The fall season naturally invites a fresh start. As the weather cools down, families spend more time indoors. Routines change, and the busy holiday season comes into view. An organizational home reset can make your space feel calmer, more comfortable, and easier to manage before fall festivities get fully underway.
Do you feel overwhelmed at the thought of autumn approaching? A home decluttering project can quickly become overwhelming when we try to do too much at once. Pulling everything out of closets, cabinets, and storage areas without a plan can leave you surrounded by piles of belongings and a sinking feeling that makes us want to slip away to the beach or pool one last time.
Reasonable expectations keep fall home refresh projects under control. The goal is not to create a perfect living space. It’s to make a home space that functions more efficiently for your family. By taking small steps, making thoughtful decisions, and organizing with simplicity in mind, you can prepare your home for the season ahead without disrupting your entire life in the process.
Before You Begin: A Simple Decluttering Plan
Before you start emptying closets and moving furniture, take a few minutes to make a plan. Decluttering is much easier when you know what you’ll be working on and have the right supplies ready. Decide which areas need the most attention. Focus on spaces with a goal of improving function and not frustration. Make over areas that guests see often, or prepare room purposed for hosting fall activities.
Before you begin: stock up on useful supplies, such as:
- Storage bins or baskets for items you plan to keep
- Trash bags for items that are damaged or unusable
- Donation boxes for items someone else could use
- Labels and permanent markers for organizing storage
- Cleaning cloths or basic cleaning supplies
- A notebook or checklist to track your progress
As you sort, create four simple categories: keep, donate, trash/recycle, relocate.
Keep: Items you use regularly or truly enjoy having in your home.
Donate: Items that serve a purpose and could benefit someone else.
Trash or recycle: Items that are broken, damaged, expired, or no longer usable.
Relocate: Items that belong somewhere else in your home.
Having clear categories prevents you from simply moving clutter from one room to another.
Clear Out Summer Items Before Fall Arrives
Seasonal transitions are a great time to evaluate what you actually use. Many homes have storage areas filled with items that have not been touched in years simply because they’ve always been kept. Sometimes we aren’t even sure what’s inside these boxes of mystery. Before storing summer belongings, take a few minutes to decide what deserves another year of storage space.
Ask:
- Did we use this this summer?
- Is it still in good condition?
- Is it age appropriate and does it fit (as applicable)
- Will we realistically use it next year?
When storing seasonal items, make things easier on yourself by using clear labels.
Examples:
- Summer clothing
- Outdoor games
- Pool supplies
- Patio accessories
- Beach items
Avoid vague labels like “summer stuff.” A clear label saves time when you need to find something later. Also remember that fall weather can be unpredictable. Avoid packing away every warm-weather item too early. Keep a small selection of lightweight clothing available in case temperatures rise again.
Approach One Room at a Time
One of the biggest mistakes people make when decluttering is trying to tackle the entire house at once. While the idea of completing a whole-house cleanout sounds productive, you’re likely to end up with more mess and stress than when you started. Instead, choose one manageable area and finish it before moving on. Completing smaller projects gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps you build momentum.
What would you love to see organized first? Start with a space such as:
- A closet shelf
- A kitchen drawer
- A bathroom cabinet
- A corner that has become a clutter collection area
Ask yourself:
“What would make this space easier for my family to use?”
Decluttering is not just about removing things. It’s about creating spaces that support your daily routines.
Refresh Your Entryway and Create a Drop Zone
The entryway is one of the hardest-working areas in your home. This is the spot where everyone comes in from outside, removes their shoes (and if not, is it time to give your carpets a break finally?), drops bags, hangs (read: throws) jackets, and prepares to move into the rest of the house. Without a system for staying organized, the main entrance of your home can quickly become cluttered.
Goal: turn your entryway into a functional drop zone. A drop zone is simply a designated place for everyday items so they don’t end up scattered throughout the house.
A functional drop zone might include:
- Hooks for jackets, backpacks, and bags
- A bench for putting on and removing shoes
- Baskets for scarves, gloves, and seasonal accessories
- A small tray for keys and mail
- Individual cubbies, slots and bins for family members
The key is creating a holding space for belongings that’s both practical and attractive. Instead of dreading a cleanout, why not look forward to making this space aesthetically pleasing in addition to becoming more functional? Choose baskets, hooks, accents and storage pieces that match your home’s style so your drop zone feels decorative rather than an eyesore.
Organize Closets Before Cooler Weather Comes
End of summer is the time to take inventory of family attire and prepare for sweaters, jackets, and seasonal accessories. Before adding fall clothing back into the rotation, assess what’s available and prepare the storage areas to accommodate bulkier, cool-weather items.
Sort through each family member’s fall and winter wardrobe selections. Ask:
- Does this still fit?
- Is this a favorite, or was it passed over last year?
- Is this a loved clothing item, or was the style not a fit?
- Does it serve as a key wardrobe piece for easy outfit building? (examples: jeans, a black skirt, white button-down, gray cardigan)
- Is there hand-me-down potential?
- Is it damaged beyond repair?
Clear a space and create separate piles for:
- Items to keep
- Items to donate
- Items needing repairs
- Items that should be recycled
When storing seasonal clothing, make things easy to find later. Label containers by person or category instead of simply writing “winter clothes.” Keep some transitional pieces accessible because fall weather can change quickly. You may have cool mornings, warm afternoons, or even unexpected heat waves. Having a few lighter options available prevents you from having to dig through storage bins later.
Simplify Kitchen Spaces for Fall Cooking and Baking Projects
Fall often means more cooking, baking, and family gatherings. Before the busy season arrives, take some time to make your kitchen easier to use. You’ll also feel inspired by adding a few festive touches. Think window treatments, fall baskets, table cloths and knick knacks.
Kick off your kitchen cleanout with areas that tend to collect clutter:
- Pantry shelves
- Baking supplies
- Food storage containers
- Kitchen drawers
- Small appliances
Create well-appointed food prep zones so frequently used items are easy to find.
For example:
- Keep baking ingredients together – make ready for creating delicious desserts and sumptuous somethings with family
- Store everyday cookware within easy reach – perfect for quick dinner prep on busy nights
- Create a cache of seasonal items – store together so they’re easily located when it’s time to spick, span and spruce
Before storing anything, ask:
“Do I use this enough to give it valuable kitchen space?”
Kitchens become crowded because we keep items that are rarely used. A fall refresh is a great time to make room for the tools used every day, and stow or clear away the non-essentials.
Create Cozy, Functional Living Areas
It’s fun to spruce up for a new season – but start with a blank canvas. Before you go into a fall frenzy in the home deco aisle at the dollar store, do the necessary prepwork. Declutter your living space to make way for autumn adornments and cozy creations. Look around your living spaces and consider removing:
- Décor from the prior season
- Broken items
- Accumulated clutter
- Unused decorations
- Furniture that blocks movement
- Items that no longer fit your lifestyle
Next, focus on comfort and ease. Simple additions can make a space feel ready for fall:
- Soft blankets
- Comfortable pillows
- Warm lighting
- Festive mugs and table toppers
- Baskets for books or family items
The goal is to create spaces where your family naturally wants to spend time.
Sort Through Seasonal Decorations
Before buying new fall decorations, take inventory of what you already own. Many people accumulate seasonal décor over the years only to store it away out of sight and out of mind. Who hasn’t ventured up to the attic at one time or another, broken into a randomly unlabeled box that was hiding in the back corner and thought, “Oh! I forgot we even owned this?”
Not only will a foray into your festive fall collection from past years save you from unnecessary impulse purchases… but if you grab a few helpers, you can enjoy a fun family flashback of past fall seasons with each new discovery.
Break out your boxes and bins, and sort seasonal decorations by category:
- Fall
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
- Winter holidays
As you go through items, ask:
- Do I still love this?
- Does it match my current style?
- Did I actually use it last year?
- Who else might need or appreciate this? (think young renters, retirees, collectors, ebay sellers, new moms, teens looking to do a room makeover)
Store kept decorations in labeled containers and consider taking photos of your finished displays. Next year, you will have an easy reference when decorating again.
Use Simple Storage Solutions
Good storage is not about buying the most bins. It’s about creating home organization systems you can realistically maintain. Before purchasing storage containers, declutter first. Otherwise, you may simply end up organizing things you do not need.
Helpful storage options include:
- Clear bins for items you need to see
- Decorative baskets for open storage
- Drawer organizers for small items
- Labels to help everyone return items to the correct place
The best organization system is one your entire household understands and can follow.
Donate Items Your Family No Longer Needs
Decluttering often creates a pile of items that are still useful but no longer needed. Sometimes we put off making a decision about what to do with these, which only adds to our sense of overwhelm. Donating unused or outgrown items can help your home feel lighter while allowing someone else to benefit.
Before donating, ask:
- Is it clean?
- Is it complete?
- Is it safe?
- Would someone else actually want this?
What to do with gently used clothing:
For clothing, “gently worn” generally means clean, wearable, and free from stains, holes, excessive fading, or strong odors. If you would not feel comfortable giving it to a friend or family member, it may not be appropriate for donation.
How and where to donate gently loved toys:
Many organizations accept toys that are:
- Clean
- Complete
- In working condition
- Age appropriate
However, some organizations do not accept stuffed animals, recalled toys, or items with missing pieces.
Where to donate used books in good condition:
Books that have the cover, spine and all pages still in tact; aren’t stained, torn or otherwise damaged, can still be of use to a new owner.
Possible donation locations may include:
- Libraries
- Schools
- Community programs
- Thrift stores
- Local organizations
Where to donate used household items:
From kitchen supplies to patio décor to sports equipment and seasonal decorations, your used goods that are clean and in decent condition with all components still in tact can be donated. Try consignment shops, homeless shelters. You can also call up organizations like the Lupus Foundation or the Salvation Army.
Always check donation guidelines because each organization has different requirements.
