The start of the year is the perfect time to declutter, organize, and refresh your home (and your mind along with it). After the holiday chaos, routine returns and mental space opens up—making it easier to create order inside and out.
If you focus on a few challenging spots in January, you’ll lay the foundation for better habits all year. Here are 6 places where clutter tends to run wild—and how to get them back in shape.
1. The Bedroom Closet
Let’s start with the most personal (and often most overcrowded) space: your wardrobe. Clothes you never wear, uncomfortable shoes, outdated styles—the closet tends to swallow it all.
January is perfect for a major closet refresh. Empty everything out—really everything—and ask yourself these questions:
- Do I feel good wearing this?
- Have I worn it in the past year?
- If I were shopping now, would I buy it again?
Create separate piles: keep, donate, repair, seasonal. For real organization, bring in matching hangers, shelf dividers, and shoe racks. When your closet holds only clothes you love, your mornings will flow so much smoother.
2. The Linen Closet
Mixed linens, old mattress protectors, holiday hand towels, and those “maybe useful someday” pieces—sound familiar? After the holidays, this spot often gets even messier, especially if you had guests.
Take everything out, sort by category, and let go of what no longer serves you. Stained or worn textiles can often find a second life at animal shelters.
Fold the rest by size or use (towels, sheets, etc.). The freed-up space is perfect for that new throw blanket you got for Christmas.
3. The “Everything” Drawer
Yes, that infamous drawer. Keys, batteries, rubber bands, notes, mysterious objects. Good news: you can organize it with a little joy.
Empty it completely (wipe it down while you’re at it), then sort what stays, what goes in the trash, and what belongs elsewhere. Use divided organizers to give everything its own spot—even label them if you like. The goal isn’t perfection, but knowing exactly where to find things.
4. The Entryway
First impressions count—even if it’s just for yourself coming home. Shoes, bags, mail, sunglasses: the entryway often becomes a spontaneous drop zone.
Sort out seasonal items you don’t need right now, and create clear spots: a shoe cabinet, a bowl for keys, a basket for mail. Make sure everyone in the family knows where things go—this cuts down on future mess. A tidy entryway brings calm the moment you walk in.
5. The Pantry
After the holidays, the pantry can get messier than ever. Early January is a great time to make it manageable again. Toss expired or stale items, group foods by type (breakfast, snacks, pasta, etc.), and make a shopping list for essentials you’re missing.
Baskets, jars, and rotating trays work wonders. If you’re aiming to eat healthier this year, keep those foods at eye level—the pantry can support your goals too.
6. Cabinets Under the Sinks
Small, dark, and crowded—the space under the sink easily turns chaotic. But don’t worry. Empty the cabinet, check expiration dates, and put back only what you really need. Items that belong elsewhere should find their proper place. Storage boxes and labels make everything much clearer. Less stuff = quicker mornings and less frantic searching.
