistance. It is one of the best ways to banish procrastination and is very easy to test for yourself.

When trying this trick myself, I put on some episodes of a comfort TV show that I have watched several times before. The background noise helped me stay sane, but I was not distracted by any new developments or story lines as I was familiar with the episodes, which I did not mind watching again.

Dr. Regina Lark, decluttering and productivity expert, suggests you can also take the opportunity to try body doubling and calling a friend if you prefer. They can help to keep you on track, or help to decide what to declutter if you feel yourself starting to declutter when you feel overwhelmed.

'It pays to pick something that your brain already finds rewarding, such as a familiar TV show, music, or a FaceTime call with a friend. A personal example: I do not like filing, so I typically sort papers with SVU playing in the background,' she shares.

'When the brain anticipates pleasure, it lowers resistance, reduces procrastination, and makes starting (the hardest part) feel far more manageable,' Regina explains. 'To make it work, choose low-distraction rewards, such as rewatching a show you’ve already seen, set a generous time window so you can move slowly, and let the pleasure be the reason you show up. The progress is the bonus.'

Verdict: This is certainly a method I will be carrying with me into the new year. It is a 10/10 for those times when I can afford to be a bit more relaxed with my chores, and don't need to tackle them at full speed. It is a game-changer for slowing down and making what is otherwise a stressful task into something far more meditative.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Find yourself getting easily distracted? Try the Pomodoro technique instead to tackle chores with regular breaks for fun activities or relaxation, or give the Sunday Butterfly Method a go if you struggle to focus.

I love to shop, and I am definitely prone to impulse purchases – especially when it comes to clothes and accessories. As a result, I always feel like I am decluttering my closet, and feel guilty about my 'wasted' purchases every time.

That is why I am trying the five-five rule to help stop clutter before it starts. It is a simple shopping trick – ask yourself if an item will go with five items you already own, and if you will still love it in five years. If you can’t find a clear answer to either, you leave the garment on the rack or remove it from your digital basket.

Professional organizers love this organizing rule for reducing overall consumption and making decluttering sessions more manageable. Here’s how they use it, and how to implement it into your existing shopping habits in the new year.

What Is the Five-Five Rule and How Does It Help With Clutter?

I first heard about this preventative clutter rule when watching luxury fashion and lifestyle vlogger Je Suis Lou on YouTube. She uses the rule when making larger investment purchases for her wardrobe, helping her to navigate the traps of luxury shopping.

For occasion wear, she also asks herself if the item could work for at least five different occasions, thereby eliminating single-wear pieces. It’s a great decluttering method that mitigates the need to declutter while helping to save money at home.

The rule isn’t just good for those big-tag items, either. As Cathy Or, professional home organizer and owner of The Uncluttered Life, explains, this edit-the-cart approach is a great trick to prevent overconsumption of clothing, full stop.

‘The 5-5 shopping rule for clothes is a great way to approach this need for clothing sustainability. Anything we can do to reduce our overall consumption, especially of fast fashion, is a win for the environment,’ she begins.

‘I do think this is a great approach to reducing clothes clutter. I know that when I purchase clothes that are well-made, I tend to keep them longer. I also keep clothing that I’ve spent more on longer than inexpensive items that may be cheaply made. I am a clothing minimalist. I own very little, and what I do own, I wear until it’s worn out.’

How to Use It For Your Closet or Home

Much like the capsule decluttering method, asking yourself if a new piece will fit with at least five other items is fairly easy. If five outfits do not immediately come to mind, it's probably something to leave behind.

For example, while going out ‘window shopping’ with friends (a dangerous concept in itself), I found a great quality white shirt. I could think of well over five outfits it would work with immediately, plus by virtue of being a solid basic, it was a safe pick for something I would still use in five years, so I brought it home.

When trying on a new dress in the same store, I struggled to think of five accessories I had that would make it different enough to wear for five occasions beyond a vacation I was planning, so the dress went back on the rack, saving me over $100 up front. Thinking back on it, I probably wouldn’t have loved it in five years, either.

I also apply this rule to buying accessories such as shoes and jewelry (my real Achilles heel). I only buy pieces that I see myself reaching for weekly, if not daily, and it is a godsend for my bank account for those higher-priced categories.

Tricks To Master the 5-5- Rule

In order for this method to work and really put an end to decluttering a closet, you need to set yourself some solid rules to break bad home habits and cut spending.

For Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer of Professional Organizers Baton Rouge, there are four key steps to this shopping rule:

• Look at what you already have: ‘If you already have something very similar, it's likely a sign you don't need it and should skip purchasing it,’ she advises. It also helps to optimize storage to prevent duplicates. I do this through switching seasonal clothing and keeping some in underbed storage bags, from Walmart, to free up space in my small closet.
• Stick to what you actually wear: ‘Focus on pieces that fit your everyday style and wardrobe,’ Olivia urges. ‘If it doesn't match or go with what you reach for most of the time, it probably won't get much use being worn.’ When trying to work out if I will still love an item in five years, I think about which items I have had in my closet the longest. If the new item shares a feature of those long-loved pieces, be it in style, color, or fabric, there is a good chance this will be a new staple for me.
• Use the one-in-one-out rule: ‘When you bring something new into your closet, choose one item to donate,’ Olivia suggests. ‘It keeps your closet from getting overcrowded and only contains items you actually use and love.’ I have also recently tested the one-in-two-out rule, and it's been really good for slow decluttering without much effort.
• Think it through first: Finally, Olivia echoes the advice of Lou: ‘Before buying a new piece of clothing, take a moment to picture five occasions you'd wear it. If you can't think of them, it's likely not worth purchasing and adding to your closet.’

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

The five-five rule is a great, low-effort way to tap into the underconsumption trend without completely cutting out shopping for those of us who love it. Pair the hack with the six questions to ask yourself before buying anything, and your home and closet will be perfectly curated.

January is peak ‘get organized' season, but professional organizers approach the month very differently than most people. Instead of tackling everything at once or chasing Pinterest-perfect pantries, we focus on a few strategic moves that set up maintainable organizing systems for the entire year.

As a professional organizer, these are the seven practical tips for your most easily streamlined year yet.

These include why it’s important to use January as a time to build appropriate systems and not just tidy your key spaces, as well as organizing tips that will help you prevent mess reaccumulating by March, advice on tackling the ‘forgotten’ areas of your home with precision and ease, and more.

7 Things I Always Do in January as a Professional Organizer

January is when professional organizers reset systems, not with pressure or perfection, but with intention. These are the moves we make every year, with practical ideas everyone can implement easily at home.

Make 2026 the year you run with January decluttering rules that really work.

1. We Start With a Life Scan, Not a Whole-House Purge

Time: 20-30 minutes

Before decluttering a closet or other key space, we pause to assess what’s actually changing this year. It might be a new job, health goals, kids aging up, caregiving shifts, or lifestyle changes. To begin, write down 3-5 things that will affect how you live in your space.

These might include a change of job. For instance, you now need to work from home productively for a portion, or all of your week.

Organizing works best when it supports real life, not aspirational life. January is ideal for aligning your home with how your days will actually unfold. Avoid jumping straight into decluttering without clarity. That’s how you end up redoing the same spaces every year.

If you have been through important life changes or hit an important milestone, some of these dedicated Homes & Gardens' expert guides may help support you this year:

• How to declutter in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s
• Decluttering after bereavement
• Decluttering sentimental items, for instance, after a divorce
• Decluttering an empty nest
• Decluttering to downsize
• Decluttering with health challenges

2. We Declutter in Short, Focused Bursts

Time: 30-45 minutes per session

Set a timer and work in one clearly defined micro-zone (one drawer, one shelf, one category). Stop when the timer ends, even if you’re ‘on a roll’.

This works because short sessions reduce decision fatigue and prevent burnout when decluttering. Consistency beats marathon clean-outs every time. In 2026, ditch the ‘all-or-nothing’ thinking: You don’t need to finish the room for progress to count.

Here are some helpful tools to keep on hand, along with methods such as the Scary Hour timed technique, handpicked by Homes & Gardens' editors. All prices were correct at the time of publication:

3. We Reset the Spaces That Carry the Most Mental Load

Time: 45-60 minutes per space

Working on the main high-impact areas of the home is a great way to move with intention through this January task. I recommend the following focus areas:

• Kitchen command centers
• Entryways
• Bathroom vanities
• Paper piles

These are the spaces that silently drain energy every day. Resetting them early creates immediate relief. Using clear drawer dividers (available at Amazon in an affordable multipack), labeled paper trays, and small bins (not large catch-alls) to organize these spaces will serve you best.

However, don’t buy containers before editing down your belongings. Declutter first, then contain your remaining items. This will help you be more sustainable at home, whilst purchasing perfect organizing products that are a fit for your space and needs.

If you struggle to let go of items, the Solved team at Homes & Gardens has tested dozens of the best decluttering methods and has found the Didn’t Know method and 50% rule help easily strip away indecision and make streamlining so much faster.

4. We Let Go of ‘Last Year’s You’

Time: 30 minutes per category

Target categories tied to identity shifts, such as clothes, hobby supplies, books, fitness gear, and ask yourself a simple question: Does this belong to who I am now, or who I used to be?

Letting go of items belonging to your ‘fantasy self’ (who you once were, or have long-dreamt of being) works, especially in January, which is an emotionally powerful time. Releasing outdated items creates space, both physically and psychologically, for what’s next.

However, watch out for keeping items out of guilt or sunk cost. Space is valuable, too. The 20/20 rule sums it up so well: If you can replace an item in less than 20 minutes, for $20 or less, it’s OK to let it go without guilt.

5. We Create Simple, Friction-Free Systems

Time: 20-40 minutes

Design organizing systems that require the fewest steps possible. Use hooks for increased storage instead of hangers, open bins instead of stacked boxes, and keep labels at eye level for practicality.

The easier an organizing system is, the more likely it will be maintained, especially during busy weeks. Avoid over-engineering the system, however. If it takes more than two steps, it probably won’t stick. This applies not just to you, but others in your household.

An example of this might be that you’re the main cook in your house, but if your herbs and spices are organized and labeled for easy return (for instance, grouped in categories such as herbs, spices, mixes, and refills), when others cook and use your collection, they will know where to return each item to.

This will stop your organizing system from eroding over time and becoming defunct. Don’t forget to do a twice-yearly expiration sweep, as many household items, including herbs, spices, medicines, cleaning items, and skincare, will typically go out of date within several weeks once opened, or otherwise have use-by dates of months.

I recommend using hooks, trays, and shallow bins, along with an inkless, portable label maker, available at Walmart, or a piece of painters' tape, and a permanent marker.

6. We Schedule Maintenance, Not Just the Reset

Add short reset sessions to your calendar to work new habits into your routine that will last in 2026 and beyond:

• 10 minutes nightly tidy
• 30 minutes weekly reset
• Quarterly mini-declutter

Homes don’t stay organized on their own. Regular organizing maintenance prevents the ‘January reset to March chaos’ cycle.

Putting recurring reminders in your calendar and committing the time for this important organizing maintenance schedule is important because if you rely on motivation alone, you may fail. Clear systems and regular tending of those systems work better than willpower alone.

7. We Don’t Try to Organize Everything at Once

Time: Ongoing

To avoid feeling overwhelmed or losing motivation and focus, choose one priority area per week and let the rest wait.

It works because progress compounds. Experiencing visible wins at home will build your confidence and momentum. Dopamine building habits at home will help in the longer term to make the task more enjoyable, whilst knowing how to reset your nervous system and reduce stress whilst decluttering or organizing will remove mental barriers for the task in the longer term.

My top tip is to avoid comparing your home to what you see on social media. Real homes are lived in, and that’s okay.

The bottom line is that professional organizers don’t aim for perfection in January; we aim for alignment. When your home supports the life you’re actually living, everything feels lighter.

Next, explore the organizing trends Homes & Gardens editors are trying in 2026.

After weeks of holiday chaos, it can feel like your entire home is one big clutter pile. If you’re craving a fresh start by January 1st, you are not alone.

The good news? You can reset your home in just five days without decluttering when you feel overwhelmed with our Five-Day New Year Decluttering Challenge, breaking everything down into manageable chunks to avoid exhausting yourself in the first week of the year.

By Monday, you’ll be in a home that feels lighter, calmer, and completely refreshed – it’s the mood-boosting reset you need to start your year as you mean to go on.

The 5-Day New Year Decluttering Challenge

The chances are, by the first week of January, we are battling the exhaustion of hosting, mixed with the tiredness that accompanies dark, short days. To reset your home without tidying when you feel overwhelmed, professional home organizer Olivia Parks, founder of Nola Organizers, suggests breaking things down and spreading them out throughout the five days, rather than working five days consecutively.

‘To prevent burnout, I'd recommend starting small and not trying to do everything at once. It will be too overwhelming that way,’ she warns. ‘Instead, I'd recommend breaking all the areas and spaces into categories (starting small), so the process feels manageable. For example, if someone is decluttering their closet, they can start with one category, like shoes, then move on to hats, belts, and so on. Focusing on one category at a time keeps the momentum going without making it feel too overwhelming.’

You can also tackle these tasks using microshifting, working chores in and around your daily schedule so that they do not take priority over work or relaxation.

Day 1: Start With the Kitchen

For Olivia, kitchens are the best place to start. Not only is it the hub of activity when hosting, but it is the most time-sensitive spot – restoring order here means no leftovers go bad in the back of the fridge, and your kitchen storage and countertops are reset for everyday use. The result is a less stressful mid-week cooking experience as you return to work after the festive break.

Olivia stresses the importance of clearing out anything that wasn’t used this year or wasn’t needed. There are several things you can do with the items you are decluttering, depending on what they are. Consider selling or donating items in good condition, while people still have the season – and this year’s hosting shortcomings – on their minds.

For the items you are keeping but moving back into storage, this five-piece dinnerware storage bundle from Amazon provides the perfect padded protection for seasonal pieces, protecting them from damage between now and your next event.

Day 2: Festive Decor

Christmas decorations have been up for a month or more at this point, so it is a good time to restore your home to normality.

Olivia says, ‘Seasonal decor is another great category to go through, which most people store in either their garage or attic. If you have seasonal decor that didn't get displayed this year, it probably won't get displayed next year, because if you really loved it, you would have put it out to decorate.’

When decluttering Christmas decorations, keep them in a separate box away from those you are keeping to avoid them accidentally ending up in attic storage again.

Rather than give in to the urge to toss everything in a bag and call it a day, take some time to organize Christmas decorations for storage, working by room and area, to make decorating next year easier.

We suggest investing in dedicated festive storage, such as this pre-divided ornament box from Walmart, or a Christmas tree bag from Amazon, to keep items safe from damage, mold, or pests.

Day 3: The Garage or Attic

As you move your packaged Christmas decor back into long-term storage ideas, take some time to give these areas a quick once-over, Olivia recommends.

This is especially important if you are struggling to fit your decorations back into the space – a key sign you have too much stuff in your attic, basement, or garage.

Be mindful that items stored in these areas, which are usually not climate-controlled, are more prone to pest and humidity problems. There are certain things you should never store in the basement, attic, or garage, and being mindful of those as you put festive items away and have a New Year's clear-out will prevent loss or disappointment later.

Day 4: Closets

Clothes are a typical Christmas gift, making decluttering a closet a good task to tack onto day four in your January blitz, as gifts find homes around the house, Olivia suggests. You don’t need to do a whole clear-out here, to keep things quick and less stressful, target only seasonal items, she adds.

‘Anything you didn't wear to this year's holiday events likely won't be worn next year. Also, since many people receive new clothes as gifts during the holidays, it's a good time to let go of items they didn't wear this year and make space for the new ones they've received.’

Any items you are keeping, but won’t need until Christmas next year (such as prized Christmas sweaters) stash in vacuum-sealed storage bags, from Walmart, to protect them from moisture and pests while minimizing their storage footprint.

Now that guest season is over, it also makes sense to tackle your entryway closet ideas, clearing out coats and shoes that got in the way and haven’t been used thus far in winter.

If you struggle to let go of items, try the Didn't Know method. If you didn't know or remember you had an item, it's a safe bet to donate, recycle, trash or sell it.

Day 5: The Living Room

The house should be mostly back to normal by this point, so finish the five-day New Year decluttering challenge with smaller tasks, such as tidying up and clearing visual clutter in a living room, sweeping away any remnants of holiday hosting.

Any decor you may have missed, Christmas cards, extra blankets, or board games brought in when guests were visiting should all be returned to their homes.

The ski-slope method is ideal for this, using a folding laundry basket (such as the Joseph Joseph Laundry Basket from Wayfair) to quickly collect and rehome items without constant back-and-forth trips.

If you suffer from pain, injury, illness, or fatigue, decluttering with health challenges is still possible with adaptive pacing.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

Whether you are short on time, energy, or motivation, we have compiled a list of the best decluttering methods to suit every room and occasion, perfect for tackling a big decluttering challenge in the new year.

I have always struggled with high mental load – having lots of things swirling around my mind at the same time, related to chores, to-do lists, and calendars. I woke up stressed every morning, and ended up mentally paralysed and procrastinating when I tried to tackle anything from decluttering to life admin.

That's until I discovered the habit of writing 'Morning Pages'. Created by artist and author Julia Cameron, the method was initially designed to help creatives overcome mental blocks by providing an outlet for busy thoughts. It is now my favorite way to organize my day, and as a result, I finally have clarity managing the chores in my home.

I've said goodbye to decision paralysis and stressful starts to the day, and it is certainly my new favorite home organizing idea that I will continue in the new year. Here's why professional organizers love it too, and how to use it in your home for the best start to 2026.

What Are Morning Pages?

Julia first mentioned Morning Pages in her 1992 book The Artist's Way, available at Amazon. Her core practice involves writing three longhand pages upon waking up in a stream-of-consciousness style task. This can involve jotting down free-flowing thoughts with no care for grammar, spelling, or creating a perfect structure. Any thought that comes to mind, be it positive, negative, related to tasks and chores, or something you are simply looking forward to, all go down onto the page as they come to your mind first thing.

Although it might not sound like this will have any impact on managing at home, it is one of the best ways to reduce mental load, says Meera Sharma, certified KonMari consultant and tidying coach, and founder of Spark Joy with Meera.

She shares, 'You may have heard of "tidy home, tidy mind" before, but the reverse is also true: A tidy mind is more capable of creating a tidy, organized space and organizing schedule than a mind that is bogged down by mental clutter.

'Just as tidying up your physical environment creates room for the things and activities you cherish, decluttering your mind sets you up for a productive day by removing the metaphorical cobwebs that are obscuring your vision and impeding your progress,' she explains.

'It's like rinsing your brain first thing in the morning. By letting go of what’s weighing you down, you reduce your mental load and empower yourself to attend to the tasks and pressures of the day with a calm and clear mind, setting you up for success.'

It is the most relaxing way to make a to-do list less overwhelming.

After decluttering my nightstand, I made a home for a small notebook (from Walmart) so that I am encouraged to write my pages as soon as I wake up. This practice has the added benefit of keeping me off my phone when I first open my eyes, preventing immediate overstimulation to help better organize my morning routine.

Some mornings I don't reach three pages, and others I go way beyond. The idea is to simply dump everything out into a physical format so I do not have to worry about storing it in my brain all day. It has gone hand in hand with swapping my digital to-do list for a physical one, as I can use my pages as a reference point throughout the day, ensuring I don't miss my most important chores and helping me to split up and schedule the rest.

Elise Joan, co-founder, celebrity wellness expert, and partner at Arc Longevity, uses them very similarly, sharing, 'I’m a big believer in the morning ‘brain dump’ to help set me up for a clearer day ahead. Every morning after I read my gratitude list (a short list of the things I’m most grateful for) and before I check my phone or open my laptop, I have a non-negotiable practice of ‘brain-dumping’ via stream-of-consciousness journaling.

'I remind myself I don’t need to write perfect sentences that make sense, it’s about clearing space to start my day in freedom. When I’m organized on the inside, everything around me reflects it. My home feels lighter, my choices feel clearer, and life flows with more intention.'

If, like me, you are constantly stressed about managing your home and are often tidying when you feel overwhelmed, writing Morning Pages may be for you. It can even help you to avoid decluttering resentment or help you become a morning person by reducing that sense of early-hours dread.

When adding morning pages to your opening shift routine, Victoria Nielsen, an accredited energy healer for female leaders, TEDx Speaker, and women's holistic wellness expert, encourages you to be open to your emotions, sharing, 'Morning Pages are something I prescribe to all of my clients, and I also used them myself to move through the emotions of a miscarriage in 2018.

'Writing out all the things you're thinking of – no matter how big or small – reassures the mind that you aren't going to forget, and frees up space for you to begin to think creatively because your amygdala isn't in survival mode. The free-association time also allows ah-ha moments and insights to arrive with more ease, allowing you mental clarity.

'It's also a great energy check-in. How does it feel to sit and write this morning? Icky, easy, like the last thing you want to do? Even how well (or not) the words are flowing can be information for you to collect about your mental state.'

Having tried Morning Pages for three months and getting everything out of my head first thing, I have found that I can invest myself fully in my day. Whether that is trying out decluttering methods to create breathing room in my home or trucking through life admin, it is for sure the best habit of highly organized homeowners that I want to stick with throughout the new year.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Tired of feeling like you have to give up your free time to tackle chores? Try scheduling white space into your day to create better balance and ensure a clean home that doesn't have you tearing your hair out.

When I was in my 20s, I hung onto every scrap that had some sentimental value or meaning for me.

But now, I love nothing more than blasting through a brilliant new decluttering method to sniff out the extra, unnecessary items taking up valuable cabinet space in my compact kitchen. Even better if the technique helps you easily ditch things without much mental effort.

That’s why I gave the Upside Down decluttering method a go in my most high-traffic kitchen cabinet, where I keep coffee cups and glasses, and I can confirm it made it a breeze to know what to get rid of without any procrastination or self-doubt.

What Is the Upside Down Decluttering method?

Simply turn things upside down, set yourself a window to monitor usage, for instance, a week, and anything still left upside down at the end of that time can be sold, donated, recycled or trashed.

Professional organizer Rebecca Jo-Rushdy of Spark Joy & Flow says, ‘One nuance I’d add is that the Upside Down Method works best when it’s used intentionally. For some people, items are already stored upside down (bowls, glasses, mugs), so the visual cue can become confusing unless it’s clearly defined at the start. The real power of this method is the visual signal – and visual cues are incredibly effective, particularly for neurodivergent folks.’

Instead of going upside down for your visual cue, try a sticky note, much like the Post-it Note decluttering method, and use that as your visual cue. I particularly like the little Beachside Cafe Collection Post-it tabs available in multiple colors from Amazon as they are small and don't leave any residue behind when peeled.

Rebecca adds, ‘I see this method working especially well after someone has “KonMari’d” and reduced the overall volume of belongings. It’s ideal for items they’re on the fence about. When everything has already been "joy-checked" once, the upside-down approach becomes a gentle second pass rather than an overwhelming first step.’

If you have found decluttering to be overwhelming, find it difficult to let go of sentimental items, or struggle to stay focused when streamlining your home, this is definitely one to try.

How to Do it

KonMari® Master Consultant Rebecca offers a few practical tips to make the most of this ingenious low-stress method that banishes the hard decision-making part of decluttering.

• Give it a clear time frame: Often, 30-90 days works well, depending on the category and seasonality. If it’s a high-use area, you might find that a few days are enough.
• Apply it to high-rotation areas: Such as mugs, glasses, bowls, containers, spices, or utensils.
• Be consistent: When an item is used, return it to its normal orientation – this creates an immediate, satisfying feedback loop.

‘One thing I strongly recommend pairing with this method is an exit strategy,’ Rebecca adds. ‘Keeping a donation box or bag nearby makes all the difference. Without that, single or loose items we don’t actually enjoy using have a habit of migrating back into cupboards – much like clothes we don’t love but keep wearing because they’re still in the wardrobe.

‘By the next joy-check, the decision becomes easy and often obvious. The Upside Down method removes pressure, builds awareness, and creates momentum, which makes it effective when used with intention.’

If you are using this technique in a busy space such as your kitchen or entryway, keep a small cardboard box from an inbound package to hand that you can fill with items you’ve decided to donate. The box can go straight in the car and to the thrift store when it’s full.

Alternatively, you can keep a chic lidded storage box, such as a pretty wicker one from Walmart, or a strong shopping tote, available from Amazon, that you can reuse time and again in decluttering projects around the house.

I Tried the Upside Down decluttering method

I instantly knew which area to test this on. I have two shelves of cups and glasses in my two busiest kitchen cabinets, and every square inch is valuable storage space that needs to be used wisely and maximised for efficiency. Unlike some, I don’t keep mine upside down after washing, so this method worked fine for me.

However, it’s one area that has been more difficult to cut down on previously, as many of the coffee mugs have been gifts to my teacher husband from his pupils and relatives, or part of my collection of beloved glass tea cups. Sometimes, it can be hard to declutter sentimental items.

But the reality is that there are only three people who live in my house, and only two of them need coffee mugs. Though we used to have guests a lot when we first moved in together, that was nearly 15 years ago, and our lifestyle has changed, especially since we moved out of the city where the majority of our friends live, to a quiet village 100 miles away.

Now, only my in-laws really come to our home, and they don’t care which coffee cup we give them a hot drink in. The bottom line is we rarely need more than two cups, so why are we wasting so much of our prime cabinet space?

I gave myself a week to test the Upside Down method and simply turned all cups, and mugs lip down. Within three days, it was obvious to me that my husband Andy and I were only using a handful of our favorites. Andy only went for the two enormous cups, one with Best Dad on it, a gift from our daughter, the other an ode to his favorite football team, Arsenal. He’s never giving that up!

As for me, I thought I loved all my large glass mugs (I’m Iranian by heritage, and drinking hot drinks out of glass is in our genes). But what I discovered was that actually, I only like the wide base ones. So I have been able to let go of my slim base ones, even though they are so pretty, and they’re all going to charity. As they’re large, this freed up a third of the shelf alone.

I have kept a few cups for my husband, and in case we have a couple of visitors, but the rest have been trashed, recycled or donated. As for our set of glasses for water, we’re keeping all six as they double up as dinner guest cups, and all three of us in the household use those daily.

With this simple method, I easily decluttered two-thirds of my busiest kitchen shelves, meaning I can now relocate items that are currently in our base cabinets, but that I use a lot, such as small bowls, to a more accessible spot. It’s especially important as I have chronic pain, and bending at the knee or waist causes me pain and injury.

Verdict: 10/10 for ease and effectiveness. I didn’t have to think about a single item that was decluttered, as the visual cues speak for themselves.

Other Applications of the Upside Down Method

Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, has 44 years of design and organization experience, and advises trying an Upside-Down Day.

He says, ‘For one day, flip everyday items upside down, such as books, shoes, mugs, and even picture frames. The following day, flip them back as and when you use or enjoy them. Here you will instantly see what you use the most and what just seems to be there, cluttering the space. Those items that remain untouched can be recycled, donated, or rehomed somewhere more practical.’

You can also do a variation of this in your closet with the Reverse Hanger method. Simply turn all hangers the other way so that when you use and rehang an item, the hanger is the opposite way. This way you'll be able to easily visually monitor the items you ignore, and when the season changes, know which clothes are worth storing longer term, and which it's time to say goodbye to.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

If you are, or suspect that you may be neurodivergent, try our Sunday Butterfly decluttering method, learn how to create an ADHD-friendly home, and implement ADHD-friendly cleaning checklists and dopamine-inducing cleaning playlists to ease the mental load of chores.

I have a love-hate relationship with drawers. They are the most convenient storage option for quickly swiping clutter away, but, as a result, they quickly become packed with mess.

So, to finally tackle the tangle, I tried the draw dumping method. It's as easy as it sounds – simply dump everything out onto a flat surface and sort through as you put everything back neatly.

It's ruthless, but seriously satisfying. Here's how I used this decluttering method to beat procrastination, and the expert tips for using it in your own home.

I Tried the Draw Dumping Method

I'll be honest, even though I write about the importance and benefits of a well-organized home almost daily, I never organize drawers. I have certainly tried in the past, but bad home habits die hard, and I always resort to my chaos gremlin approach of tossing stuff in and closing it away for 'later me.'

As a result, the thought of decluttering drawers is overwhelming at best. So, taking inspiration from the chaos decluttering method, I started the ruthless decluttering trick of dumping the entire contents of messy drawers out onto a flat surface. Not only does it instantly make everything visible, but it forces me to declutter and clean as I go. After all, I can't leave the mess all over surfaces in my home, so I am forced to complete the task at hand, with no option to shut it away for another day halfway through.

This approach is also ideal when you need to add organizers, as organizing everything out means you can properly measure the drawer with a tape measure from Amazon, and then invest in suitable drawer storage containers, such as this 26-piece set from Walmart.

How to Use the Drawer Dumping Method at Home

Sometimes, keeping it simple is the best way to make progress. For Allie Licata, owner and lead organizer at The Curated Home Company, the drawer dumping method is just that.

'I actually really like this approach, especially for small spaces like junk drawers,' she says. 'Dumping everything out on a surface makes it easy to see everything you have in that drawer at once, rather than just the items at the front or on top. Once everything is dumped out of the drawer, it's much easier to group similar items, see how many duplicates you have, and quickly figure out what should stay and what should go.

'This method also makes the next step, organizing, much easier,' she continues. 'When everything is clearly out on a surface, you can better judge the size of drawer dividers or containers you'll actually need, rather than guessing.

'Overall, this method works really well because it helps you see what you have, make decisions faster, and put back only what you actually use.'

My Verdict

As a serial shopper, I swear by this method for decluttering and organizing a dresser in particular, especially as my partner is not as big on file-folding clothes when putting away the laundry, so the drawer always ends up fighting to be closed.

Before I can think twice about it, I remove the drawer from the runners and dump all of the contents out onto my bed. The bonus of using such a high-traffic surface is that I am forced to complete the task, or I have nowhere to sleep that night.

From there, I replace the DIY scented drawer liner and fold clothing to save space again, assessing each item to determine whether I still wear it, and decluttering clothes as needed. The capsule decluttering method is one of my favorite ways to decide what to declutter when it comes to garments. However, if you want to be less ruthless, you can also use the spark joy approach, using Marie Kondo's best-selling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, from Amazon, as a guide.

By the end, I usually have a far neater drawer (that I can actually open), and a small pile of decluttered items that I can sell or donate. It is a 10/10 method that I go back to time and time again when my poor tidying habits inevitably catch up to me.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

If you are more proactive than me and want to stop clutter before it starts, check out our top home organizing ideas, approved by the pros, to keep your home neat and cut down time on endless decluttering.

I never usually set resolutions at the start of the New Year, but as I reach my mid-20s, I have finally decided to make a change to stop clutter and save money. The approach I’m going for? The No-Buy rule.

This is a strategy endorsed by professional organizers that pairs mindful spending with intentional letting-go. By committing to buy nothing new for a set period, you can focus on clearing out what you no longer need, while redirecting funds toward larger goals, which, in my case, is my future home.

It is one of the more intensive decluttering methods, that’s for sure, so I have asked professional organizers for their top tricks for committing to a no-buy challenge in 2026 – and succeeding.

What is a No-Buy Challenge?

A no-buy challenge is fairly self-explanatory. You commit to limiting spending for a set period of time to help save money at home, with the added benefit of the approach stopping clutter before it starts.

It can be an extreme way to break bad home habits, but it can be very effective when you set clear goals to work towards. For me, largely inspired by the work of The Minimalist’s Essays, available at Amazon, this is about saving money and putting it towards buying my first home – a notable goal that I know I will want to commit to.

There are several approaches you can take to a no-buy challenge. In the most extreme cases, people stop spending almost altogether except for basics such as essential food. However, I am going to take a slightly more laid-back approach for my first attempt – an approach that Meghan Cocchiaro, a certified professional organizer and owner of Organized by Meg, recommends to prevent the challenge from failing.

‘No-buy challenges can be effective for preventing clutter when applied moderately,’ she explains. ‘Like anything, if we apply too much of an extreme restriction like dieting, spending money, or quitting something we do regularly, cold turkey, it can backfire because it may not be realistic or practical for the average person.’

How to Complete a No-Buy Challenge in 2026

The trick to acing the no-buy decluttering rule and being more ruthless when decluttering, Meghan says, is to set yourself very clear goals.

Meghan specifically recommends adopting the corporate world's SMART goal format, which is designed to help you measure success and performance, and take actionable, pre-planned steps towards your goal.

‘A SMART goal stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound,’ she explains. For example, if Meghan were to set herself a no-buy challenge, she would work with the following:

• Specific: For 30 days, I will not purchase any non-essential household items that commonly create clutter, for example, home décor, storage bins, kitchen gadgets, clothing, toys, or seasonal items. To get even more specific, you can choose only one or two areas causing the biggest problem in the home at present and apply it to additional categories later if you see that it's working well for you. This can help you to avoid decluttering resentment, too.
• Measurable: I will measure my success by first having zero purchases in the restricted categories. Second, by tracking any “temptation moments” in my notes app instead of buying, and third, by using what I already own and repurposing to solve daily needs – and making a note of that too, as it is a great way to stop creating unnecessary trash at home. While you're at it, a wishlist can be created for future purchases or gifts, which you can look back on later and reassess if you truly still want that item.
• Achievable: I will allow essentials like groceries, medications, and necessary replacements (such as broken lightbulbs) because that is realistic and practical. Before buying anything questionable, though, I’ll wait up to 48 hours and check what I already have at home. To help make this goal achievable, you can also outline things that will help you reduce temptation – such as window shopping, online shopping, or perusing, using social media apps that have lots of ads for products, etc. It sounds small, but this is also a good habit to ditch to save time on chores, as the less you bring into your home, the less time you have to spend decluttering and home organizing. Unsubscribing from retailer newsletters that land in your inbox, packed with temptations to shop, is a simple but effective tip.
• Relevant: This goal is relevant and makes sense to me at this time because it supports my priority of maintaining a calmer, more organized home by stopping clutter at the source and reducing mental overload caused by excess stuff.
• Time-Bound: My no-buy challenge will run for (30, 60, or 90) consecutive days, from [start date] to [end date], after which I’ll reassess habits and decide what purchasing rules have worked well, and I will be able to keep applying more long-term.

For me, my specifics will be not purchasing any non-essential household items (especially clothing) for 30 days at first – pairing it with the expiry decluttering method to simultaneously cut out existing items from my home. I will use a wishlist app on my phone to keep tabs on the items I consider, which is separate from my browser bookmarks, so I do not have as easy access to them when scrolling at night. I will allow weekly food shops, using a shopping list to keep me on track.

Should I find the method a success by the end of January, then I will continue the habit into February and beyond, with the eventual goal of moving any money I was planning on spending on the non-essential items into a separate savings account towards my future home goal.

If, like me, you are new to this type of preventative decluttering, it might be worth picking up a pre-made no-buy guide and planner from Etsy to help set out your goals physically, so you can easily refer back to them and track your wins. This is a great way to stay motivated when decluttering, too.

Essentials

Before you embark on your No-Buy year, arm yourself with tools that will help keep you on track. Mark these down mentally as necessary expenses to help you do the 'job' well.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Need a less restrictive approach to saving money and cutting clutter? Try the ETC (edit the cart) method to help cut clutter from physical and digital shopping carts before you have the chance to bring them into your home.

Every year when I am battling through tangled decorations and tattered tinsel, I promise myself I'll be more organized next year. This year, I have finally decided to break the cycle.

Instead of stuffing everything back into storage now that Christmas is over, I'm only keeping half of my festive decor for 2026. The rest – the tired tinsel, mismatched ornaments, and decor that no longer spark joy – are going. No guilt or second-guessing.

Professional organizers have given their stamp of approval to my post-Christmas decluttering method and reveal why keeping less will, in fact, bring more joy next year.

Why I’m Only Keeping Half My Christmas Decor This Year

It is generally recommended that everyone follow some post-Christmas decluttering rules each year to help remove broken items, duplicates, or pieces that they didn't enjoy this season.

However, I have decided to take it a step further and keep only the bare minimum, and for two key reasons.

Firstly, I typically decorate alone each Christmas season, making it a mammoth task that often ends in frustration and a sore back, no matter how much I try to romanticize the experience.

Secondly, I live in a small storage-less home, so all of my decorations have to be stashed in extra-large bags from The Container Store to be stored in my parents' house (a 40-minute drive away) from one December to the next. So, the less I have, the better.

This doesn't mean that I am gutting my collection down to minimalist Christmas decor ideas by any stretch. Next year, I will continue to use traditional colors and fun Christmas lighting to make my home cozy for the Holiday Season.

However, I am going to cut down how many rooms I decorate to only the shared living spaces (do I really need a tree in my home office, after all?), and be ruthless when decluttering, using the one-emotion decluttering method to toss out any decor that doesn't immediately make me feel festive joy when I pull it down to store away.

According to professional organizers, this approach to decluttering festive decorations while organizing Christmas decorations for storage is ideal for people like me who are desperate to decorate for Christmas without feeling overwhelmed year after year.

Brittany De la Fuente, designer and organizer with Saint Louis Closet Co., explains, 'Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of the magic; it’s about making room for it. A curated collection of holiday decor creates a calmer, more joyful decorating experience every season

'The end of the holiday season is the perfect time to declutter your decor because everything is still fresh in your mind; what you used, what you didn’t, and what’s no longer your style.

'By sorting and donating as you pack away, you’ll save yourself time and stress next year. When you open your bins [such as the Holiday Storage Totes from The Container Store] next December, you’ll find only the things you actually use neatly organized, labeled, and easy to access. It also helps reduce the need for extra storage, freeing up valuable space in your home for year-round use.'

One thing that helped me to cut down maybe piles and reduce clutter was to remember that Christmas is not in the items I hang in my home, but in the activities I do and the time I spend with my family and friends. Yes, a good tree and warm white Christmas lights from Walmart strung along the fireplace help set the atmosphere, but they are not the essential ingredient in creating cozy memories.

For example, when I host friends, it isn't the decorations I remember; it is the food we cook together and the games we play. The decor doesn't factor in.

Stripping Back Your Collection

If you need a little more guidance when deciding what to declutter, especially when with sentimental items, professional organizer Danica Carson, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, suggests asking yourself the following questions:

1. Is it in good shape? Are there cracks or tears, or missing pieces? If yes, maybe now is the time to donate or recycle it. If it’s something that can be repaired, you should do so before putting it away. Don’t make more work for yourself next year by kicking the can down the road on repairs.
2. Do I still like this? Seems like an obvious question, but sometimes we become so used to decor pieces that we go blind to them.
3. Will it still be good next year? Some things simply don’t last in storage when exposed to extreme temperatures that occur in attics and garages. For example, my son made this adorable ghost a few years ago, and I put it in storage for the following year. When I went to get it out, I found that parts had melted and the entire thing had become misshapen. I was sad to see it go, but there’s no sense in keeping decor that you can’t use again.
4. Is it meaningful? Sometimes, we keep things that are broken or not our style because they remind us of a special person or time. I would never encourage people to give up something that brought them joy or peace. Just be sure to store those pieces together in their own bin for their protection.

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Really want to cut stress from the post-holiday period? Brush up on the most efficient way to take down Christmas decor to make this year's tidy and next year's decorations ten times simpler.

There is a cabinet in my kitchen that is not only the most used, but also my most chaotic. It’s the one with all our food storage containers in.

Despite our best efforts to keep it in order, we’ve somehow ended up with lots of mismatched items, little space to maneuver, and a constant cascade of crashing containers whenever we open the door.

That is why I am snapping up a 10-piece set of color-coded, non-toxic Joseph Joseph food containers from Amazon for $25.50, which nest inside each other to help me declutter the kitchen cabinet that gives me the most daily hassle for a streamlined 2026.

Nesting and Color-Coding Features Make This Joseph Joseph Set My Top Pick

I grew up in an Iranian household, so that meant lots of delicious cooking and, more importantly, lots of leftovers. Persian food takes skill and time to cook, so when we do it, it’s not being made for just one meal. We’ll eat it for dinner, save some for lunch and freeze the rest.

That’s why I am always in and out of my kitchen cabinet that holds all the food containers. But ours has slid out of control in 2025, and now I can’t tell which lid goes with what, if something can be microwaved safely, or feel sure that it’s not going to crack up in the freezer from thermal shock.

That’s why I have cleared out the entire cabinet, have recycled what I can, repurposed plastic containers elsewhere for storing my daughter’s crafts, and put the rest in the trash.

I’ve ordered three sets of these Joseph Joseph nesting food containers, so even my young daughter can tell which lid goes with what, and we have plenty on hand for our batched slow cooker ideas.

They’re also dishwasher safe, so that means no more warped plastic lids that are a menace to put on containers, and plenty of sizes to suit my food storage and freezing needs.

Each set of 10, which is made from BPA-free plastic (that means there is no Bisphenol-A to leech into your food, making the material non-toxic) includes one each of the following dimensions:

• 8 fl. oz (1 cups)
• 18 fl. oz (2.2 cups)
• 37 fl. oz (4.6 cups)
• 63 fl. oz (7.7 cups)
• 101 fl. oz (12.5 cups)

The overall dimension of each rectangular nested set of 10 is 7.75 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches, meaning I no longer have to play Jenga with my food containers to fit them in my slim cabinet. Being able to pop them in the dishwasher (both the containers and the lids) means a quick and easy clear up.

Editor’s Top Tip for Keeping Plastic Food Containers Stain-Free

If you’ve ever stored a tomato-based food or sauce in a plastic container and found it has stained, there is a simple cleaning tip to get that staining off that doesn’t involve hours of soaking or tough scrubbing.

Simply put a splash or two of water inside, pop a paper towel in and a squirt of Dawn dish soap, available at Walmart. Put the lid on and shake the mixture for 30 seconds. The gentle abrasion and the porosity of the paper, along with the degreasing power of dish soap, will break down the red stains from the inside of your container and transfer to the tissue.

You can also use Castile Soap to clean, which is non-toxic and made from lots of natural ingredients with serious cleaning power.

This will keep your set looking and smelling like new for so much longer. The Joseph Joseph nesting set from Amazon also has removable seals; this is the feature that makes it leakproof and airtight, which makes cleaning food debris away a breeze. This will also prevent microscopic moisture from food or cleaning from becoming a breeding ground for mold.

What to Shop

For other space-saving but immensely useful kitchen cabinet gems, these are my top picks.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Using a pegboard organizer is also a smart way to tackle chaotic kitchen cabinets, especially as they are customizable and can hold various pots, pans, lids, and trays easily.

If you've ever felt your mind go blank or your hands start to shake when anxious, nervous, or upset, that's your nervous system starting a cascade to 'protect' you from a perceived threat.

If that 'threat' is what happens when you try and fail to declutter, fret not.

Here, psychologists and experts in the space share eight ways to calm your nervous system so that all the decluttering tips you've got up your sleeve will be able to be actioned. It's quite satisfying how such tiny tweaks can turn a difficult experience into a smooth one.

Nervous-System Friendly Tips for Stress-Free Decluttering in 2026

First, it's important to understand why your nervous system is being activated when you're doing a common household task, such as decluttering your kitchen or bedroom.

Reuven Rosen, a licensed clinical social worker and couples therapist at ConnectWell Therapy, says most people would be surprised by how often this connection appears in homes across the US.

He says, 'From what I see, clutter is often a signal that someone is overwhelmed, not a sign that they don’t care. Some clients describe feeling constantly on edge in a messy space. They can’t focus, they feel irritated for no clear reason, and it’s hard to actually relax at home. Sleep is often lighter, too.

'For others, clutter isn’t about not caring. It shows up during grief, depression, or burnout, when even small daily tasks feel like too much.'

Here are some simple and small steps you can take to help you regulate your nervous system so you can succeed at decluttering.

1. Shift from Protection Mode to Permission Mode

Tim Shurr, Peak Performance Mind Architect and Founder of Shurr Success and IndyHypnosis says, 'Over my 30-year career, I've found that people who have failed every organizing system often succeed once the belief “I’m not safe without this” is addressed. One client with severe shopping compulsion was able to release 14 boxes in one afternoon, not because she tried harder, but because her nervous system no longer interpreted discarding as danger.'

For people who feel panicky, compulsive, or frozen when decluttering, Tim shares insight that the problem is rarely the 'stuff'. He says, 'It’s an unconscious safety belief. Before decluttering, spend 60–90 seconds deliberately shifting the nervous system from protection mode to permission mode.'

A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that perceived safety cues reduce amygdala reactivity and stress responses.

When actioning this 'permission' step with clients, Tim asks them to pause, place one hand on the chest, one on the abdomen, and say (silently or aloud): 'Nothing bad happens if I let this go. I am safe even without it, and any of this can be replaced.'

Then, start decluttering a neutral category of items that will not require a lot of thought or deliberation, such as recycling old packaging, duplicates, or out-of-date items with an easy expiration sweep. Avoid decluttering sentimental items at this point.

Tim adds, 'This works especially well for compulsive shoppers, people with trauma histories, chronic anxiety, ADHD, or those who intellectually want to declutter but feel overwhelmed or distressed when trying.'

Another study in the same publication found that feeling threatened impairs executive function and decision-making, which explains why your emotional history may make decluttering feel panic-inducing and send your nervous system into overdrive.

Tim says his approach replaces “force and discipline” with nervous-system permission, creating lasting change instead of rebound clutter.

2. Boost Dopamine with Music

Playing fun music increases dopamine, which is known as the 'feel-good' hormone, and creates a positive association with the task.

You can also achieve this with dopamine pairing, where you play a favorite show or film, one that you're familiar with and won't heighten your anxiety, whilst you're doing the decluttering. This shifts the focus from the task your hands are doing, to the enjoyment your mind is feeling.

Body doubling is also helpful, where you video call a friend or loved one and both of you declutter together. If you're not up for a call, try a decluttering video on YouTube instead.

Dana White is a professional organizer, owner of A Slob Comes Clean and author of Wall Street bestseller, Decluttering at the Speed of Life, available in multiple formats on Amazon.

I recently interviewed Dana about her fabulous Five-Day Clutter Shakedown and loved how no step of it leaves a big pile of mess to be sorted later. Every move you make brings tangible progress. It's also excellent for banishing decluttering indecision.

We also love some of the decluttering shows on Netflix, which pairs nicely with our next tip.

3. Have an Exit Strategy

Permitting yourself to stop at any time instantly takes away the stress of facing a long decluttering session.

Set a timer, such as the visual Pomodoro timer available from Amazon, and work for 10 minutes to declutter a drawer, a nightstand, or other small space. You can instead watch one episode of a show you have had on your watch list, or are familiar with.

Working within these timed boundaries eases the stress reaction we often face when dealing with tasks we feel are beyond our scope or too large to manage in one sitting.

Having a clear end in sight makes it possible to declutter when feeling overwhelmed and calm the nervous system.

4. Take 'Forest Bathing' Breaks

Taking a 'nature break' and 'forest bathing' is a well-known Japanese wellbeing technique.

Simply go into the yard with bare feet and stroll on the grass. The impact of nature on the human body shouldn't be overlooked, as simply seeing green or blue reduces the heart and breathing rate within minutes.

Putting your skin on natural materials such as sand or grass triggers the parasympathetic nervous system and brings calm because our bodies are designed to respond to natural surroundings, which is why so many people find being by the sea, or taking a stroll through the woods, clears their mind and silences anxiety.

If you live in an apartment and don't have access to a yard or lots of natural space, simply look out of your window at the sky instead (but don't look at the sun directly), and notice the pattern of the clouds, the breeze on your skin.

This will calm and soothe your nervous system in the same way. Even 90 seconds spent looking at trees from my home office window brings my heart rate down, which is why I have it scheduled as a recurring reminder that pops up on my screen every 90 minutes in my workday.

Doing this before, during, or after decluttering, or whenever you feel the task is getting on top of you, will result in your baseline of stress during this task lowering.

You will feel calm and grounded instead of anxious, panicked, or overwhelmed by chores. Writing Morning Pages is another fabulous technique we've tried and loved for helping get the mind and body organized and working efficiently without internal chatter and worries getting in the way of household tasks.

5. Activating Your Body's De-Stress Button

The vagus nerve runs through the torso, connecting your brain with your heart and gut. It's a vital part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions. Activating it can hit a reset of sorts, lowering your heart rate, breathing rat,e and reducing stress.

Susan Reis is a Somatic Practitioner at The Cyclical Seed, who is also completing her MSc in Applied Neuroscience. She works on the body-mind connection and nervous system every day.

She says, 'Humming while decluttering can also be super effective. The vibration created by humming stimulates the vagus nerve, helping to shift the body out of a stress response.

'This can reduce adrenaline output and support calm and focus, making the task feel more manageable. Letting the humming turn into a song can also bring a sense of ease or even enjoyment to it.'

Try Homes & Gardens playlist for a mix of fun and motivating tunes. Having an affordable, portable and wireless Bluetooth speaker from Amazon that instantly connects with my phone and delivers great sound wherever I am whilst decluttering, has been my favorite small purchase for my home.

6. Try Simple Somatic Exercises

Somatic means something that relates to the mind, but is felt in the body. The same can be applied to physical exercises or movements that calm the mind.

Susan explains, 'I often see how such common factors like home clutter contribute to chronic nervous system stress, as a visually busy environment keeps the brain in a low-grade state of alert and can increase anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep, and overwhelm, particularly for people already under stress or dysregulated.'

This is one of the reasons we are stressed by the visual clutter of open storage. Simply adding a set of pretty wicker boxes from Wayfair to your shelves so items are corralled instead of on display can reduce that inability to relax around all your 'stuff'.

Susan adds, 'Clutter adds ongoing cognitive and sensory load and is registered by the nervous system as unresolved stimuli over time, meaning the body and mind are constantly processing more than they need to.'

Instead of visual clutter in the living room simply being that, it becomes a mental 'to-do' list, which can make it hard to unwind in that space.

One simple tip Susan gives is to declutter one small, high-impact area you notice daily, like a bedside table, rather than the whole house.

She says, 'Completing a contained space gives the nervous system a clear signal of safety and completion without becoming an overwhelming demand. Take a moment to briefly notice how this clear space feels in the body and mind to help reinforce more regulated patterns over time.'

Here are some of our favorite decluttering methods, which we have tried and tested, that are great for blasting through streamlining to-do lists:

• The 'Ta-da' list method
• The Avoidance Method
• The Scary-Hour method
• The Microshifting method

7. Don't Aim to Declutter Everything

Couples therapist Reuven Rosen describes working with a duo recently who argued constantly about the mess in their home. He says, 'One partner felt overwhelmed by clutter and said their body just shut down in it.

'The other partner had recently lost their mother and was still deeply grieving. She wasn’t ignoring the mess on purpose. She was emotionally drained and felt unseen. What they were fighting about every day wasn’t really dishes or piles on the floor.'

Decluttering after bereavement is especially tricky, and needs a lot of self-love and compassion to move through.

One small shift that helped Reuven's couple was changing how they talked about the task. Reuven explains that instead of asking each other why they didn't just keep particular spaces clear, they focused on what clutter did to each person.

'They picked a few shared areas where order mattered most and let the rest go for the time being. The tension dropped almost immediately.'

Ditching housekeeping perfectionism is a good thing all around, as we live imperfect lives. There is no reason to expect perfectionism in our household tasks either.

This mindset shift is an instant reliever of stress that can crop up and manifest as nervous-system activation.

8. Tackle Surface Clutter First

Nick Friedman, co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving on the impact of clutter on body and mind.

'Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how clutter doesn’t just take up space in a home, it takes up space in people’s minds and bodies too. From a mental health standpoint, clutter creates constant visual noise, especially when surfaces are crowded, unfinished projects pile up, or rooms feel chaotic.

'I’ve spoken with countless customers who describe feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even ashamed in their own homes, and that chronic stress can absolutely bleed into sleep quality, focus, and motivation.'

One simple but effective decluttering tip Nick offers is to reduce visual clutter first and dial down the stress that is activated in your body and mind.

'Clear countertops, nightstands, and entryways. These are the areas your eyes land on most often, and simplifying them can deliver an immediate sense of calm and control.'

You can try the Ski-Slope Method for a quick fix that doesn't involve any decluttering decision-making, the Sunday Butterfly Method if you're struggling to focus, or the Desire-Path Method to easily tackle one area that's a magnet for mess in your home.

What to Shop

A few helpful items can help you not just declutter with less stress, but tackle household chores without perfectionism.

Meet the Experts

You can also try tips for decluttering at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, to help guide you through each life phase with expert insight.

With the whirlwind of holidays coming to a close, it's only natural to crave a bit of breathing room. Homes feel full in every sense of the word, and that's where our post-Christmas decluttering reset comes in.

Spreading streamlining tasks over 12 days, this slow home decluttering approach turns what would otherwise be an overwhelming project into manageable steps so you don't start the new year burnt out.

This is how to split your workload for this relaxed decluttering method and leave your home beautifully clean and zen for January and beyond.

12 Days of Post-Christmas Decluttering

December 25 – Deal with Trash

Although you may be juggling guests and dinners on Christmas Day, it never hurts to streamline a little as you go.

Audra George, owner and professional organizer at Pretty Neat: An Organization Solution, suggests starting small and just focusing on the main bulk of trash to tidy a home without feeling overwhelmed, or detracting from quality time with friends and family.

She recommends targeting wrapping paper, packaging, and boxes that you no longer need for an instant refresh that will make any room feel less chaotic, ready for that post-dinner snooze.

December 26 – Clean the Kitchen

Cleaning a kitchen after dinner is a mammoth task on a normal day, but throw in the chaos of Christmas, and it's even tougher. For this, it is wise to encourage family to declutter with you, even introducing children to chores to speed the process up.

Your first task, Audra says, is to deal with Christmas leftovers. 'Leftovers are great to eat on for the next few days, and look up some new recipes of what to do with the leftover turkey or ham, then make some new recipes to enjoy. The sooner you deal with the food, the better tasting it will be.'

For any items you decide to freeze, consider the Rubbermaid Glass Food Containers from Target. They are leak-proof and oven-safe, perfect for quick reheating later on.

As for cleaning the kitchen, you do not need to gut your appliances right now. Rather, deal with the immediate messes, such as cleaning countertops, mopping floors, taking out the trash, and cleaning the kitchen sink. Don't forget to empty and reload the dishwasher, too.

We suggest using a non-toxic cleaner, such as the Attitude All-Purpose Spray from Walmart, to help create a non-toxic home going into the new year. Sponge cloths, from Target, are also a great pick to minimize waste at an expensive time of the year. They can quickly be sanitized on the top rack of your dishwasher for rapid household cleaning.

December 27 – House Gifts

With the excitement starting to dull, it's time to declutter all the new gifts that are likely sitting in piles around your family room. Pro organizer Audra recommends focusing on just one room at a time, determining where the new stuff will live that is both practical and organized.

Look for homes first, and then determine if you need to purchase extra storage to avoid over-shopping and stop clutter before it starts. If you need new storage, consider clear storage bins from Wayfair, allowing items to stay on display. It's a quick way to optimize storage to avoid duplicates in the future.

You may also want to consider the one-in, one-out rule when putting gifts away. Does a new gift replace something old? Toss or donate the old to make space.

December 28 – Tackle Tables

With the majority of dinner parties over, it is time to declutter your dining room and clear decorations and linens from your table, suggests Max Wilson, home storage expert and co-founder of Pocket Storage.

Put decorations back in their boxes, wipe down place mats, and toss table linens such as cloths and napkins in the laundry basket. It is also a good idea to disinfect the dining table and chairs with a non-toxic disinfectant spray such as Method Citron Antibacterial from Target.

This will give you the perfect clear slate to set up your New Year table decor ideas.

December 29 – Gut the Guest Rooms

If guests have stayed over through the Christmas period, reset the bedrooms now, ready for any New Year friends and family, Audra urges.

Strip and make beds the right way, whether or not guests are arriving in the coming days, so that the space is always ready for last-minute use.

Declutter surfaces and guest bathrooms, not forgetting about clothes storage, to make a guest room feel more homey, and consider curating new guest welcome boxes to present yourself as a super host.

December 30 – Start on Laundry

No one likes laundry, but after Christmas dinner, days spent lounging in PJs, and guests staying the night, it is sure to have piled up in various rooms of your home.

A quick organizing trick to make laundry easier is to gather all of the laundry in one place. This will make sorting laundry and making up loads easier. A pre-divided laundry hamper, such as the Joseph Joseph Tota Trio Hamper, from Wayfair, is ideal for this, with removable baskets making it easy to take items to your laundry room without dropping anything.

When doing laundry, avoid the common laundry mistake of overloading the drum, opting for several smaller washes over one massive one to avoid breaking your best washing machine. It takes longer, but you will get better results.

To keep things clean and simple, use a gentle detergent, such as Tide Free & Gentle from Walmart, to avoid damaging any fabrics or setting off allergies.

December 31 – Clear Family Rooms

The New Year usually means another influx of guests. To prepare, spend some time decluttering the main gathering places, such as the family and living rooms.

Max suggests, 'Fold throws, stack books, and return items to their homes. This area often becomes the dumping ground, so bringing order back here instantly changes how the whole house feels.'

For a systematic approach to decluttering a living room, try the ski-slope organizing method, going back and forth with a laundry basket (I use a folding basket similar to the Joseph Joseph Hold-All Basket from Wayfair) to collect items that don't belong and easily take them to their appropriate homes.

Short on time or energy? Try the GFD basket method, paired with the guest scanning method, to get a home guest-ready in under one hour.

January 1 – Clear Cards

You may be feeling pretty tired on New Year's Day, so take a step back and focus on a small task to help recoup energy.

Max suggests organizing paperwork and decluttering Christmas card displays on New Year's Day, tasks you can sit down and tackle while watching TV.

He recommends, 'Recycle old cards, save a few special ones, and file receipts or warranties. This clears visual clutter and stops piles from spreading into January.' For those cards you want to keep, a shallow project box from Walmart is more than adequate, keeping them safe from damage, ready for redisplay next year.

January 2 – Declutter Decor

The festivities are officially over, so it is time to declutter Christmas decorations and reclaim your home, Max urges.

He suggests, 'Take a moment to reflect on your holiday décor. Start with any decorations that feel out of place. Keep sentimental items and donate or recycle what no longer suits your space.'

Pack items away securely so that they are not damaged for next year. Ornament bags, from Amazon, will protect baubles from breaks and scratches in attic storage, while a sturdy Christmas tree bag, also from Amazon, can protect artificial trees from mold and pests.

January 3 – Blast Bathrooms

You will likely have been cleaning bathrooms periodically over the Christmas period, but now that guests have moved on, it's time to declutter and organize bathrooms thoroughly before giving them a deep clean.

Guest products will likely have been used up, or half emptied, Max points out, so take some time to consolidate products into one bottle where you can and declutter the empties. The same goes for any products or tools that have been replaced by new gifts or items you didn't like using.

When rearranging items in bathroom storage, consider using breathable storage containers from Amazon to corral clutter without trapping moisture.

January 4 – Empty the Entryway

Bulky coats and shoes will always make an entryway look cluttered. While we are still a long way from switching to spring jackets, it's a good idea to declutter any items you are not using and tidy up items that you may have left out in the holiday rush, ready for going back to school and work.

January 5 – The Final Sweep

It's the end of the 12 days of post-Christmas decluttering. By now, most of your home should look as it did before the madness of the holidays.

For the final day, Audra concludes, 'Focus on any other spaces that still need a small reset. Go slow and steady, focusing on one space at a time – baby steps will make to-do lists less overwhelming, decrease stress, and allow you to gradually work on things vs trying to rush and get your home organized all at once.'

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Struggling to beat the post-Christmas blues at home? Our experts have rounded up the best tips to help boost your energy in the coldest, darkest month of the year and make a home less depressing in fall and winter.

At the busiest and most stressful time of the year, clutter on your kitchen countertops is inevitable and pretty unavoidable. But, with guests on the way and time tighter than ever, how can you clear clutter fast?

Our answer is simple, effective, and oh-so-easy – using a 'roving junk drawer' to cheat your way to a streamlined space.

It's our favorite decluttering method for making an impact with little to no time, and the beauty of it lies in its effortless simplicity and the fact you will diary a time to return to it and properly fix it, meaning it doesn't get forgotten about or creep up on you later.

What Is the 'Roving Junk Drawer' Trick?

While Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and holiday hosting are all reasons to celebrate with friends and family, for some, this time of year is more stressful than ever.

In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Manhattan Mental Health Counselling, 41 per cent of adults anticipate more stress this year than last, with time pressure, overcommitment, and social comparison appearing among the classic triggers.

But, with the 'roving junk drawer' trick, clutter in your home, whether hosting or simply spending time relaxing, needn't be a trigger, too.

Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved here at Homes & Gardens, is the brains behind this clever tip. 'I have taken to using a 'roving junk drawer' in my home ahead of guests when I am short on time, high on stress, and low on energy,' she explains, all of which tend to be exacerbated at this time of year, leaving most people decluttering when overwhelmed.

For Punteha, who is disabled and lives with chronic pain, she is constantly finding new ways to easily declutter with health challenges, and this trick, which was born of necessity on a really low-energy and high-pain day, really works.

She adds, 'This effectively is a temporary cheat to declutter countertops and surfaces. Get yourself a cardboard box from an inbound package, or a plastic bin with a lid, such as the Sterilite Latch Box available at Walmart, and quite literally tip all of your counter clutter in there.

'This might include paperwork, trinkets, and odds and ends that don't really have a home, or have lost their way, but are taking up space in a high-function or high-traffic area.'

There are, however, warns Punteha, a few caveats to keep in mind, as you shouldn't include any items you might need over the next few weeks, food items, damp items, or living plants, as you certainly don't want to find yourself dealing with common indoor pests or mold and mildew between now and when you return to clear the box.

'Everything else can go in there, and then you seal it shut,' adds Punteha. 'Whether it's a lid that comes with the plastic bin, or taping the cardboard shut with packing tape,' available at Amazon.

Once sealed, simply write the date on the top that you intend to return to the box, or slip a note inside with that information on it, and pop a matching task in your calendar so you don't forget about it completely when you have more time.

'Put it out of sight, out of mind, until the date you have agreed with yourself to return to the items and sort them out,' advises Punteha. 'I set a digital reminder on my phone so I cannot escape it.'

And, the best part of this 'roving junk drawer' trick is that, much like the didn't know decluttering method, you may well find that none of the items in your roving junk drawer are actually missed.

In that case, you can appropriately trash, recycle, donate, or sell the decluttered items, using the Pile Decluttering Method, to banish any things you shouldn't keep on kitchen counters for good.

In particular, this will work well for decluttering those accumulated pieces that tend to build up in your space with nowhere to go, working to make more counter space, even in a small kitchen.

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Wondering how to keep kitchen counters clear year-round? Begin by making decluttering a daily habit.

The days between Christmas and New Year's Day can feel a little bit like living in limbo. That is why pro organizers see this as the perfect time to reset the home and restore some order.

After weeks of gifts, gatherings, and general chaos, the pros follow five specific organizing habits to curb the craving for a fresh start and clear lingering clutter.

These are the exact decluttering tips they follow to step into January feeling organized, instead of overwhelmed.

5 Things Pro Organizers Do Before January 1st

1. Deep Clean Flat Surfaces

Clearing visual clutter in a living room or kitchen is the best way to instantly make your home less overwhelming. Plus, it makes cleaning tips quicker and less stressful, too.

Brenda Scott, professional home organizer and owner of Tidy My Space, does this, advising: 'Look for areas that you can simplify with less visual clutter. Coffee tables, nightstands, and desks can be a dumping ground for odds and ends.'

She adds that it is also wise to take the time to 'edit out kitchen and bathroom items that you don't use, need, or want. After holiday gift giving, some items may be replaced with a newer version, so release the old ones. Make sure that you really like the new one before letting go of the old.'

Consider using the one-tool cleaning trick, moving around the spaces with a microfiber cloth from Walmart, and the non-toxic Attitude all-purpose spray from Amazon, to quickly disinfect surfaces and remove dust at the same time.

There are plenty of things you can do with the items you are decluttering at this time of year, too, from donating to food banks and shelters to regifting, if you feel bold enough.

2. Clear the Fridge and Pantry

A key part of the post-Christmas clean-up is decluttering the kitchen. If you are busy or stressed, focus primarily on the pantry and fridge.

Brenda continues, 'Clear out the fridge and pantry. Looking for expired food, or those foods you didn't end up liking. By clearing out these storage areas, you can then give the shelves a good clean. Spills happen; it's best to clean them up before infestation occurs.' Cleaning with vinegar is ideal for this, killing bacteria, mold, and odors, with orange-scented cleaning vinegar available at Walmart.

'Then, put "keep" items back in an orderly fashion,' she adds. 'Store like with like, or used together, together.' The FIFO method can also help you organize food storage to prevent food from going bad before you use it up.

3. Finish Unfinished Projects

We are not suggesting necessarily finishing your home DIY projects in this limbo week, but it can be the perfect time to finish off smaller projects, be it small crafts, finishing any decluttering projects you started but put on pause for the holidays, or even puzzles from Christmas.

This is something Amélie Saint-Jacques, professional organizer, Kon-Mari consultant, and owner of Amélie Organizes, loves to do to help close the year out. 'I love to reset my home before the new year for a fresh start. This includes finishing up ongoing projects so that I can put them away,' she says. 'It also looks like dropping off donations that have accumulated, and doing some quick surface cleaning.'

4. Take Down the Tree

Amélie reveals, 'I'll usually try to take down the Christmas tree by December 31st, though it may linger until the first few days of January if I decide that resting is more important. That being said, do try to find a place for all your gifts! It's normal to receive things over the holidays, and if you keep them, you need to make room for them. Otherwise, they will become clutter.'

The ski-slope method is helpful for this, allowing you to tackle every corner of a room and easily transport items to their new homes using a handy folding laundry basket, such as the Joseph Joseph one from Wayfair.

If you need a smaller project, Jamie Hord, organizer and founder of Horderly, adds, 'Personally, I don't hold on to any Christmas cards. I make sure everyone in my family sees it and reads it, and then it moves along.'

5. Tackle Laundry

Doing laundry is rarely a favorite task, but you can't let it pile up into the new year.

Amélie says, 'It's also as good a time as any to launder items that you wouldn't get to as often, such as the clothes on the armchair in the corner of your bedroom (you know you have one!) or your couch blankets. I also like starting the year with fresh bed linens and towels.'

Having a divided laundry hamper, such as the Joseph Jospeh Tota 60 Liter Hamper from Amazon, makes sorting clothes for laundry simple, so your laundry days are not as overwhelming.

The same applies to any non-fabric items that need hand washing, she adds. 'Remember the items that may not get washed as often, like water bottles or makeup brushes, and make sure to clean them.'

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

With a head start like this, it will be 10 times easier to reclaim your home after the holidays. And, if you're super short on time, using the roving junk drawer organizing trick will clear clutter and allow you to sort it once you have more time.

By the end of our festivities, most people are exhausted and very ready for Christmas decorations to be stored away. As such, ornaments, lights, wreaths, and other festive trinkets can often end up in crowded bins, tangled or bashing together.

Not only can this damage delicate items, but it also makes decorating next year more difficult, too.

Our ultimate guide on storing Christmas decorations easily and without damage delves into stress-free storage ideas for every type of festive decor, whether you live in a cozy apartment with limited space or a spacious house with multiple options.

The Ultimate Guide to Storing Christmas Decorations

Before you start taking down all of your Christmas decor ideas, it helps to have some essential kit ready to make the process easier and prevent a stop-and-start approach that can lead to disorganization:

• A small parts organizer: Available at Walmart, this can help to corral small essentials such as reusable clips, batteries, spare lightbulbs, twist ties, and so on, ready for easy use again next year.
• A small screwdriver set: Also from Walmart, a small screwdriver can come in handy to help remove batteries from items before storage to prevent battery leaks in storage.
• Gardening gloves: From Amazon, a set of gloves can help when taking down real-foliage decor, such as holly, without nicking your skin.
• Drywall repair kit: Available from Amazon, it can help you patch up any accidental damage caused by your decorations.
• A label maker: Such as the DYMO label maker from Walmart, is ideal for labeling boxes by room for easy decorating next year.
• Heavy-duty trash bags: Available from Amazon. This is useful to keep on hand for any decorations that are ready to be trashed, recycled or, if in good enough condition, donated. There's no point storing items you have grown weary of and are unlikely to use again.

Picking Storage Solutions

Laura Price, professional home organizer and owner of The Home Organization, says, 'Taking down the decorations is not always the most enjoyable task, but it’s a chance to restore and refresh your home so it’s ready for the new year.'

Having some storage products professional organizers can't live without is a key part of this, helping to protect your decor from damage and keep your

'Don’t just pull your decorations down in a frenzy, be methodical,' Laura urges. 'Group items together, such as lights, baubles, and tinsel, and find suitable protective packaging for them. Also, make sure you label what’s what, so putting up the decorations next year isn’t an unnecessary hardship.'

The Niimbot Label Maker, from Walmart, is ideal for this, connecting to your phone for easy labeling.

With that in mind, it is best to stock up on the following:

Storing Christmas Trees

For those who have an artificial Christmas tree, it's essential to preserve its quality while ensuring it is easy to store and move – all of which comes down to what your artificial tree is stored in.

1. Use the right container

If you have ever tried to wrestle a faux Christmas tree back into the box it came in, then you will know how it is almost impossible. To save yourself some time and energy, Amélie strongly recommends investing in a specialized Christmas tree bag, such as this from Amazon.

‘They are sturdy, have large handles and wheels, so it is easier to maneuver your tree in and out of storage each year,’ she explains. 'The hooks also allow you to hang it on the wall if you don't want it on the floor. I love a bag because not only does it keep the whole thing contained (so you don't have to go looking for half your tree if you're missing pieces), but it also keeps out dust and the elements.’

If you opt for a storage box, ensure the box is clean, dry, and adequately sized to fit the tree's components without excessive bending. Opt for a durable plastic storage box with a sealable lid to protect the tree from any damage and to keep out moisture, bugs, and dust.

Faux trees, garlands, and wreaths are prone to mold and mildew when stored in areas of the home that are not climate-controlled and can become a hazard, smell musty, or both.

2. Always take your tree apart before storing

To make your home organizing simpler, it helps to take your Christmas tree apart before storing it away, Amélie continues.

‘Before storing an artificial tree, make sure to take it apart (it is often in three sections) and fold down the branches before storing it in the bag, pole ends toward the middle. This helps keep the bag in good condition and will ensure that the branches aren't bent next year.’

Never put a tree away with the ornaments still on, as you risk damaging both your tree and your decorations. Cleaning an artificial Christmas tree is also a good idea to prolong its lifespan.

3. Keep trees out of basements and attics

Although attics and basements are some of the most common places to store a Christmas tree in the off-season, these are some of the spaces you should never use for home storage if you want your tree to last you for years to come, professional organizers warn.

Lauren Saltman, home organizer and founder of Living. Simplified. explains, ‘Although it's tempting to store a Christmas tree in the attic, basement, or garage, unfortunately, these are not optimal areas due to pests, temperature changes, and moisture, all of which can damage your faux Christmas tree.

‘If possible, find space in a closet within your home, preferably on a top shelf,’ Lauren suggests, making under-the-stairs organization a great place to start when looking for a new home for your tree.

That being said, if you really have nowhere else to store your tree, some accommodations can be made to protect your tree in unfavorable storage spots, assures Amélie.

‘As long as it's in a sturdy bag like the one I mentioned, it is protected just fine. Just note that this is not always the case with trees that have white limbs or fake snow, but for a green tree, I haven't seen any issues. The most important thing is to store the bag in a way that it won't come into contact with water or direct sunlight; having a bag also helps protect the tree against dust or insects that might want to nest in it.’

Storing Christmas Decorations

1. Group by Use

Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind, says, 'Store decor based on how you use them, rather than by type. So if you decorate your front porch with specific lights and decor, then keep those together. The same goes for trees – rather than storing all ornaments together, separate them by how and where they are used to make decorating faster and easier.'

If you keep different decorations for Christmas or Hanukkah, make sure it's clear. ‘Separate and store decorations by holiday so you can pull out only what you need rather than digging through bins,’ recommends La Fond.

2. Label Everything

Grouping will hold less value without an efficient labeling system in place. Interior designer, Kishani Perera says, 'One thing super organized people always do is label, label, label!

'Every box and container having a detailed and itemized list of all its contents saves hours in the future when trying to dig up your holiday gear. If your items are stored in various places, as may be necessary in a small space, one master list detailing the whereabouts of your various items would be of enormous aid.'

Use all manner of labeling and listing to give yourself clarity when it comes to decorating again next year. For added gusto, La Fond recommends storage that you can see into, without disruption. ‘Use clear bins with labels so you can see what you have and find what you want,' she recommends. Simple adhesive labels, at Amazon, will do the job just fine.

3. Keep Lights Wrapped Up

Christmas lighting ideas are by far some of the most irritating pieces to store and decorate with. They always get tangled in the box, despite being perfectly fine when we put them away.

Creator of PURE Design, Ami McKay suggests, ‘Try not to tangle your lights! Wrap them around a piece of cardboard stacked in bins or you can use storage reels in cases, available at The Container Store.’

Kienzle recommends separating these into individual bags, too. 'Each string of lights should be stored separately in a gallon-size Ziploc bag (which are great for many uses around the home). Wrap each string around a piece of cardboard to keep it from tangling before putting it in a bag.'

4. Consider Humidity

One of the most important things people who are good at storing Christmas decorations always do is pay attention to humidity levels and improve ventilation in their homes to keep decor safe from damage.

Kim Corey, professional home organizer and founder of Finely Sorted Organizing, says, 'Many out-of-the-way places one would store holiday items may not be up to snuff as far as moisture level goes. Using moisture-absorbing pouches, available at Amazon, with airtight bins can help preserve your favorite homemade and store-bought holiday decor.'

Kim also reminds us that we should be using plastic bins and never cardboard for long-term storage, especially in attics and basements. She wants, 'There may be pests lurking that are looking for new bedding material. Unsecured cardboard boxes look like a jackpot to them. Using a sturdy plastic airtight bin will avoid this damage. You want it to be good and sturdy, as cheaper bins can buckle under the weight of stacking and cause damage to the contents you want to preserve.

'Finally, ensure the area you store your decorations is easy to access and, most importantly, is clean. A clean, simple spot will make decorating easier and safer year on year, especially in multi-generational households.'

5. Use Uniform Bins

Whether you use clear or opaque bins, Caroline Roberts, professional organzier and owner of This Simplified Island, shares, 'I recommend that you use one kind of bin for everything so you can mix, match, and move things around more easily.

'Clear bins are perfect for looking and seeing what’s inside. You can find ones with wheels that are easy to move around, like these clear bins at The Container Store. The downside is that being able to see all of the items inside can make the space look cluttered. If your storage is in an attic or other rarely seen area, then it doesn’t matter if the area seems a little messy due to bins.

'If you store your Christmas décor in the garage or bedroom closet, the cohesive look of opaque bins will look nicer. You’ll just have to be extra careful to label thoroughly since you won’t be able to see inside without opening the lid.'

6. Declutter as You Go

One of the best storage tips any professional organizer will give you is to declutter your belongings as you pack them away. This saves time in the future and space in your storage areas, as well as trimming down your collection and reducing decorating overwhelm next year.

Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, 'Keep decluttering in mind when setting up and when taking down decorations. If you're purchasing new items, consider following the one-in-one-out rule and let go of something old in exchange for bringing in something new. This way, your decorations stay at a constant level and never overflow the space you have to store them in.'

7. Pack out Wreaths to Keep Their Shape

If you have faux Christmas garlands and Christmas wreaths then packing them away properly can help extend their life span and keep them as Christmas centerpieces for years to come. Luckily, there are two ways to do this.

Jamie Hord says, 'Wreath storage is a must. Everyone has experienced a squished wreath, and it's no fun trying to get it back to life. You most likely end up getting a new one, wasting your time and money. Use these round bins [from The Container Store] to keep your wreaths in tip-top shape.'

Alternatively, you can pack like objects together into storage to help keep them in shape, for example, store them with other bulky items like faux garlands.

For long or very bulky garlands, consider storing them straight in a tree storage bag with a long plank of wood to keep the bag flat and level, stopping the garland from bending and breaking in storage.

8. Pack Items Heaviest to Lightest

When finding homes for your decorations, be it organizing under the stairs, in the attic, or in the basement, it is best to avoid stacking things on top of one another unless they are in sturdy, hard-shell boxes, such as the highly rated Sterilite storage boxes, available at Amazon.

Using strong shelves to separate items, with the heaviest items at the bottom and lighter items at the top, will not only make your shelves more stable but will also make putting items back and getting them out safer for you.

If you do not have shelves and need to stack items, always stack the larger, heavier items at the bottom, avoiding putting items on top of storage bags with trees and garlands in them lest you squash them. If possible, store these upright against a wall so they are not flattened by their own weight, either.

9. Deal With the Tree Last

Once your ornaments are safely tucked away, you can get rid of your real Christmas tree and finally start to reclaim your home's footprint.

Cut The Clutter's Marie Bateson recommends, 'If you have a real Christmas tree, make a note of your local collection dates for trees. You may need to book this in advance and make a small payment, but it is worth it to avoid the needle-filled boot of the car and the queue at the recycling center. Book it for the day you will take the decorations down, if possible, but if it isn’t, put them outside where they can be collected, as they often don’t mind if they get wet.

'If it is an artificial tree and you have the box, dismantle it and when it’s safely packed, tape the box to make it secure, dust-free, and easier to carry – or you could get a tree bag to make it even easier,' she adds.

Jamie continues, 'Most people store Christmas trees in the basement, attic, or garage so it's important to cover them well to avoid any pests.

'Depending on what size tree you have, there are different products that can protect your tree for the years to come.' Tools such as the Zevo flying insect trap, from Walmart, can help to keep your decor safe, especially alongside natural cedar blocks, from Amazon.

10. Be Smart With Storage in Small Spaces

If you live in a small storageless home or an apartment, storage for seasonal items can be tricky, particularly if you're considering ways to store glittery holiday decorations to limit cleaning at the same time.

Since holiday decorations typically only surface once a year, Cynthia Kienzle, Founder of The Clutter Whisperer of NYC, recommends storing them out of the space if available as an option. Some might be fortunate enough to have a storage cage in the basement of an apartment building. If not, you could consider keeping items off-site at a friend's or family member's home, or in another secure, temperature-controlled location.

You will also want to make sure that your chosen boxes, bags, and the like, work together, as well as with the space you are using.

Containers should fit snugly onto bookshelves or seamlessly in with closet storage. Cynthia continues, 'If at the top of a closet, the containers should fit on the shelves with little overhang. They can be deep or shallow, depending on the contents and height between shelves.'

It goes without saying that for a neat and curated finish, you will want to keep decorations behind closed doors where possible.

Meet the Experts

With the last traces of Christmas back in safe storage, try out some fun decluttering methods to help you reset the rest of your home for the new year.

Like the majority of people, I love to shop. But with a house move on the horizon in 2026, I decided that rather than building my collection of possessions (I love shopping), I needed to cut it down.

That being said, I didn't want to stop purchasing goodies completely this shopping season – instead, I tried the 'One In, One Out' decluttering rule with a twist, opting for 'One In, Two Out.'

Here's why I think it's one of the best, low-effort decluttering methods for making a real difference without spending days sorting and cutting.

I Tried the One In, Two Out Decluttering Method

As decluttering methods go, the One In, Two Out technique is just as simple as it sounds – it works the same as the 'One In, One Out' method, but for every one new thing you bring into your home, you declutter two in its place.

Initially, this is a method I first adopted when trying to kick my shoe-hoarding habit and organize my footwear over the summer. And, actually, it was far easier than I ever anticipated.

With a pair of brand new shoes in my shopping basket that I really wanted to hit checkout on, suddenly getting rid of my old, battered, and dirty sneakers was easy. The pairs that were still wearable went straight to charity, while a couple of pairs that were genuinely falling apart went straight into the bin.

In total, I cleared six pairs, and over the summer, replaced them with two, excelling at my own new technique and getting rid of three, instead of two, for every one. I then organized my collection into some new Plastic Storage Bins, available at Amazon, and tucked them away in my underbed storage ideas.

Since then, I've kept this technique in mind whenever I'm shopping, as a way of passive decluttering to transform my storage ideas, and more often than not, declutter my closet regularly, as clothes are the thing I shop for and buy the most by far.

Interestingly, though, while yes, this has helped me to cut down and organize a closet without buying anything, more than that, it's actually made me a far more considered shopper.

Now, when I want to buy something, I truly think about what I could get rid of in its place. If I can't think of anything, then I really consider if it's a purchase worth making.

And, while this has been primarily relating to clothes and shoes, it's also extended to all other areas of my life (except for books, because I could never give those up since my year-long book-buying ban ended at the end of 2025.)

Coupled with my makeup buying ban in 2025, I'm now well and truly fighting overconsumption from all angles well into the new year.

As Tracy McCubbin, CEO and founder of dClutterfly, says, 'If you force yourself to get rid of two things for every one thing that you purchase, you are giving yourself a bigger task to complete. You are essentially taking away the dopamine hit that the purchase gives you, which may lead you to not want to purchase the item anymore at all,' which I've certainly found to be true.

'You’re also de-incentivizing shopping, knowing that you have to let go of more than you are bringing in. By getting rid of two things for every one thing that you bring in, you are always decluttering more than you are acquiring. A little decluttering at a time adds up to a big change before you know it!'

Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House2Home Organizing, adds that the One In, Two Out method works well as a philosophy if your goal is to cut down on volume and clutter.

'When it comes to accumulating items, focus on quality and ask why you are buying it,' he advises. 'Many people enjoy retail therapy, and that can lead to collecting instead of purchasing items for actual use.'

Why the One In, Two Out Rule is Even Better

Having tried both methods, I would say that, while the One In, One Out Rule is brilliant for making conscious purchases, not overconsuming, and keeping in mind the essential questions to ask yourself before buying anything, the One In, Two Out Rule is far more effective if you want to try slow decluttering and really make a difference to your space.

'By getting rid of two items for every new item in, you are actively decluttering and will ultimately end up with less than you started with,' says Tracy. 'This keeps you focused on what you really need and use. With one in, one out, you are just staying with the status quo.'

Shop My Storage and Organizational Essentials

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

If you need some more inspiration, the Project 333 decluttering method is also highly effective if you need to streamline your closet, whilst the Didn't Know method helps clear items without guilt or delay.

Preparing a home for Christmas can quickly feel overwhelming. Between decorating, tidying, and creating a cozy atmosphere, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of tasks – and risk missing the festive fun altogether.

That’s why having a solid checklist makes all the difference. From sprucing up key living spaces to adding those finishing touches to Christmas decorating ideas that make your home feel merry and bright, our thorough guide ensures nothing important is forgotten, no matter when you start your prep.

This isn’t just any checklist – it’s the only one you’ll actually need. Follow it, and you can transform your home efficiently, reduce stress, and fully enjoy the holiday season in style.

How to Prepare Your Home for Christmas

Declutter First

Before bringing your Christmas tree ideas to life, or embarking on a winter deep clean, you need to employ some of the best decluttering methods to create space and set a good foundation to add your decor. And, it's never too late! You can tackle them with our lunch break decluttering method and focus on the most important areas first.

When decluttering and organizing your home for Christmas, I also recommend using the ski slope organizing method. Using a laundry basket, such as the Joseph Joseph folding laundry basket from Wayfair, collect up items as you work back and forth across a room until you reach the door. The basket then makes it easier to carry items back to their homes, stopping you from getting distracted and also tackling a lot of surface clutter at once.

You don't have to gut your whole home, especially when we are already so busy. Instead, the experts suggest focusing your effort on key zones and categories to help prepare your home for Christmas without decluttering when you feel overwhelmed.

1. Entryways

Clutter doesn’t make for a particularly festive first impression. Organizing an entryway so there’s space for your belongings, as well as those of your guests, makes for a much warmer welcome, suggests Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized.

She says, 'This is the first impression of your home, and it's about to get a lot of traffic with visitors coming and going. Put away shoes that are out of season, organize your coat rack, and create a spot for guests to drop their bags. It's a small area, but it makes a huge difference in how your home feels during the busy holiday season.'

If you’re dealing with a small entryway, you might also want to consider removing non-functional furniture for the festive season, particularly if you’re incorporating extra Christmas hallway decorations or temporary entryway storage ideas, such as baskets, hooks, and racks.

Brenda Scott, professional home organizer and founder of Tidy My Space, adds, 'Creating a "drop zone" where everything has a place eliminates the mess because you now know exactly where stuff goes properly and quickly. Make it work for you and the others in your home. Make it achievable for little ones, too. Putting lower hooks or open-top baskets from Target with their names on can give them a sense of accomplishment and relieve you of having to do everything.’

Leaving children out of age-appropriate chores is one thing people with tidy homes never do.

2. Children's Spaces

If you have children or grandchildren, the run up to Christmas is a great time to streamline any of your toy storage ideas and make playroom ideas ready to receive new toys. Plus, donating them ahead of time means other families in need can pick up great finds for their loved ones in time for the big day, promoting generosity and sharing. Not to mention that introducing children to chores is great for early-development and will serve them for the rest of their lives

Diane Quintana, certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization and owner of DNQ Solutions, says, ‘Ask them which toys they no longer want. Their response may surprise you. If they want to donate a toy, please let them, even if it's something you or their grandparents gave them. You may want them to keep it, but I'm hoping you allow them to let it go.'

According to cleaning and organization expert Michelle Hansen, owner of Practical Perfection, decluttering toys before Christmas also has the added benefit of providing present ideas. ‘You can filter wish lists a little to focus on items they don’t already have, and include practical items as well – a new coat to replace the one they’ve grown out of or a new set of coloring pens, for example’, she says.

Plus, as professional organizer Ter Avest points out, a streamlined playroom makes it easier to keep things tidy when guests stop by during the holidays, likely laden with gifts. A good toy organizer unit from Amazon helps while encouraging tidy play.

It’s a great opportunity to explain the concept of donating toys to children in need, and allowing them to feel good about their part in the process. When donating, consider the condition and where will make the best use of it:

• Gently used condition: Avoid donating broken or heavily worn items.
• Complete sets: Make sure all puzzle pieces, game cards, or building blocks are there.
• Easy to clean: Wash plush toys and ensure everything is in good, clean condition before donating

• Local charities and shelters: Many community organizations welcome toy donations year-round.
• Hospitals and pediatric clinics: Check if they accept toys for play areas or young patients.
• Community toy drives: Schools, churches, and local organizations often run holiday toy drives.
• Online gifting groups: Platforms like Buy Nothing or Facebook Marketplace allow you to donate toys directly to families in your local community. Joining your local town's free item groups will also help you shift toys quickly.

3. Household Linens

Laura Price, founder of The Home Organization, says, ‘Organizing your linen closet is a sensible idea pre-Christmas – it’s so much easier to grab and change sheets between guests if you're not rummaging through a huge mountain of tatty or mismatched items!

'Get rid of any towels or sheets that are past their peak, then bundle bedding sheets together with matching pillowcases folded into sheets and duvet covers,' to keep everything accessible and easy to find.

These labeled linen organizing boxes from Amazon can make finding what you need easier, while making your shelves look prettier, too.

4. Living Spaces

With Christmas comes guests, and they will spend the majority of their time in the living room. Then there are all the gifts: at first neatly under the tree, then afterwards in piles around the room until everything gets put away, which can, realistically, take a couple of days.

So, usually, the week before Christmas, I use a small living room decluttering checklist to declutter my living room of anything I don't need or won't use over the holiday period. For example, coffee table books can be put away to make room for a tray of snacks or board games, and non-festive decor can make way for cocktail glasses or seasonal touches.

There are items to get rid of in your living room, so while decluttering and tidying, I make sure to set these aside for donation or the trash. Therefore, it can be helpful to have a sturdy trash bag handy, such as the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags available at Amazon.

In other words, I try to set the space up as cozy, welcoming, and pretty, but with room to breathe.

5. Gifting Categories you Have Put on Wishlists

If you have made a holiday wishlist or have a good idea of what you might be expecting as gifts over the holiday season, then you should also get a start on these categories to make room for an influx of new items. This might mean decluttering a closet or a dresser drawer, for instance, if you think some new clothes might be on the horizon.

‘When you open a cupboard or closet and feel overwhelmed by the amount of belongings in front of you, it’s time for a good edit, especially if new things are incoming,’ begins Ashley Murphy, co-founder and CEO of NEAT Method. ‘Even an organized space can look visually cluttered if you have more belongings than fit comfortably in the space. Remove and donate those items that haven’t been used in the last year for seasonal items or the last six months for everything else.’

When decluttering these categories, it might be a good idea to put anything you are clearing out in a box or bag to one side in storage, just in case you don’t get the replacements you were looking for. Leave the donating until after the holidays.

6. Crockery and Dinnerware

Go through the plates and make sure all the sets are together, matching styles and sizes. Even making sure a set is grouped can change the aesthetic of your cupboard and help you distinguish what you do not need.

It also pays to get rid of what you no longer use or love. 'Minimizing what you have will give you control,' says Dilly Carter, professional organizer and founder of Declutter Dollies. 'Less stuff means less cleaning and less tidying.'

If you rarely host over the holiday season, then investing in an exquisite cutlery set may not be on the cards. Many of us buy items we use for one day that then take up space we don’t have. Only buy what you have room to comfortably store. To stop clutter before it starts, we recommend borrowing or renting a silverware set from friends, family, or from partyware and events rental boutiques.

Prepare the Kitchen

You're likely using your kitchen for festive baking and cooking, and streamlining this process can start with decluttering certain supplies to make space for the essentials.

1. Clear Kitchen countertops

If you’re organizing a kitchen in readiness for entertaining, you’ll need as much surface space as you can get. You’ll want it looking neat as guests will end up in the kitchen to socialize in the heart of your home. The less there is to tidy away, the better.

Kate Ibbotson, APDO member and founder of A Tidy Mind, says, ‘It sounds counterproductive, but if you want to clear space on your counters, start by organizing kitchen cabinets that are hard to reach. Items you find in there are often bulky and less-used, so getting rid of or moving them outside of the cooking zone will then free up temporary space for those countertop items you use more regularly.'

Then, declutter your countertops by taking everything off, and sorting through item by item. You can also add kitchen space on demand with the chic Yamazaki Pull-Out Counter Tray from Amazon.

2. Clear out the pantry 

Start your meal planning by clearing pantry ideas and taking inventory of what you already have.

Tina Priestly, owner and CEO at Ready, Set, REFRESH, says, 'Good pantry organization ideas create space for holiday treats and make it easier to locate what you need when cooking.'

• Declutter and take inventory: Declutter and remove outdated, unused ingredients to make space to stock up on holiday baking and festive meal essentials. Donate unopened, non-perishables to those in need
• Create seasonal zones: Arrange items into categories such as baking ingredients, canned goods, snacks, beverages, and festive treats. This will make them easier to locate.
• Incorporate storage solutions: 'Opt for airtight containers such as the OXO airtight containers from Target, to preserve the freshness of baking supplies, nuts, and other perishables,' advises Muffetta Kruger, founder of Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants. 'Prioritize accessibility by storing frequently used items at eye level and within reach and in manoeuvrable storage options, ensuring easy access while preparing those delightful Christmas recipes.'
• Use the FIFO Method: To prevent items from getting lost in the back of your pantry or letting them expire, implement a rotation system. Place older products in front and new purchases in the back.

3. Manage Cold Food Storage

Just as with the pantry and kitchen cabinets, it's important to clean and declutter the refrigerator and organize the freezer to make way for the extra food, meal prep, and Christmas leftovers storage.

I take the chance to clean the refrigerator, too, using the number one bestselling Lysol Pro Kitchen Spray Cleaner and Degreaser available at Amazon, and a microfiber cloth, such as the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, available at Walmart.

To make this easier:

• Take everything out: Professional organizer Kristin MacRae says, 'Starting with a clean slate will give you a clear vision of how to organize your refrigerator. Treat it just as you would any organizational project in the home. Empty the entire space, declutter, categorize, organize, and contain!' Throw out anything that has expired.
• Remove excess packaging: You have a lot to store in the refrigerator when entertaining family and friends, and sometimes the store packaging takes up unnecessary space. Consider if there's anything in the fridge that could be taken out of its cardboard box to create extra space. To avoid last-minute panic, cut out any nutritional info (e.g., does it contain nuts, dairy, or gluten?) and the use-by date and tape it to the container or packaging.
• Know what can be left out: Know what not to store in the refrigerator, and you'll instantly free up space for the turkey or nut roast. Many root vegetables, for example, are happy in a cool dark cabinet to make more space in the fridge for meat.
• Avoid buying too much: During the holidays, try to make meal plans each week so you are only purchasing what you need. It will prevent excess items from being stored in the refrigerator. 

4. Clean Essential Appliances

The appliances that work overtime throughout the festive period could do with a little love before the chaos of hosting over Christmas sets in.

That's why Lydia Hayman, our in-house kitchen editor and appliance expert, shares her cleaning tips for sprucing them up and getting them ready for action:

• The oven: The all-important Christmas dinner simply wouldn't work without an oven. After all, you can't exactly fit a turkey into even the best air fryer. To deep clean your oven, start by cleaning the oven racks by soaking them in hot soapy water. We recommend using Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap, available at Walmart to do so. Lydia says, 'While they soak, scrub the oven walls with a paste made of baking soda and water, or oven cleaner.' The Great Value Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner available at Walmart will do nicely if you're happier with a commercial cleaner. 'Let it sit for a while to loosen grime, then wipe everything down with a damp cloth to finish. It is always best to clean an oven before Christmas, and tackle cleaning the glass oven door for a clear view of your Christmas party recipes, holiday feast, or Christmas cookies, to prevent overcooking or burning.'
• The microwave: Over time, microwaves get splattered with sauces, grease, and crumbs. A dirty microwave not only looks unappetizing but can also affect the flavor of reheated food. To clean it, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water, and add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Heat the bowl for three minutes or more to loosen grime with steam, and finish by wiping down the interior with a soft cloth sprayed with Method All-Purpose Cleaner available at Amazon to remove residue and leave a streak-free finish.
• The range hood: Forgetting to clean your range hood isn't just unsanitary – it's unsightly too. If you can remove the filter, do so and soak it in hot, soapy water. While that's soaking, use a degreaser (such as the Method Lemongrass Cleaning Products Kitchen Degreaser Spray Bottle available at Amazon) to scrub the hood and fan, especially those awkward corners. Then, rinse everything and dry thoroughly before reassembling the filter.
• The coffee machine: It's important to clean your coffee maker ahead of time to prep for extra cups for guests, says Lydia. To clean a Nespresso machine, clean a Ninja coffee maker, or indeed, any other kind of caffeine appliance, run a brew cycle with equal parts water and white vinegar to descale the machine. Then, rinse it through thoroughly with two cycles of plain water.
• The dishwasher: 'A dishwasher that goes wrong can be the most frustrating thing to happen at Christmas, when you’re stacked with washing up,' Lydia warns. The Affresh dishwasher cleaning tablets from Walmart are the quickest option for this. Simply empty the filter, throw one tablet in the base, and run a cycle.

5. Check Your Tools

Evaluate tools and utensils for signs it's time to replace your pans and other baking equipment, removing any items that are broken or worn out it can affect the quality of your cooking.

Check whether the baking utensils are warped or the bottom part of the pan starts to peel off, they will lead to uneven baking with or warring results affecting the flavor and appearance of the food. It is recommended to replace them with new quality pans for better baking results.

Decorate Without Adding Clutter

As beautiful as festive decorations are, they can start to feel like clutter. Whether that's on surfaces and countertops covered with twinkling displays, or storage boxes pulled out of storage, it can be difficult to manage the Christmas chaos.

So, to decorate for Christmas without getting overwhelmed, it is worth taking some steps after decluttering your home of everyday mess, to make your home look curated, and avoid it all becoming a heap of festive mess.

• Replace home decor, don’t add to it: APDO's president and founder of Sorted! Siân Pelleschi says, 'Consider this a swap rather than an embellishment on what you already have. When you're decorating for Christmas, I always suggest taking down those items that you have out year-round.'
• Work with less: Siân says, 'Go for less to start with and then add as you see fit – remember that it is okay not to use every single bauble if your tree isn’t big enough.' It makes it a great time to declutter your decor, too. Remove any items you don't gravitate towards, or that are looking worse for wear. For those you love but don't have space for this year, don't fret. 'Maybe you have different themes or styles you want to try each year,' Siân adds. 'It’s a great opportunity to try new styles.'
• Keep decor away from functional areas: Avoid putting decor anywhere that is going to be in your way. If you use the stair banister to walk up and down the steps, avoid hanging decor here. If you have a small space, get a tree that fits the scale of that space so that you're not squeezing around it. Keep things like kitchen Christmas decor to a minimum, too.
• Stay true to one style: Visual clutter is just as bad as physical clutter – especially at Christmas, when we layer lots of decor and lights in one space. We suggest picking a color palette and sticking with it. This ties everything together and creates a cohesive look that feels intentional, rather than chaotic.

Prepare the Guest Spaces

How you prepare the space may depend on how many guests are staying and how long they are staying, but the basics to are always the same – from common cleaning tricks to ensuring guests have suitable storage and privacy.

• Clean: Work through a pre-guest cleaning checklist to prepare bedroms for guests. Target areas such as beneath the beds, baseboards, and door frames, high touch points such as light switches and door handles, and the mattress if it not been used in a while.
• Make space in storage: It is important to clear away some space in guest bedroom storage to allow guests to hang or fold clothes away during their stay – even if it is just for one night.
• Wash guest bedding: Guest linens that have been folded at the bottom of a cabinet or sat out on a bed unused can begin to smell musty over time, meaning doing laundry should be a priority on your to-do list, says Maria Mooney, cleaning expert at Truly Free. This also helps to eliminate dust mites that might set off guest allergies, she explains.
• Add some festive touches: For a truly nostalgic touch, add in a Christmas stocking at the end of the bed filled with goodies to welcome your guests in – a Christmas card, some self-care items such as relaxing face masks, sweet treats, and a pair of fluffy socks or slippers to use around the house make for the perfect Christmas welcome.
• Ensure guests have spare essentials: When staying in someone else's home, it is easy to feel awkward asking for some extra essentials, such as toothpaste, so ensure they are laid out ready for the guest to use as they need them. It can be handy to also include a piece of paper with all the important info about the house,e such as the WiFi password and details about where to find other essentials around the home, such as the coffee maker, as well as instructions on how to use it.
• Ensure guests stay warm: When styling an inviting guest bedroom, opt for high-quality bedding that will keep your guests warm and cozy. Cotton flannel bedding [available in complete sets at Brooklinen] is a good option for this. Add in extra blankets for guests to adjust their comfort level as needed, and consider including a heater and fan, as one of the main things making a guest bedroom less comfortable is a lack of options when it comes to temperature. The Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus Heater and Fan from Amazon offers the best of both in one sleek device.

Securing Your Home

It’s no secret that homes are attractive to burglars, especially during the holidays with the promise of gifts beneath a tree, so what can you do to protect your property when you’re not there?

• Create the illusion of an occupied home: Most will avoid entering homes that have what K. Campbell, Principal at Blue Glacier Security & Intelligence, calls ‘occupancy cues’. These include ‘cars in the driveway, lights turned on in the house, a loud television or music, and the absence of mail and packages piling up.’ 
• Don't let mail pile up: A mailbox stuffed with uncollected mail is the Achilles heel of many homes during the holidays, as Kirk MacDowell, Home Security Expert at Batten Safe, points out: ‘It is common for burglars to look in mailboxes. If they look in your mailbox and can see a few days of mail or see packages on your doorstep, it is a tell-tale sign that someone is out of town and away from their home.’ So, if you are going away, have a neighbor or friend pick up your mail and packages (which could also be stolen if they’re left out on your porch for several days).
• Secure all doors: Lock up properly before a vacation. Double-check all locks, not just doors. An unlocked door is pretty useless at protecting your home from a burglar, and that includes a door that has old locks that are easy to pick or pry open with a credit card. As an experiment, try it yourself: if your lock is easy to tamper with, replace it.
• Hide valuables: While you can’t change your whole home decorating scheme, drawing the curtains and blinds if you have valuable furniture, artwork, or accessories on display is always a good idea. Move wrapped gifts out of view of the window, too.
• Keep your social media accounts private: ‘Do not post about going on vacation or post photographs of being on vacation until you return. Criminals monitor social media to find homes where people are on vacation. Avoid bragging about expensive gifts, too.
• Be discerning when choosing a home security system: Many modern security cameras (there’s a wide selection on Amazon) with remote access features come with speakers and even video streaming that will allow you to talk to whoever is outside your door, even if you’re not there. Wireless doorbells such as the eufy subscription-free doorbell at Amazon can also give you some protection, although it will be limited to the area around your front door. 

Create a Cleaning Strategy

Leaving cleaning until quite late in the season might sound stressful, but it ensures your home is spotless when guests arrive, and saves you time repeating bigger cleaning tasks.

You will have already tackled guest spaces and kitchens by now, so this is for all the other rooms that may be feeling a bit neglected through the holiday rush. Deep cleaning before Christmas ensures a tidy home to rest in over the festive period, and will make the festive clear-up easier afterwards.

• Clean windows inside and out: Cleaning windows is usually a task people leave for spring and summer, but wiping them down in winter (especially if there has been snow or rain) will help to increase natural light in the darkest months of the year.
• Use a lint roller on furniture and lampshades: Dusting lampshades might seem a little excessive, but for a time of year when the sun sets early and we spend most of our waking hours in the dark, it makes a lot of sense. Dusting lampshades is not always easily done with a grippy microfiber cloth, however, so I use a reusable lint roller such as the Reusable Sticky Picker Set Cleaner Lint Roller available to Amazon to run over the lampshades in my house and clear them of dust and settled hair.
• Clean out fireplaces and log stoves: If you are lucky enough to have a working fireplace or log stove in your home, then you will likely have had the chimney swept when preparing your home for fall. Before Christmas, however, it is a good idea to do a quick check of the hearth and clear out any collected soot or ash.
• Launder table linens and polish silverware: Christmas dining room decor looks fantastic when done well, but is often improved by having fresh table linens, napkins, and polished silverware.
• Vacuum carpets: For a quick carpet odor fix, Forrest Webber, cleaning expert and founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning and The Trade Table, recommends cleaning a carpet with baking soda. He advises sprinkling some baking soda on the carpets and giving them a quick vacuum after 15 to 30 minutes, using your best vacuum. 'It's a simple way to keep the space fresh, even with all the extra foot traffic,' he continues. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda and let it infuse for an easy fragrance boost.
• Clean up tree needles daily: If you have a real Christmas tree, vacuum around it every day to stay on top of falling needles. Use a tree skirt to help catch any dripping sap or water spills. Should sap get onto your flooring, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer works well for efficient removal. For sap stuck on fabric, use an ice cube to freeze the sap and harden it, then gently scrape it off with a butter knife.

Last Minute Hosting Prep

If you are finding your home increasingly overstimulating in the run-up to Christmas day, but don’t have much time to spare between final preparations and seeing family and friends, professional home organizers have your back.

These four tricks can help to establish order over any parts of your home that have slipped during the run-up to guest arrivals.

1. Use The Two-Tub Trick

Barbara Brock, professional home organizer and home stager, begins, ‘If time is of the essence, and it’s necessary to declutter quickly, you don’t have time to edit. It’s important to remove items quickly to limit visual clutter and make a home look organized fast, even if it isn’t.

‘I suggest having an empty tub handy to put unnecessary items in. You can then quickly remove items and put them in a closet to be edited later. The first major pre-Christmas decluttering rule is to prioritize what rooms people will be going into – these are the rooms you want to focus on first,’ Barbara suggests.

Alternatively, grab clear and dark bags. In the clear trash bag put items that you want to keep but don't have time to sort and put away. In dark trash bags, put items that can be thrown away.’

2. Clear Flat Surfaces

When you only have a few minutes minutes to spare, we highly recommend focusing on your home’s flat surfaces as part of your Christmas hosting prep countdown – counters, coffee tables, consoles – anything you could put a drink down on should be clear.

Jamila Musayeva, etiquette expert, agrees, ‘Have as much as possible open space in the kitchen counters so that you can fill it up with used dishes later on easily and proceed to entertain your guests without having to make space. Empty a couple of shelves or an area of the cupboard to store incoming food items or serving platters. Clear countertops of non-essentials to give yourself plenty of workspace.

‘The entryway is your business card so to speak. It is your first impression. Make it count and work on it in advance,’ Jamila adds. ‘Get rid of all unnecessary items. Spend 10 minutes clearing it out – store out-of-season items, neatly arrange what’s necessary, and create a space for guests’ belongings. A tidy entry sets a welcoming tone.’

You might even want to take away some of your decor to help cut clutter when decorating this Christmas. This holiday period is usually one of excess, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing when your home looks like Santa threw up on it. Besides, it makes cleaning around holiday decor ten times easier.

3. Clear Bathroom Clutter

It is a good idea to use the guest scanning method to prepare for guests. This means walking around your home as if you were a visitor and seeing what you spot – especially in spots like the bathroom.

Jo Hayes, founder and international etiquette coach at EtiquetteExpert suggests, ‘Get[ting] rid of excess bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower or bath. These can make the bathroom look cluttered and messy, and attract mold. Do a stocktake of bathroom cabinets, clear out anything unused or unnecessary and make sure toilet paper is well stocked and stored within easy reach.’

It never hurts to clean your bathroom in 30 minutes or less if you can fit it into your schedule, either.

4. Bag Up Gifts

A tree with presents piled up beneath it can look great in the movies, but in real life when we have to share this space with this mountain of boxes, it can quickly get overwhelming.

To keep the area around your Christmas tree neat (and make it easier to keep your home clean with a real Christmas tree), we recommend strategically using gift bags, available in sets from Amazon, to split presents up into recipients. Your gifts all stay together under the tree, but on a smaller footprint, helping to make your living space less visually overstimulating.

5. Make a Schedule

It’s easy to get distracted by present-opening and socializing, so putting together a schedule is sensible if you want to ensure Christmas dinner actually makes it to the table! Be sure to allow yourself some time out of the kitchen to enjoy the day with your family, that’s what it’s all about, after all.

What to Shop

Then, when the festivities are over, start with the tiny ways to reset your home after Christmas to return to normality without burning yourself out.

December can feel like a marathon of holiday prep, social plans, and endless cleanup. At the end of what has already been a series of busy months, I was feeling the strain and was quickly reverting back into low-power mode. The result? Tasks piling up and constant procrastination.

That's when I decided to try to Power-Hour Split method for chores. This one-hour cleaning and decluttering tactic breaks 60 minutes into four 15-minute chunks, each designated to one task that will completely reset a room.

It is the one thing that made conquering my messy home manageable when cleaning felt overwhelming. Here's how, and the expert tips for making it work in your home.

What Is the Power-Hour Split Method?

Tidying a home when you feel overwhelmed is difficult at the best of times, but add the demands of the holidays (whether you are hosting or not), and making any progress towards making a to-do list less overwhelming sounds like a new circle of hell.

However, my home was a mess, with packaging from Christmas deliveries piling up, only adding to the regular mess accumulated from day-to-day life, making my home borderline unlivable. I couldn't find anything, and just walking through the front door was stressful. That is where the power-hour split came in to save the day.

For this decluttering method, you break 60 minutes of chores into four 15-minute chunks:

• 0-15 minutes: Trash and cleaning
• 15-30 minutes: Sorting and categorizing
• 30-45 minutes: Resetting
• 45-60 minutes: Tidying and details

Breaking the individual items of the task down into chunks is a great way to reset a home to uplift mood, ensuring that each essential is covered within the manageable timespan of one hour.

Plus, by setting a timer (I use a digital timer from Walmart to avoid picking up my phone constantly and getting distracted), you have the promise that it will all be over soon.

To make the most of the method, I paired it with the one-tool cleaning method, working around my open-plan living-dining space with a trash bag, then a damp duster from Target, then the vacuum, so I could clean the most space possible in just 15 minutes.

With that portion over, I then used the ski-slope method and my trusty folding laundry basket, similar to the Joseph Joseph basket from Wayfair, to collect up and categorize clutter.

The final half an hour is dedicated to me returning the items from the basket to their rightful homes, and dealing with the details, such as neatening up shelving or resetting the dining table to look pretty for Christmas.

Don't get me wrong, I was still hardly happy that I was having to complete chores, but the promise of it only taking an hour, plus the breakdown of the job into four distinct tasks, made it feel a lot less monotonous. It genuinely motivated me to clean, even if that motivation was still accompanied by a few grumbles and complaints.

The Expert Tips

The Power-Hour Split is loved by the experts, too, for its simplicity. For instance, Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Professional Organizers Baton Rouge, loves the clear plan of action it offers. 'Breaking the hour into four little steps keeps things moving and makes the whole process feel lighter and more manageable,' she explains.

To ace it and stay on track, however, she offers four key pieves of advice:

1. Use a separate 15-minute timer for each part, so you don't spend too long on one area.
2. Keep an empty box, trash bag, and empty bin handy for any donations, trash, and any items that are out of place, so you can put them back where they belong at the end.
3. Start with the easiest area. When you begin with something small and simple, you see progress right away, which gives you momentum and makes it easier to keep going.
4. Have a podcast or music playing in the background. Having something enjoyable playing in the background keeps you moving and makes decluttering and organizing feel like less of a chore. It is one of the easiest ways to hack your brain to make chores easier. Body doubling can also help.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Need to tackle a larger area and need more time? Try the Pomodoro technique instead to break larger periods of work up into manageable chunks with break times so you do not burn out.

If your kitchen cabinets are anything like mine, they’re full of 'maybe one day' items –gadgets, mismatched containers, and utensils that haven’t seen the light of day in months (or years).

So, I decided to give the Hidden Note organizing game a go, which is a fun and simple decluttering method that takes the guesswork out of working out when you last actually used an item.

It eliminates the propensity to hold on to things 'just in case' and makes the decision crystal clear. The result? A lighter, more functional kitchen, and the surprising relief of letting go without guilt.

What is the Hidden Note Organizing Game?

Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings and designer, explains, 'Every time you clear a cupboard, drawer, or storage box, put a small written note under the items you have chosen to keep. Write today's date, such as Last touched: 5 December 2025. When you revisit the space in spring or winter and find the note still buried, you will have proof that the items haven’t been touched for months, or even a whole year.

'The tiny piece of paper will stop the "maybe one day" mindset. Instead of going back and forth with yourself, it will be clear what the answer is. If you have lived without it for six months or longer, you no longer need it.'

I Tried the Hidden Note Organizing Method

Implementing the Hidden Note organizing method was simple. While decluttering my kitchen, I tucked a small note with the date I was decluttering under each item I decided to keep for the time being. The Post-It page markers from Walmart are ideal for this, as they are small enough not to get in the way.

If I use the item, I remove the note, and the item secures its spot in my home. However, if the note is still in place when it comes time to organize my kitchen again, it is likely a good sign that the item can be safely decluttered. It is the perfect trick for someone like me who is prone to forgetfulness and brain fog.

When getting my kitchen ready for hosting, I placed notes under specific tools and appliances in my kitchen that I knew I had been keeping 'in case'. While I am yet to reorganize the space (I am saving it for after the New Year's rush), I have already found myself reaching for one straining tool I didn't think I would need. The note has been trashed, and the tool is back safely in the drawer.

This isn't some gimmick, either. Professional organizers back the Hidden Note trick for helping people to declutter their homes without feeling overwhelmed.

Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Nola Organizers, shared, 'I like the Hidden Note organizing game because it's an honest way to understand what you actually use. Like value-based decluttering, rather than using emotion, it uses logic. Many people keep items because they feel they use them, but when they see a small note that says they haven't touched it in a year or longer, it can be a wake-up call.

'It's especially helpful for items in a maybe pile or for things you're unsure about decluttering,' she adds. 'It can provide the guidance and advice you need to decide what to declutter without stress.' For larger collections of items, you could store them in a labeled basket from Walmart, using the expiry method to determine their fate.

That being said, it is not an excuse to avoid making decisions in the moment, adds chief organizing officer Amy Bergman, of Amyzing Spaces. She adds, 'I see the Hidden Note game as a useful tool, but only in the right situations. It adds a bit of playfulness to a task that can feel heavy, and that alone can make people more willing to start. The key, though, is to avoid treating it as a blanket strategy for the whole house. If someone labels every item they own, they’re just creating a new layer of work without getting closer to clarity.

'This approach is most valuable when someone is genuinely uncertain about a particular item or category. I also encourage people to pair that note with a reminder on their phone. Without a clear moment to circle back, the exercise loses its purpose, and the item ends up sitting there untouched, which reinforces the very habits they’re trying to break.'

Where Else it Works

While I have used this decluttering trick to tackle kitchen clutter, it serves as a good strategy all over the home.

Olivia suggests that it would also work for decluttering a closet, organizing a basement, and tackling attic storage ideas or garages. 'Any storage-heavy areas are contenders,' she notes.

Amy adds, 'Used well, this small exercise becomes a gateway to deeper decluttering. When people see firsthand how many things they never return to, they become more willing to make decisions in other areas of the home. It builds confidence and helps them reclaim space for what they truly use and value.'

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

You could also use the Hidden Note organizing method to help declutter sentimental items. Place a note with items stating the date you last thought about them or looked at them. If that date is over a year old when you next think about it, it can likely safely go.

It's easy for our brains to miss piles of 'stuff' and clutter hot spots in our homes as we quickly grow accustomed to seeing them day in, day out.

Invite guests into your home for the holidays, however, and they will lock onto the clutter zones you've stopped noticing immediately.

Luckily, with the right storage upgrades, these zones are some of the easiest to transform. These are the decluttering methods and home essentials the experts love to use to easily restore calm before festive hosting.

The 3 Hidden Clutter Zones Guests Notice Immediately

1. Entryway Drop Spots

Drop zones are a great way to make an entryway more functional from day to day. However, relying on them too heavily (especially when welcoming several guests) is an entryway storage mistake that will make your home feel more cluttered – and guests are sure to notice.

To tackle this, you should invest in storage products to conceal the things that always make an entryway look cluttered, while maintaining ease of access. With those, practice the one-touch rule to ensure items go straight to their assigned homes and don't end up in drop zone piles.

Cathy Orr, professional organizer and co-founder at The Uncluttered Life, urges, 'The shoes at the front door need to be contained so that the entry is clear at all times. It’s easy to accomplish this. For example, there are plenty of storage ideas for shoes at the front door. These include shoe racks, both open and closed, a storage bench, and even a basket.'

2. Coffee and Side Tables

Coffee table decor ideas can elevate a space and tell your guests a little about your interests. However, it is easy for them to be overwhelmed by everyday clutter, such as remotes, chargers, papers, and other knick-knacks, points out Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer of My Professional Organizer, Northshore.

To fix this, Olivia recommends using a 'styled tray or a simple styled basket. It creates a home for these items and instantly makes these tables look more put-together and organized.'

This raised side tray from Amazon comes in five sizes and colors, ideal for any side table to corral essentials, making them look intentional without hiding them away and reducing access. Pair it with the no-pile rule to keep these essential surfaces free for guests to put down drinks and snacks.

3. Packaging Piles

Organizing mail can be tiresome on a normal day, but it is especially important during the holidays when we are receiving gifts and have a higher volume than usual of deliveries arriving.

When these boxes (full or not) pile up in corners to be dealt with later, guests will inevitably notice, no matter how well you try to tuck them into corners.

The first step is to declutter, Cathy urges, 'Bring the packages you receive into the home and deal with them as they arrive to keep from overloading the entry area.'

For boxes you are opening, collapse the packaging and take it straight to your outdoor recycling bin. A box cutter from Walmart makes this quick and easy, and can make it simpler to fit more into your trash bin when recycling collections are altered by holidays. Rather than waste time removing shipping labels, you can use an identity theft protection roller from Amazon to quickly block out your address for easy disposal, too.

For those that you are keeping to gift, wrap them as soon as possible and position them beneath a tree to contribute to your Christmas decor. To save time, you can also invest in large luxury gift bags from Amazon to conceal boxes in plain sight.

Meet the Experts

When you are struggling for time, we have the perfect guide for getting a home guest-ready in under one hour, so you and your guests can enjoy your home without feeling overwhelmed by mess.

I am usually guilty of letting items pile up around my home. It is, after all, so much easier to drop something on a side table than it is to find its home and return it.

However, this line of thinking can quickly lead to chaos, especially in a period as busy as the hosting season, with Thanksgiving quickly giving way to Christmas. So, with a stream of friends frequenting my house and a packed schedule of festive events, I turned to the One-Touch organizing rule to stay on top of the mess.

It hasn’t been easy to beat my serial procrastination habits, but the results of this decluttering method were undeniable – here’s why the experts applaud my efforts, and why you should try it for future hosting.

Why The One-Touch Rule Works

The one-touch tidying rule is self-explanatory – you only touch an item once between finishing using it and putting it away. For example, when you enter your home, you don’t take your coat off and drape it over a chair before later hanging it on the hook; you touch it only once and hang it up right away.

The whole method revolves around minimizing decision delay and stopping clutter before it starts by acting immediately. These easy little successful moments of tidying can deliver an immediate dopamine hit to the brain, making it particularly useful for those who struggle to focus, are neurodivergent, or find that ADHD procrastination often gets in their way when it comes to chores.

Similar to the no-pile rule, the one-touch approach is about breaking bad home habits, explains Lisa Cantu, professional organizer and owner of An Organized Home. ‘It helps reduce clutter by preventing accumulation. By dealing with items as they come in, you stop them from multiplying into large piles,’ she explains.

‘It also creates a sense of order. Clear surfaces contribute to a calmer and more peaceful, organized environment, while also making cleaning easier – when surfaces are clear, cleaning becomes much faster and more efficient.’ You can make it easier by introducing drop zones into your home using open-top water hyacinth baskets from Target, offering you some space for putting items away quickly without them cluttering surfaces.

‘Furthermore, it forces decision-making,’ Lisa adds. ‘The rule encourages you to decide what to do with an item right away: File it, discard it, or put it away.’ To make the one-touch rule easier, Lisa recommends ensuring everything has a designated place to make putting items away quicker, adding, ‘Like any new habit, it takes time to use regularly. Be patient.’ These routine tracking sticky notes, from Anthropologie, can help you build better habits by creating a small reward system.

My Verdict

I am a serial procrastinator through and through, and usually I have to rely on my trusty ski-slope organizing method and Joseph Joseph folding laundry basket from Wayfair to help me restore order after ‘clutter creep’ leaves every surface of my home covered in stuff.

However, with so many visitors to my home, big dinners, and a packed seasonal planner, I had to make a change and try some chores to instantly make my home look put together. The one-touch rule is the complete antithesis to my habit of dealing with stuff later, and while irritating at first, it proved to be an incredibly effective tidying technique, preventing me from tidying a home when I feel overwhelmed.