A Simple Guide to Seasonal Decluttering

Welcome to GO Month (Get Organized Month)!  This tradition was started by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) because this time of year has a way of making us wonder where all the clutter came from, and how we can get rid of it.

If you’re feeling motivated to create a little breathing room in your home, you definitely are not alone.  The need for a fresh start comes along every January when we want to refresh and reset our homes in hopes of a less chaotic year.

This post will serve as your organizational roadmap for the year ahead — an easy decluttering plan that leads you through the year so you don’t have to keep starting over again. Think of it as a plan you can come back to season after season.

No pressure like all the various challenges that go viral every January.  No need for perfection. Just a calmer home, one season at a time, and at your own pace.

Season 1: Winter

Winter is all about resetting after the holidays and simplifying your space and life so you’re not carrying last year’s clutter into the new one. Your home has just worked hard — hosting, storing, surviving schedules and celebrations — and now it deserves a breather.

This isn’t about major overhauls or dramatic makeovers. It’s about clearing the leftovers and excess, letting go of what didn’t serve you, and creating a calmer, and peaceful starting point for the year ahead.

Start With a Post-Holiday Reset

As you pack up holiday decor, it’s the perfect moment to declutter while your bins are already open. Before anything goes back in storage, pause and ask yourself:

• Did we actually use it this year?

• Do I still love it — or am I keeping it out of obligation?

• Is it broken, incomplete, or more annoying than joyful?

Let go of decorations that stayed in the box, tangled lights that never quite worked, and anything you quietly avoided putting out. Your future self (and your storage space) will thank you next December.

Shift to Everyday Winter Clutter

Once the holidays are packed and put away, move to the areas that tend to feel heavy this time of year.

Winter is perfect for cleaning out closets, pantries, and paper piles — these are the spaces that quietly create daily stress and anxiety when they’re overstuffed. Think less “organize everything” and more “remove what’s no longer earning its keep.”

You don’t need a whole weekend. Even a few focused sessions can make your home feel noticeably lighter.  You don’t need to do it all in one fell swoop.  Take small steps so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

10 Things to Declutter in Winter

If you want a straighforward starting point, here’s my list that tends to be mostnhelpful this time of year:

1. Holiday decorations you didn’t use this season

2. Broken or tangled string lights

3. Wrapping paper scraps and gift bags you don’t love

4. Coats, boots, or sweaters you didn’t wear this winter

5. Hats, scarves, or gloves that are missing their match, or no longer fit

6. Expired pantry items and old spices

7. Freezer food you’ve been “meaning to use” since last year; if you can’t identify it, it’s to toss it

8. Old paperwork you no longer need to keep

9. Instruction manuals for items you no longer own

10. Digital clutter — unused apps, downloads, or email subscriptions

You don’t have to tackle all ten. Pick a few that feel easiest and start there — momentum builds quickly.

Winter Reminder

Winter cleanout works best when you keep it kind and realistic. This is about making space, not proving anything. If something still feels useful or meaningful, it’s okay to keep it. And if you only declutter one drawer instead of an entire room? That still counts.

You’re setting the tone for the year — one thoughtful decision at a time.

Season 2: Spring

Spring is when everything starts to feel lighter — days are longer, windows can open up (assuming you aren’t overcome with allergies like me!), and that sudden urge to clear things out. This season is all about making space and refreshing your home so it feels easier to live in as life speeds up.

Unlike winter’s cozy nesting, spring invites movement. You’re coming and going more, spending time outdoors, and using different parts of your home. Decluttering now helps your space support that shift, rather than slowing you down.

Focus on Overflow Spaces First

This is a great time to tackle areas that quietly collected “maybe we’ll need this” items.

Garages, sheds, basements, and storage closets tend to fill up over winter, and once summer arrives, they can quickly become overwhelming. Opening these spaces now lets you clear out what you didn’t use last year and make room for what you actually will use this year.

If you’re unsure about an item, a simple question helps:Did this make my life easier last spring or summer — or did it just take up space?

Edit Before You Rotate

Before you fully transition into warm-weather mode, give your seasonal items a quick edit.

Go through summer clothes, sandals, outdoor gear, and seasonal décor before they all come out at once. Keeping only what fits, functions, and feels good makes everyday decisions faster — and prevents clutter from spreading the moment the season changes.

This is also a good moment to let go of things you’ve been storing “just in case”. If that case hasn’t come yet, it may be time to let it go.

10 Common Things to Declutter in Spring

Here are some of the most common items homeowners declutter in Spring:

1. Outdoor or gardening tools you didn’t use last year

2. Broken planters, cracked pots, or mismatched garden supplies

3. Spring and summer clothes that no longer fit or feel good

4. Shoes and sandals that are uncomfortable or worn out

5. Old sunscreen, bug spray, or expired outdoor products

6. Sports or recreation gear that hasn’t been used in years

7. Seasonal décor you forgot you owned (and didn’t miss)

8. Storage bins filled with “random” or unlabeled items

9. Extra furniture or décor stored “for someday”

10. Duplicate household items hiding in storage spaces

Spring Reminder

Spring decluttering often comes with a burst of motivation — which is great — but it doesn’t need to turn into pressure. Your home doesn’t have to be perfect to feel peaceful.

Spring is about creating room to move and breathe, not racing toward a finish line. Small, thoughtful edits now will make summer feel lighter and more enjoyable later.

Season 3: Summer

Summer has a funny way of filling every flat surface in your home. Between vacations, kids being home more, relaxed routines, and general “we’ll deal with it later” energy, clutter tends to land wherever it can.

This season is about maintaining what you’ve already cleared and gently preparing for fall — without turning summer into one long to-do list. Think quick resets, not deep dives.

Reset the Spaces You Use Every Day

During summer, life happens in the most visible parts of your home. Entryways, kitchen counters, mudrooms, and drop zones often take a hit.

A short decluttering reset in these areas can make a big difference. Clear out what doesn’t belong, return items to their home, and remove anything that’s no longer serving a purpose. You’re not organizing from scratch — you’re simply preventing the clutter from taking over.

Edit as the Season Shifts

As summer winds down, it’s a great time to look at seasonal items with fresh eyes.

Pool gear, beach toys, sports equipment, and outdoor accessories don’t need to follow you into fall if they weren’t used much this year. Decluttering them now means fewer things to store — and fewer decisions later.

This is also a good time to check the summer storage bins. If something’s been packed away for multiple years without being missed, it’s time to let it go.

10 Common Things to Declutter in Summer

Here’s a practical list of items many homeowners find easy to declutter during summer:

1. Broken or unused outdoor toys and pool accessories

2. Beach towels or blankets that are worn out, torn/ripped, stained, or unused

3. Sports gear that no longer fits or gets used

4. Extra unused water bottles, travel mugs, or coolers

5. Paper piles that grew during busy months

6. Shoes that didn’t get worn all summer

7. Sunscreen, skincare, or beauty products past their prime

8. Hobby supplies that didn’t leave the shelf

9. Seasonal décor that never made it out

10. Random items living in “temporary” piles for months

Pick a few that feel manageable and let the rest go for now. This is a maintenance season — not a marathon.

Summer Reminder

Summer decluttering works best when it’s light and flexible. Your life may feel full and busy right now, and that’s okay.

A few intentional resets can keep clutter from snowballing — and make the transition into fall feel calmer and more organized, without stealing your summer joy.

Season 4: Fall

The final quarter of the year is when home starts to matter a lot. The days get shorter, routines shift, and many of us are spending more time indoors — hosting, celebrating, or simply craving a cozy space.

This season is about clearing space so you can actually enjoy it. A little decluttering now helps your home feel calmer during the busiest (and often messiest) time of year.

Declutter Before You Decorate

Before pulling out holiday decorations, take a few minutes to edit what you already own.  This is especially important if you didn’t do it back in January.

This isn’t about becoming a minimalist — it’s about making room for the things you genuinely love. Let go of decorations that are broken, incomplete, or never quite make it out of the bin. If you didn’t use it last year (and the year before), it’s probably safe to say goodbye.

Decluttering first can make decorating feel fun again — not like a game of storage-bin Jenga.

Make Space for Seasonal Living

The holidays bring extra groceries, extra coats, extra shoes, and extra everything. Clearing space before the season ramps up makes daily life smoother.

Focus on pantries, closets, and storage areas that tend to get overloaded this time of year. Even small edits can prevent clutter from piling up when schedules fill up.

If your home is about to work overtime, this is your chance to make it easier on yourself.

10 Common Things to Declutter in Fall

Here are some of the most common items homeowners declutter in fall and early winter:

1. Holiday decorations you no longer use or love

2. Broken lights, ornaments, or décor pieces

3. Extra gift wrap, ribbons, and bags you don’t enjoy using

4. Pantry items that are expired or rarely used

5. Gifts you’ve been saving “just in case” but never actually gifted

6. Coats, hats, and gloves you won’t wear this winter

7. Shoes that are uncomfortable, worn out, or don’t fit

8. Storage bins filled with forgotten items

9. Old candles, décor, or seasonal accents

10. Paper clutter before the end of the year

You don’t need to declutter everything on this list — even choosing a few can make the season feel noticeably lighter.

Fall Reminder:

Fall decluttering isn’t about doing more — it’s about making room for what matters.

A calmer home supports rest, connection, and enjoyment during the season ahead. And if you don’t finish everything on your list? That’s okay. You’re still setting yourself up for a smoother start when the new year rolls around.

Seasonal decluttering isn’t about perfection — it’s about rhythm and momentum. Think of it like changing the batteries in your smoke detector…annoying to remember sometimes, but so worth it when you feel the peace that comes with it.

And if you miss a season? No stress. Just pick up again next season — progress over perfection, always.

Tips to Make Seasonal Decluttering Stick

• Keep sessions short. Even 15–20 minutes counts.

• Aim for progress, not perfection. You’re building habits, not chasing an Instagram-ready home.

• Let the seasons guide you. If you miss a season, just pick up where you are.

Seasonal decluttering works because it meets you where you are—rather than asking you to do everything at once.

Want Help Decluttering Your Home?

If seasonal decluttering sounds great in theory but is hard to tackle alone, you don’t have to do it by yourself. Working with Empowering Home Organization can make the process faster, calmer, and way less overwhelming. Email me to schedule a free consultation.

Happy Organizing!

Lisa