The summer is dwindling quickly, and with that, the holidays loom. This change in the season brings us not only a shift in weather but the perfect time to reset before the craziness ramps up. While spring is the traditional time for cleanouts, we got the inside scoop from seven professional organizers on tackling getting your home ready for fall. Read on for seven life-changing tips to make a fall decluttering project easier—you’ll be thanking yourself in April.
1. LOOK WITHIN
A decluttering project often feels intensely demanding. Habit experts say motivation follows action, and Carla Cupp of Unraveled Mindful Organizing agrees.
“Find your “why” and then get excited for how your space will feel once you are finished,” she said. “Decluttering is something no one really wants to do, but afterward, we feel so good. The immediate reward that comes with a dopamine boost is the dividend of our hard work. Small wins will carry you into larger projects.
2. DEFINE YOUR GOALS
It’s impossible to accomplish a big task without narrowing your vision and setting your goals. Read below for two guiding questions that Cathy Stein and Jen Coghlan of Seamless Spaces use to get in the headspace to declutter.
- Which spaces tend to gather clutter and create the most stress?
- How do I want the space to look and function when the project is complete?
3. SET A DEADLINE.
Now that you’re in the mindset to crush this project, it’s time to execute the plan. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and stuck without a pressing matter or reason to finish. Setting a deadline is a great way to stay on task and get through the finish line. Maria Baer of The Baer Minimalist attests to the chunking method to help with this.
“You don’t have to Marie Kondo your house in one sitting. Take it one room, or closet or drawer at a time,” she said.
Kayla Lang of Plan and Place Co. suggests setting a time frame for staying on task.
“Tell yourself, ‘I will set a timer for two hours. When that two hours is up, if I decide to stop, then I can do so without feeling guilty,’” Lang said.
4. START WITH THE MUDROOM
Stephanie Craig of NEAT Method typically identifies three key areas to start with after a long summer with the kids. She suggests the “drop zone” as the perfect place to begin. It makes life a lot simpler when items that get daily use coming into your home have exact locations, especially with the kids being in school again.
“Remove all things summer like towels and pool gear, and replace it with all things school or sports,” she said.
Craig suggested tackling the kids’ areas, like closets and playrooms, and the pantry next.
“The pantry usually needs a reset from all of the little hands and to replenish and prepare for lunch making or after-school snacks,” she said.
5. KEEP THE SEASON IN MIND
Whether it’s clothing or decor, properly rotating items in and out of what Stein and Coghlan call “prime real estate” creates the best chance of utilizing what you already own. Lisa Eckerle of The Designer Organizer shared her thoughts on seasonal purging with us.
“Take stock of the items for which you struggle to find a good display place,” she said. “There may also be items that no longer bring out all the good holiday feels immediately. These are the items that deserve a proper goodbye.”
6. REEVALUATE AND REPURPOSE SENTIMENTAL ITEMS
With the holidays creeping up, emotions are heightened. Giving yourself grace is important, especially when dealing with personal and nostalgic keepsakes. Our organizing experts’ advice on letting go of meaningful items gives a beautiful perspective to this challenge.
“Start by acknowledging the emotions attached to these items. Understand that it’s okay to feel a mix of guilt, sadness, and nostalgia when considering parting with them. Remember, the memories aren’t in the objects themselves—they’re in you,” Alisa Riffey of All Abodes said.
Eckerle suggests finding an easier and less cumbersome way to hang on to the memory. “If you’re hanging on to the full set of your grandma’s wedding china, take the main pattern and have it turned into a necklace charm, or take one teacup saucer and repurpose it as a ring or jewelry holder. Always remember that just because something was gifted to you does not mean it’s your responsibility to manage that item for the rest of your life. If you have to manage it, was it really a gift?”
7. SEEK A HELPING HAND (OR A FEW)
Whether you are oozing confidence for your decluttering project or shuttering at the thought, it’s never a bad idea to get a second set of eyes on things. Getting help from a third party, like a friend or local professional organizer, can make this process less taxing.
“Call a friend, turn on a great playlist (like this custom one from our The Baer Minimalist team), and enjoy your time culling through duplicates,” Baer said. “…know that there are fabulous companies locally that can take on the heavy lifting of completing this project with you (or on your behalf).”
Riffey recommends a professional organizer, especially in the case of grief or drastic life changes.
“Consider seeking support from a professional organizer who can guide you through this emotional journey with compassion and understanding. Getting the help of a professional organizer is invaluable…an objective person to hold you accountable to your goal, your mission, and ultimately for peace in your endeavor.”
Madeleine Pape is a contributor at Indy Maven.
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