Seasonal Organising

3 minute read

If your wardrobe is overflowing with clothes that you wear all year round, you can only find sandals when you need your boots, and Christmas decorations are still up at the end of January, this could be a good time to think about organising your home according to the seasons.

Seasonal organising creates a functional home as you keep in tune with the time of year. It helps you to continually create and maintain a clutter-free space, making things easy to find and so freeing up your time. 

APDO member Jennie Smith shares her simple, practical steps and tips on how to organise your surroundings and keep your home welcoming and organised throughout the changing seasons.

1. Make a plan

Take time to sit down and write down your seasonal plan. This will help to organise things in your mind, before you start. Organise your schedule to coincide with back to school routines, the start of the holidays or the changing weather, which will make it feel natural. Break down tasks into small steps, to stop feelings of overwhelm and to give you a clear picture of what you want to achieve. Then enjoy the satisfaction of ticking off each task, as you go through your seasonal organising list.

2. Organise your wardrobe

Having your wardrobe full of clothes for all seasons can be confusing. Time is wasted as you look for something to wear, wading through every item of clothing that you own. If you swap out clothes according to the season, this will save time and prevent stress. At the start of each season, take items out of your wardrobe and arrange them in categories. Set aside some time to declutter. Do you still wear that top? If not, consider donating it to charity or if it’s worn out, take to your local textile recycling facility. This is also a good opportunity to mend anything. Then, only put back those items you’ll be wearing during that season. Box up your other clothes and label, before storing away until needed again.

3. Linen and bedding

As the seasons change, make sure that you match your bedding and linen to the temperature. Store away heavy duvets and thick blankets as days become warmer and swap them for lighter fabrics and summer duvets. This is also a good time to bring out your beach towels. Change again as the seasons move on, remembering to use this time to donate or recycle items you no longer want, rather than holding onto them. If donating, animal charities are always happy to take worn out towels and bedding for their shelters.

4. The hallway

As the cold weather ends, sort through winter boots and coats in the hallway or cloakroom. Place bigger coats into garment bags and put everything else into a labelled box, ready to store away. Replace with lighter jackets and summer shoes that you’ll wear in the warmer weather. Again, use this as an opportunity to sort through items and then donate or recycle those that you won’t wear again. By doing this throughout the year, you’ll keep the space clutter free and relevant items will always be accessible.

5. Garages and sheds

At the start of spring, take everything out of the garage and sheds, and arrange according to categories. Check that mechanical items such as lawnmowers and hedge trimmers are working and, if not, ensure these are fixed before needed. Then donate, recycle or sell those items you don’t want. There are charities that welcome tools in good condition, try contacting Tools With a Mission https://www.twam.uk/ or your local Men’s Shed https://menssheds.org.uk/ For more valuable items, you could sell these through your local auction house, as many of them have specific tool sales throughout the year.

6. Adapt your home décor 

Each season brings a new joy outdoors to bring into your home. 

Spring – Plants in the home are known to reduce anxiety and boost mood. Arrange spring flowers in a vase, such as tulips, daffodils or freesias. 

Summer – Put away your woollen rugs and furry cushions, and replace with lighter items, in linen or cotton. Bring in vases of sunflowers, roses or lavender. Have bowls of fruit in your kitchen, beautiful to look at and ready to enjoy.

Autumn – As the nights draw in, bring back your cosy rugs and cushions. Display candles, as well as pinecones, dried stems and mini pumpkins.

Winter –At the start of December, bring out your Christmas decorations and sort through these, donating or recycling any you don’t want. You’ll then be ready to decorate your home in good time for the festivities.

Not only does a clutter-free environment enhance your wellbeing, but by seasonal organising, you can spread the workload throughout the year, making your home easier to manage and maintain. Your home will also feel fresh and clutter-free as you regularly review and readjust, according to those seasonal needs. Enjoy your seasonal organising and remember to look for your local organiser to support you with your decluttering here!