How to Organize Your Home for the Year Ahead
January has a way of sneaking up on us.
One day your home is full - people coming and going, conversations overlapping, holiday decor staying up a little longer than planned. And then suddenly, it isn’t. Decorations come down, schedules shift, and life settles back into its usual rhythm… except the house doesn’t always catch up as quickly.
I see it every year. After the busyness of the holidays, many homes are left feeling a little off. There are extra items that haven’t found a home yet. Storage areas feel fuller than they should. Systems that worked earlier in the year don’t quite fit the pace of everyday life anymore.
And with the start of a new year comes that familiar urge to reset - routines, schedules, goals, and especially our homes.
A beginning-of-the-year home reset isn’t about starting over completely or achieving perfection. It’s about pausing long enough to notice what’s working, what’s weighing on you, and what needs to shift so your home can support the year ahead.
Because the way you close out one season makes a big difference in how you step into the next.
Here’s how to reset your home in a way that feels intentional, manageable, and built to last.
Simplify Before You Organize
One of the most common mistakes we see at the beginning of the year is organizing without editing first.
After the holidays, our homes often hold more than we realize - gifts, seasonal items, and everyday clutter that has been building up. January is the perfect moment to let go of what didn’t serve you last year!
Before buying bins or reorganizing drawers, start by simplifying. Clear out what you no longer use, need, or have room for so you’re only organizing what truly belongs in your space.
Focus on:
Items that weren’t used in the past year
Overflowing drawers and cabinets
Paper clutter and outdated documents
Anything expired (skincare, medication, food, etc.)
Holiday decor you didn’t put out this year
Decluttering first makes organizing far more effective. When you know exactly what you’re keeping, it’s easier to create systems that make sense and are easy to maintain.
Choose One Space to Fully Reset
When the idea of resetting your whole home feels like too much, start small. Focus on one space that would make daily life feel easier if it were more organized.
This could be:
The pantry
A linen closet
Your coffee station
Bathroom drawers
One completed space can shift how your entire home feels (and often gives you the momentum to keep going)!
Take a Look at Your Most-Used Spaces
If you’re feeling inspired after resetting that one space, now you can take a look at your most-used spaces! Remember: you don’t need to organize your entire home at once - the most impactful resets happen in the spaces you use every day.
We recommend prioritizing areas like:
The Entryway: Shoes, coats, bags, and drop zones
The Kitchen: The pantry, utensil drawers, and small appliance cabinets
Bathrooms: Under-sink storage and vanity drawers
Bedrooms: Nightstands, dressers, and closets
When these spaces function well, your daily routines will feel easier. Small changes here often create the biggest difference!
Adjust Systems for Your Current Routines
The beginning of the year often brings new routines and responsibilities. Systems that worked last year may not work as well now, and that’s okay!
Instead of forcing old systems to work, use this time to adjust them so they support the season you’re in now - not the one you’ve outgrown.
Think about:
Where do items naturally end up?
What feels hard to maintain?
What slows you down or causes frustration?
Those answers often point to the changes that need to be made. The most effective organizing systems are flexible and evolve as life does!
Heading Into 2026 With Intention
I’m going to let you in on a little secret…
The most successful resets don’t happen all at once. They happen when your home is adjusted, thoughtfully and intentionally, to support your real life - not an idealized version of it.
It’s walking into the kitchen in the morning and knowing where everything is.
It’s fewer piles asking for your attention throughout the day.
It’s systems that hold up on busy, lived-in days - not just the calm ones.
As we embrace the start of the new year, my hope for you is a home that feels supportive, not demanding. That you’re able to give your future self fewer decisions to make, less stress to manage, and more room to enjoy the year as it unfolds.
Do you need some help getting your home ready for 2026?
We offer professional home organizing services in Bellingham, Seattle, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Whether you want us to simply handle the heavy lifting or create custom systems you can maintain on your own, we’ll help you step into 2026 feeling refreshed and supported. Book your complimentary consultation with our team today!
