Declutter Before New Year: 7 Areas to Tackle Now

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Declutter your space and get ready for a fresh start with this ultimate guide! I’ll show y’all the seven areas to tackle, plus my top tips and essentials.

December is such a wild ride of a month, right? I don’t know about y’all but to me, there are so many emotions running high during this month! 

Maybe it’s the influx of holiday gifts, or perhaps it’s watching the calendar inch closer to January. Either way, once the Christmas gatherings are over and we’re prepping for new beginnings, it’s a perfect moment for all of us to take a pause and look around our homes with fresh eyes. 

The best time to declutter is before the New Year rush hits. Think about it—we’re already in the mindset of clearing our spaces from holiday decorations. Why not use that momentum to give ourselves a head start on that organized feeling we’re all craving come January?

Declutter Before New Year: 7 Areas to Tackle Now

In this post, I’m sharing the seven key areas in your home that deserve attention now—not after the ball drops. 

Now y’all, I haven’t picked these places randomly! These are the spots that see the most chaos during the holiday season and create the biggest makeover when we declutter them. 

The Kitchen: First Place To Declutter Before New Year

I’m willing to bet your kitchen got pretty hectic during the holiday season. Mine certainly did!  And that’s exactly why this is the best spot to declutter before new year.

Let’s begin with the pantry. Pull everything out—yes, everything! Those protein bars from last summer’s health kick? Check those expiration dates. The three half-empty boxes of the same cereal? Time to consolidate. Create zones that make sense to the way you cook, eat and store your food.

Next, it’s time to undertake the counter appliances. From a bread maker you used once to the smoothie machine that’s gathering dust, we all have appliances we do not use and take up space, adding to the clutter.

Glass Food Storage Containers | Food Dispenser | Adjustable Bamboo Drawer Dividers | Glass Monthly Dry Erase Calendar | Acrylic Mail Holder | Glass Food Container | Rolling Caddy

Be honest about what you actually use. If you haven’t touched it in six months, it might be time to find a new home. 

You can give it away to charity or if it’s a pricey item, you can sell it through different platforms like Facebook Marketplace or local groups.

The Closet: Your Pre-New Year Fashion Reset

Keeping our closets organized is not just about folding things prettier or buying new hangers (though these slim velvet hangers I discovered have been a total game-changer). But it’s more about creating a system that fits your everyday needs.

What you wear every day, your seasonal pieces, and how you store your items to keep your clothes, shoes, and bags in good condition are essential to finding the right system for you.

Seasonal Switch: More Than Just Swapping Clothes

Now’s the perfect time for a seasonal audit, especially since we’re transitioning wardrobes. Pull out those summer pieces still hanging around and ask yourself honestly—did you wear them enough to earn their spot next season? There’s no need to get rid of everything; it’s about making intentional choices about what you need.

For items you’re keeping but won’t need until spring, vacuum storage bags have been my absolute savior. They protect your clothes while shrinking them down to a fraction of their usual size—perfect for tucking away until warmer weather returns. 

Accessories: The Often Forgotten Clutter Culprit

Accessories can be the sneakiest source of closet chaos—belts tangled up, scarves stuffed in corners, and jewelry somehow everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The solution that finally worked for me was a hanging closet organizer with drawers. It uses vertical space while keeping smaller items sorted and easily accessible. 

Before you put anything back in your newly organized closet, take a moment to add cedar blocks to strategic spots. I tuck them into corners, hang them between clothes, and drop them into storage containers. These help to protect your clothes naturally and give a fresh, clean scent when you open your closet!

Slim Velvet Hangers | Shoe Storage Boxes | Cedar Blocks | Hanging Storage Organizer | Towel Rack | Bin Liner Kit | Scalloped Edge Wicker Basket | Basket Set of 3 with Leather Lids

Bathroom Refresh: Where Self-Care Meets Smart Storage

Time to examine those products hiding in the depths of your bathroom drawers. Always check the expiration dates on your skincare, cosmetics, and medications; discard anything that’s expired. A simple tip? Write opening dates on products with a Sharpie.

Linen Closet Wisdom

If you’re blessed with a linen closet in your bathroom area, take advantage of it by using it efficiently! 

Examine your towels and linens with fresh eyes. Those frayed washcloths and stained towels? Perfect candidates for cleaning rags! Arrange the remaining linens by use—everyday towels within easy reach, guest linens, and seasonal items stored above.

Under-Sink Strategy

This is usually an awkward space with all those awkward corners, so it deserves space-savvy solutions. 

After checking for leaks and giving everything a thorough clean, you can maximize vertical space with stacking options. Keep frequently used cleaning supplies front and center—when they’re easily accessible, you’re more likely to maintain that sparkle between deep cleans.

Kids’ Spaces: Simplifying the Joy Zone

If you’re a parent or have little ones at home, your goal to declutter before new year should definitely include the kids’ spaces. With holiday gifts just flooding in and a fresh year ahead, it’s the perfect moment to tidy up your children’s room!

Smart Toy Management

With little ones, stepping on a stray LEGO at midnight is bound to happen! But, there are ways to make the toys storage more efficient.

A toy rotation system using picture-labeled storage bins is the ultimate winner for this issue. It will help you keep the necessary clutter at bay and turn overwhelming toy collections into manageable sets.

Here’s what makes it work: keep one-third of toys accessible while storing others away.

When toys return to rotation, kids get a spark of fresh excitement. Add a storage bench in the play area, and cleanup will turn into something as simple as lift, toss, and close.

The Creative Zone

Speaking of messes that matter, let’s declutter before the new year and tidy up all those art supplies!

How? An art supply cart! It’s a simple solution to an often messy organization issue that creates tons of clutter. Rolling from the homework station to the craft corner, it keeps supplies visible and within easy reach. 

When everything has a logical home, little ones will naturally learn to keep their spaces tidy, turning organization from a chore into second nature. It makes everyday life easier while encouraging their independence and creativity!

Home Office/Craft Room

A disorganized workspace can affect your work, seep into your mood, productivity, and even your ability to focus.

So, one of the best ways to start fresh in 2025 is decluttering your home office and craft room! A favorite way of mine to start this process is to finally deal with those paper piles.

A file folder system brings a method to all that paper madness—bills, important documents, and project materials each get their designated spot. No more frantically searching for that important invoice or contract. File folders in crisp, professional designs make the organization feel polished and purposeful.

Organize and Categorize Your Creative Supplies

Your tools should inspire you, not overwhelm your creativity or space! To organize all your craft supplies, opt for a craft supply organizer cart with compartments.

With clear storage containers displaying your supplies, you’ll actually use what you have instead of buying duplicates or wasting time trying to find something in the clutter. 

I would also recommend going for an organizer with wheels. Having the option to bring your tools to wherever inspiration strikes, from the desk to the dining room table, is such a huge plus!

Give Yourself Some Clarity by Tidying Up Your Desk

If you feel a cluttered desk doesn’t help your workflow, it’s time to tidy it up and put things in order. How? There are plenty of ways! 

You can go for a desktop organizer set to keep essential tools at your fingertips. Some come with dedicated spots for pens, papers, and tech accessories, while others are more simple and sleek, allowing the minimum clutter possible. If you prefer to keep things out of sight but your desk doesn’t have drawers, you can also grab some slide-out under-desk drawers with self-adhesive. 

Glass Desktop Whiteboard | The Folio Document Organizer | Wooden Desktop Organizer | Acrylic Headphones Stand | 2TB External Hard Drive | Woven Basket | Digital Picture Frame | Charging Station | Cable Sleeve

No need to buy anything new, though! You can transform old shoe boxes or wooden ones into compartments for each of your items and group them on top of a tray for a simple DIY option.

Cord organizers, monitor stands, device chargers, card memory folders… There are quite a lot of options for keeping your desk clutter at a minimum, but it all depends on what you use it for and what your needs are. I’m linking some of my essentials in the collage photos (just click the links below!) but as always, only get what would work for you and your space!

The Final Frontier: Garage & Storage Organization

The garage often becomes the ultimate “deal with it later” zone, but as you declutter before New Year, this space deserves our attention. Especially after all that holiday decor! 

Holiday Decoration Storage

After the holiday season winds down, it’s time to put away all those gorgeous and glittery items. Now y’all, if you want to prevent headaches next year, I highly recommend y’all declutter before new year. 

Proper storage is essential for this. Sturdy bins with clear labels will keep your delicate ornaments and cherished decorations safe until next season, while specially designed Christmas tree storage containers will make sure they look brand new come next December. 

Tool Territory

First, y’all need to make an inventory of what tools you have. Maybe a deep clean of the whole garage can be useful in this part, as I’m sure we all have hidden tools we’ve forgotten about!

Once you have a clear idea of what you’re dealing with, create designated zones for each tool type. For example; garden equipment, power tools, and maintenance supplies. Maybe it’s a basic tip but honestly y’all, the garage clutter can get out of hand fast, and having an area for each type of tool has saved us so much time (and money, too!)

Sports Equipment Central

From summer gear to winter accessories, sports equipment also needs a more systematic approach to storage especially if you have boys like me! 

Wall-mounted racks and ceiling storage options are the absolute best for this. They maximize space while keeping the equipment accessible and protected from any damage. Plus, they help to save so much space! 

Digital Declutter: Clearing Your Virtual Clutter Before the Ball Drops

While we’re busy organizing our physical spaces, let’s not forget about that other type of clutter that’s probably stressing you out — your digital life! 

I recently tackled my own digital declutter, and the mental clarity it brought was honestly surprising. 

Taming the Email Beast

Let’s tackle the worst first, shall we? That email inbox!

To get your inbox under control, set aside one free afternoon and create three simple folders—“Action Required,” “Reference,” and “Archives.” Everything else? Delete it! 

Another huge tip to keep digital email clutter at bay? 

Unsubscribe from newsletters as you go through them. If you haven’t opened the last five emails from a sender, chances are you won’t miss their future ones either!

Phone Photos: Preserving Your Memories Safely

Our phones are basically memory books these days, so those “Storage Full” notifications are the absolute worst!  Having lost some precious photos while changing phones, I swear by getting a reliable 2TB external hard drive. It’s fantastic to back up your photos monthly, keep your Cloud space-free, and organize all your pictures into themed folders.

The amazing thing about a digital declutter is that once you have systems in place, maintaining them is quite easy. Those few minutes you spend organizing files will save you tons of time in frustrating searches later. Plus, starting the new year with a clean inbox and organized digital space feels just as good as walking into a freshly decluttered room!

While we’re talking about phones, we talk about the charging cable chaos! I got mine under control using a sleek charging station organizer that’s transformed my nightstand from cable chaos into something that actually looks good and is functional. 

It keeps all my devices powered up without the visual clutter, and I never have to hunt for a cable again.

Wrapping Paper Organizer Storage | The Pink Stuff | Cleaning Crevice Brush | Baseboard Buddy | Upright Vacuum | Sports Equipment Organizer | Pack Christmas Wreath

As we wrap up this guide to declutter before New Year, remember that organization isn’t about nailing it perfectly in one go! It takes time and if you can only do one room at a time, that’s perfectly okay!  

If your daily life centers on other areas, start there! Maybe it’s your bedroom or your entryway. It doesn’t matter how long it takes or what area you focus on first, all it matters is that you start 🙂

Now y’all, it’s your turn! Which space will you tackle first? Share your decluttering journey in the comments below—what room challenges you most?

Want more home decor ideas and tips? Have a look at these posts!

Tidy Up Your Holidays: Organizing Your Gift Wrapping Station

New Years Center Pieces: Stunning Tablescapes Ideas to Celebrate

Tidy Up Your Holidays: Organizing Your Gift Wrapping Station