Fall Home Reset: 3 Things to Declutter This Season
As summer winds down and the cooler temperatures start to settle in, fall is a great time to declutter your home and prepare for the cozy months ahead. Winter is a season of celebration and joy, but also a season of rest. Just like nature, our energy slows and turns inward. Crisp fall days allow you to throw open your windows and do some thoughtful decluttering, setting yourself up for a comfy, cozy winter.
You don’t need to try to tackle your entire home. Picking just three categories can make a huge difference in the energy of your home. The three major categories I prefer to declutter in the fall are summer clothes, bathroom items and fall decor.
Fall Closet Clear-out:
Clothing is a wonderful place to begin because it’s a category that you spend each and every day with. Since clothes are literally worn close to your heart, decluttering them helps you build your intuitive muscle and sets the tone for the other categories in your home. This is a good time to declutter your summer clothing because there is no immediate need for these clothes. If you need to replace anything, you have plenty of time!
To begin, clear off a surface close to where you store your clothing and set out two boxes or bins. One for donations and one for trash. Then, pull out your summer clothes and decide what you want to carry with you into the next year. If pulling everything out feels overwhelming, work with smaller subcategories. Focus on tank tops first, then move to t-shirts, then shorts and so on. For each item, ask yourself:
Did I wear it this summer?
Does it still fit?
Do I feel confident in it?
Is it stained or damaged? If so, is it worth mending?
Before letting anything go, pause for a moment of gratitude. Thank each item for the fun memories, making you feel beautiful or even teaching you what you don’t love to wear! It might sound cheesy but this is an important step. Letting go with love makes things easier to release. Everything holds energy and sending things off on a positive note feels lighter.
Finally, intentionally store the summer pieces you are keeping so they will be fresh and ready when the warm weather returns. Your future self will thank you!
Refreshing Your Bathroom Essentials
The bathroom category covers everything from hair care and skin care to cosmetics, hygiene items and medicines. Fall is the perfect time to check in on what's hiding in your vanity and medicine cabinet! The products we use in summer and winter are very different so use this seasonal shift to clear out your summer items and make sure you have everything you need for the upcoming season.
Just like clothing, start by pulling everything out so you can see everything in one place. Then, sort into smaller subcategories. For example:
Hair care - shampoo, conditioner, styling products
Cosmetics - foundations, powders, eye shadows, eyeliner, lipsticks, liners
Skin Care - facial cleansers, creams, masks, toners, serums
Hygiene care - Q-tips, cotton balls, razors
Nail care - files, clippers, polish, remover
Medicines - cold remedies, allergy medicine,
Lotions & Creams - body lotion, sunscreen, aloe
First Aid - bandages, ointments, antiseptics
Once you have everything sorted, go through each group by item. Toss anything that is expired, dried up or past its prime. How old is that mascara after all? Did your sunscreen expire 4 years ago?
As you go, keep a running list of anything you need to replace. Are any of your cold remedies expired? Are you down to the last few bandages? Make a note to purchase more so you have them on hand if needed.
Since you’ve pulled everything out, this is a good time to wipe things down and decide if you want to reset your storage. Put things away with intention, placing things you use most within easy reach. If you’d like, add a little gratitude practice: thank your sunscreen for protecting your skin all summer or your favorite face mask for helping you unwind. Small moments of intention make the process lighter and more mindful.
Cozy Vibes Only: A Joy Check for Your Fall Décor
The best part of fall, aside from the food of course, is the decor. Nothing sets the cozy autumn tone quite like surrounding yourself with the pieces you truly love. This season is the perfect time to check in with your fall decorations and make sure they still spark joy. So go ahead, pull out your fall decor bins and take inventory. Notice how much you have. Does it feel right or would you prefer fewer bins to manage? As you unpack, do a quick joy check with each item before placing it around your home. For each item ask yourself:
Did I use it last year?
Do I want to make space for it this year?
Does it make me smile when I see it?
Do I want to continue to store this item?
If something no longer feels right, let it go with gratitude. Thank it for adding beauty to your home in the past. Donate the items to your local thrift store so someone else can enjoy it this fall.
Fall is the perfect season to reset your home. By decluttering summer clothes, refreshing bathroom supplies, and checking in with your fall décor, you’ll clear space and welcome in the cozy months ahead. A little intentional effort now makes winter feel warmer and so much more enjoyable.