3 Easy Organizing Trends Our Home Editors Are Trying in 2026 to Stop Clutter Build-Up
These are the tricks worth trying in the New Year
Organizing trends always come and go, and here at Homes & Gardens, we've seen and tried them all.
Some are great, and some are less effective, but what they all have in common is that they inevitably help to prevent clutter from clawing its way back into our homes.
3 Easy Organizing Trends our Home Editors are Trying in 2026
1. The 5-Day Clutter Shakedown
The 5-Day Clutter Shakedown avoids piles of items to sort.
To organize under her stairs, Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved, is trying Dana White's 5-day Clutter Shakedown, as this particular area has become a catch-all for mess that she and her husband dread clearing out.
'Dana's method can be done in stages, at once, or over the course of several days, but the key thing I love about it is that it does not leave you with big piles of mess to deal with during or after,' Punteha explains. 'Every item that is assessed is removed, or put in its rightful place, meaning only progress – no mess and no piles.
'This is particularly useful for me as I have to declutter with health challenges in mind, and I need to keep it manageable and be able to stop at any time to avoid injury or pain and fatigue flares. This technique means even if I have to abandon the task, I will not have visual clutter to clear.'
For this particular method, we recommend using a 'donateable' donation box, such as leftover packaging from an inbound parcel, or the SAMLA box available at IKEA, so that you can simply drop both items and the box off at a donation center.
2. The Influencer Method
The 'Influencer Method' works to limit decision fatigue.
Next, I spoke to Chiana Dickson, our Solved content editor, who told me that, for 2026, she wants to give the 'Influencer Method' a go.
'It sounds silly, but the basic premise is going through your whole wardrobe, creating as many outfit combinations as you can from the items you own and taking pictures of them, as if you were an influencer putting together a lookbook,' she explains. 'The idea behind the method is that you will have a constant digital reference book to limit decision fatigue when picking an outfit in the morning, or when packing for a trip, helping to organize a closet more functionally.
‘Better still, the trick should help to stop clutter before it starts, too, by offering an on-the-go reference when shopping. I can quickly check what I already own that may be too similar, work out if a new item will fit with several outfits, and identify genuine gaps in my wardrobe, so I am no longer having to deal with the guilt of decluttering items I never wore.’
For items you know you'll be reaching for time and time again, pop them on velvet hangers, available at Amazon, and keep them front and centre, so you can always find them when you need them.
Head of Solved, Punteha, adds that there is a brilliant app to help you capture your clothes, which you can digitally put together as outfits to save you from making a physical mess of your bedroom or walk-in wardrobe. She says, 'I have documented my entire clothing collection in GetWardrobe (available on Apple Store and Google Play).
'It's so easy to forget about the wonderful pieces you own, and this app helps me avoid costly duplications when shopping, as well as inspiring better utilization of the items I do have.'
3. The Sunday Butterfly Method
This method is perfect for those with neurodivergent minds.
Finally, Dan Fauzi, our home tech editor here at Homes & Gardens, is giving the Sunday Butterfly method a go in 2026. Created by our kitchen and appliance editor, Lydia Hayman, pros say it's perfect for neurodivergent minds.
Dan says, 'I have suspected ADHD, and often struggle to stay focused, particularly when cleaning or organizing. But, with this method, I can simply move through my house, spot tasks that need doing, and get them done then and there.
'Paired with listening to a great playlist or audiobook, which is one of my top tips for making decluttering fun, this is a brilliant way for me to stay focused, without risking tidying overwhelm. And, it works in any room or space, whether big or small.'
If you'd like to join Dan in giving this method a go, we recommend walking from room to room and ticking off tasks as you go, with a storage basket, such as the Mainstays Fabric Storage Basket available at Walmart, to collect any items you can't tidy instantly to sort out later.
Allocate a small zone or room to focus so you don't end up overwhelmed.
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Storage baskets are a must for any organizing trend. This one features sturdy integrated handles and is ideal for storing small to medium-sized household items.
There are so many inspiring lessons to be learned in this beautiful book 'Letter from Japan,' which will also look beautiful displayed among any coffee table styling ideas.
If you'd like to try the 'Influencer Method', these velvet hangers are strong, sturdy, and reduce visual noise in crowded closets. They're available in seven colors.
If you want to learn more about Dana's 5-day Clutter Shakedown, this book identifies the emotional challenges that make it difficult to declutter with workable, actionable solutions.
This bestselling book contains everything you need to develop a simple streamlining system that sticks, while shopping smarter and budgeting better.
This might be designed for kids, but there's no reason why anyone can't make use of it. It features a strong and durable hanging design that's ideal for planning outfits.
Meet the Experts
Before joining Homes & Gardens, Punteha was the editor of Real Homes. She has spent the last 17 years writing and editing lifestyle and consumer pieces across print and digital publications. She lives with chronic pain, so smart and effective organizing, cleaning, and decluttering methods are vital for her adaptive pacing and completing household chores without injury, fatigue, or flares.
As a content editor on Solved, Chiana spends her time helping readers get the most out of their homes through testing and showcasing clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips, which she tries herself at home. She was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.
Previously the features editor for Top Ten Reviews, Dan joined Future in 2013 and now covers all things home technology, including cleaning, smart home gadgets, soundbars, video doorbells, and air treatment across the Solved section. In their time at Homes & Gardens, they have spent more than 100 hours testing soundbars, air purifiers, and fans.
If you're in search of some more organizational inspiration, these are the kitchen organizing products our editors can't live without, and the game-changing Morning Pages trick that's worth a go.
