The year seems to have flown by, and with October somehow already looming over me, there is no denying that my home needs a little more order as I start to spend more time indoors.
With Halloween and hosting season on the horizon, there are three main areas I am organizing in October 2025 to help re-establish control before the holidays hit.
Luckily, pro organizers have given me their top decluttering methods for tackling these problem areas – here's what I learned.
3 things I'm organizing in October
1. Halloween costumes
Prepping for Halloween requires restraint and a good amount of decluttering, to prevent my collection overflowing in my home storage.
Halloween is, by and large, my favorite holiday, but my costume and Halloween decor storage is particularly prone to tangles, with items often getting lost and forgotten about. It's why I've put it on my decluttering calendar.
As Allison Flanders, professional organizer and founder of ORG NYC, points out, ‘Sorting through all of the random wigs, hats, and masks means no more 'last-minute' phoning it in. Costumes are all or nothing!’
So, I am going to take some time at the start of the month to reorganize my mounds of masks and dried-up makeup, optimizing storage to avoid costly duplicates, so that by the end of the month, I am ready to go and not as short on funds.
A large, clear storage tote, from The Container Store, is a must for this task, helping to keep everything secure and minimizing the risk of items going missing or being damaged.
2. The garage
October is the last comfortable month to work in uninsulated areas.
While I do not have a garage at my current home, my parents' garage organization holds a lot of my seldom-used essentials for me.
So, with it being the start of the peak holiday season, where we spend more time at our families' houses, it is the ideal time to work through this tricky storage idea.
Lisa explains, ‘Because of the cooler weather, October is an ideal time to organize the “G” word, the Garage.
'Even as we transition from summer to winter clothing, the garage needs its own transition. Items used in the summer, such as lawn chairs, gardening tools, and bikes, are on hiatus.
'Clean and sanitize before properly storing. Make space for the winter gear, snow shovels, holiday décor, and ski boots.' The Method all-purpose spray, from Walmart, is my pick for this, as it is plant-based and smells divine.
It's the ideal opportunity to check in with some fall home maintenance, too, she adds.
'While organizing your garage, assess and seal entry points to deter pests and rodents from making a home in your garage during the cooler months.'
It will also help keep your garage warm over winter so it doesn't become a conduit for cold air to move into your home.
3. Hosting reset
Prepping guest spaces way ahead of time might sound like overkill, but it will reduce stress on the day.
I am, begrudgingly, starting to act like a real adult now that I have turned 25, so this fall season is the first time I will be hosting more in my own home.
Before I can even start thinking about the practical holiday hosting tips to stave off stress, the first step is to get all the guest spaces in order. That means organizing bathrooms, organizing the kitchen, and checking for the things pro cleaners notice in dirty dining rooms.
All of this is on the advice of Lisa, who told me, ‘October is an excellent time to organize or reset your whole home. In anticipation of holiday house guests and parties, there is peace of mind knowing that your bedrooms, bathrooms, and common spaces are ready to be on display.'
You don't have to do it all alone, either. If body doubling doesn't work for you in this peak season, Lisa suggests hiring a professional organizer.
'Professional organizers can help prep your home for the holidays in a timely and efficient fashion,' she says.
What to shop
Measuring 8 x 10 x 11 inches, these handwoven water hyacinth baskets are ideal for drop zones, shelves, and cabinets.
These under-bed storage bags on wheels are easy to pull out, and maintain good ventilation for items to prevent mold or musty bedroom smells.
Stocking up on non-toxic food containers now will make holiday food prep and leftover management far more streamlined going into the hosting season.
When organizing high-traffic storage spots such as garages, you need heavy-duty solutions. These wall-mounted hooks are ideal for tools and even bikes, making them the best option for making use of vertical height to save space.
Sturdy stacking shelves help to keep garages orderly. These shelves are fully adjustable, helping you stow all manner of household essentials without compromise.
Latch lid bins are ideal for use all over the home helping to protect items from pests and moisture, while keeping storage neat by preventing spills.
Meet the experts
Meet Allison Flanders, founder of ORG NYC and a true New Yorker who understands the realities of small-space living. In 2024, Allison launched ORG NYC to bring her problem-solving mindset to homes and offices across the city.
Lisa started her career as a non-profit event planner for homeless populations and arts education in underdeveloped areas. Her event management company organized fundraising events, including athletic events, large festivals, and million-dollar galas. Now, as a Certified Professional Organizer®, she has helped dozens of clients achieve the peace, simplicity, functionality, and productivity that they desire
Finished organizing and decluttering in October? Check out the things to clean in October, a crucial part of preparing your home for fall.
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