As summer winds down, now is the perfect time to start preparing your home for the busy fall season ahead. Whether it’s back-to-school chaos, cooler weather activities, or simply the shift in routines, decluttering your home before fall can help you feel more organized and at peace. Let’s embrace an August reset to clear out what’s no longer serving you and make room for what truly matters.
I love summer, especially not having to get up earlier for buses and making lunches every day. The freedom to have a looser schedule with the kids and the longer daylight makes every day feel like endless fun. But, when August rolls around and I notice the nights getting a little shorter, something in me starts craving a routine. Let’s face it, if we lived like the summer all year round my kids would barely be fed, constantly feel overtired and I would not be able to focus on working from home with the productive efficiency I do 80% of the year.
Every parent will tell you despite the family fun summer brings, the end of it starts a new celebration of regaining control of our schedules, homes and focus. If you don’t have kids, there is still that feeling of restarting in September since we were trained that way as students. It is ingrained in our brains that we must get serious again in the fall. That’s why I wanted to share some tips to start of this fall on the right foot.
Why Decluttering Before Fall is Essential
The transition from summer to fall often brings a shift in pace. Time to go back to school, work, and family schedules. Declutter now while you still have a more flexible schedule (and kids to help). Your home will be more organized but also ca more welcoming space to recharge during the upcoming busy months. A decluttered space can lead to reduced stress, better time management, and an overall sense of calm, which is exactly what we need as we enter one of the busiest times of the year.
1. Start with the Closets: Seasonal Swap
As temperatures cool, it’s a great time to swap out summer clothes for fall/winter items. Take this opportunity to go through your wardrobe and assess what you wear and what you can let go of.
Here’s how to tackle your closet:
- Sort and Purge: Go through each item and ask yourself if it still fits, if you’ve worn it in the last year, and if it makes you feel good when you wear it. If the answer is no, it’s time to donate, sell, or recycle.
- Seasonal Storage: Store summer clothes in clear stackable bins or under-bed storage to make room for your fall and winter wardrobe.
- Organize by Type: Keep like-items together—coats, sweaters, scarves—and make them easily accessible for when the weather changes.
Pro Tip: Take everything out of your closet. Once you sort and purge put everything back in with the hangers backwards on the rod. When you wear it switch the hanger. By the end of next season you will know all the clothes that you never touched.
Check out my Home and Life Declutter Workbook for closet purging printables and sorting labels to make cleaning out the closet a more motivating experience.
2. Tidy the Kids’ Spaces: Prepare for School
With school around the corner, it’s a great time to declutter your children’s rooms, backpacks, and study areas. Here’s a quick guide:
- Purge Outgrown Items: Kids grow quickly, so clear out clothes, toys, and school supplies that are no longer useful. Donate gently used items to reduce clutter.
- Create Functional Spaces: Organize your child’s study area with bins for school supplies, papers, and books. Make it a habit to clear out old papers and artwork regularly.
- Reassess Toys and Games: Summer is often a time for new toys and activities. Review what’s being played with and what’s collecting dust. Let go of items that no longer interest your child.
One of the downsides of having a mother that is a professional organizer is that I am constantly asking my kids to “organize”. I knew it was bad when my son was in first grade and wrote a “How to Organize the Toy Room” for his “How To” assignment!
As much as my kids dislike when Mom wants to “clean,” I always include them in the process. It helps them build good habits for the future. Kids make better choices when they walk in a store and want another toy when they have purged regularly. That’s why I try to build some time in before they go back to school to involve them in cleaning out their rooms and play areas. Once school starts they are more tired from the long day and their schedules are fuller in their free time. It is much harder to build momentum to do these projects.
For more organizing tips on preparing kids for back to school check out these two blogs:
3. Tackle the Kitchen: A Clean Start
The kitchen can quickly become cluttered with seasonal produce, gadgets, and kitchenware. As you prepare for the fall season, clear out the old and make space for the new:
- Pantry Purge: Go through your pantry and get rid of expired or unused items. Make a list of what needs to be replenished for fall soups, stews, and other cozy meals.
- Clear Countertops: Remove unnecessary items from your counters to create more space for meal prep and cooking.
- Organize Drawers: Use drawer organizers to sort utensils, gadgets, and cooking tools. Donate items you don’t use frequently.
The kitchen is probably the room I focus on the most each day. Since it is the hub for most family members items pile up in it quickly. I make it a daily habit to ensure there are no dishes in the sink and the counters are clear at the end of the night before I go to bed. It is a simple routine, but it helps to control how many Lego builds, important paperwork and library books end up on our counter that need to be stored elsewhere.
Meal Planning
If the kitchen and meals run smoothly it seems our whole schedule runs easier. Never underestimate how stressful brainstorming, purchasing and preparing for meals can be. That’s why I created the Meal Planning Organizational System printable to make grocery shopping and dinner prep less of a decision process.
I also created the Pantry & Spice Organization Labeling System printable to jumpstart organizing your pantry. Keeping track of food supplies helps you save money and inspires meals to use up what you already have.
For even more meal planning and pantry organizing tips check out these two blogs:
- Effortless Summer Meal Prep: Must Have Tools to Make it Easy
- 9 Essential Pantry Containers that will Instantly Transform your Kitchen
4. Organize the Living Room: A Cozy Retreat
After a summer filled with outdoor activities, your living room might need a reset before fall. A cozy and organized space can help you unwind after long days:
- Declutter Surfaces: Clear off tables, shelves, and mantels. Donate magazines, books, or knick-knacks that no longer add value to your space.
- Assess Your Furniture: Check if any furniture needs rearranging or replacing. Make sure each piece serves a purpose and contributes to the comfort of the room.
- Fall Decorations: If you like to decorate for the season, consider creating a minimalist fall vibe with simple touches like a few cozy throw pillows or pumpkins, rather than cluttering the space with unnecessary decorations.
Over the years I have definitely paired down what I use to decorate seasonally. Essentially I might change up items on our fireplace mantle. And I don’t regret it at all. I store less holiday decorations in the basement which is less overwhelming every time I need to go find a bin. Also, I don’t have to spend so much time clearing, rearranging and moving other regular décor items into storage for a few weeks before I have to change it again.
Organize Decor By Season
Don’t lose the fun, but don’t make it so much work that by the time you finally get motivated to decorate you have a day left before the next holiday season begins. A gamechanger for me was taking the time to organize all of my seasonal décor into clear bins on basement shelves. By limiting myself to 1-2 bins for each major holiday (except for Christmas) I was able to choose my favorite decorations and cull out the non-important ones. I labeled the bins with labels I created for my Holiday Storage Label System printable. The decorations are much easier to find and grab quickly.
For more basement organization tips check out: How to Organize Your Basement in 6 Easy Steps
5. Set Up a Home Command Center: Prepare for the Busy Season
One of the best ways to prepare for fall is to create a home command center that keeps everything organized. This can be a dedicated space or system where the whole family can stay on track:
- Establish a Family Calendar: A large wall calendar or digital calendar can help everyone stay on top of school schedules, appointments, and events. We love using a Google Calendar for each family member and sharing them so everyone has their own color when we view it on our phones and computers.
- Mail & Paperwork: Sort through your paperwork and create a filing system. Use labeled folders or binders to keep important documents organized and easily accessible. My Instant Tickler File System and Instant Home Filing System are great ways to quickly get paper in order.
- School Prep Station: Set up a space near the entryway for school bags, shoes, and jackets. A basket or hook can be a simple solution for keeping things organized as the kids come and go.
My recent blog: Back-To-School Organization Tips from A Pro goes into a lot more detail on how to accomplish these goals.
6. Don’t Forget the Garage: A Fall Ready Workspace
If your garage is filled with clutter from summer activities or outdoor tools, now is the time to get it in shape for the fall:
- Sort Seasonal Gear: Move outdoor summer items, like pool equipment or camping gear, into storage. Bring out your fall tools and supplies.
- Organize Tools and Sports Equipment: Install hooks, shelves, or pegboards to keep tools and gear neatly organized and easy to access.
- Maximize Storage Space: Consider adding vertical storage, overhead racks, or clear bins to maximize space and keep everything in order.
By the end of the summer my garage is a mess of bikes, helmets, sports equipment and beach toys. It is always great to cull out the items that were never touched throughout the summer. I also like to assess what is broken, what the family is no longer using and create more order on my shelves. We store away items that aren’t needed for winter like beach chairs and our bikes in the eaves of our garage ceiling and on hooks above our cars. This is a great time to transition items so you are always only dealing with what you need for the current season.
If you want more garage organization inspiration check out: Best Garage Organization Systems for Summer Projects
Final Thoughts: Decluttering Is the First Step to Fall Success
A decluttered home sets the tone for a successful, less-stressful fall season. By tackling these spaces now, you’ll enjoy a smoother transition into the busier months ahead. Remember, the key is to start small and stay consistent. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter and more organized you feel when your home is ready for the change of seasons.
Ready to Declutter? If you need extra help with your fall reset, check out our decluttering services at Livable Solutions, where we can guide you through your decluttering journey and help you create the organized, calm home you’ve always wanted.
Let’s make this fall the most organized yet!
Happy Organizing!
Kristin
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