How to transition from Winter to Spring - Declutter Edition
I love all seasons. Truly, anytime we head into a new season I’m excited for what’s ahead. I think it’s because I grew up in a place with relatively little seasonal change and now I feel like I have a fresh start every few months. It’s like a fresh burst of dopamine and energy to get stuff done.
To take advantage of that energy, I like to give my home and life a mini refresh. You don’t have to do all of these each new season (I don’t) but if you pick a few you may be surprised at how quickly you feel refreshed and energized for the new season.
Change out pillows and blankets in living area. I like to change and wash the pillow cases each season. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to give my home a makeover. You can also remove heavy blankets and pull out lighter weight blankets. This lets you maintain the cozy factor all year long without feeling like you’re drowning in blankets!
Put away seasonal kitchenware. Do you only use your stone baker in the winter? Go ahead and put it away so it’s out of your visual clutter. Pull out the ice cream maker in anticipation of a season of homemade ice cream. If you have seasonal plates, cups, or decor now is a great time to go through and edit your collection - especially if you’ve added new pieces recently!
While we’ve had a colder snap here in Greenville, SC this April it’s still about time to put away winter clothes and pull out clothes for the warmer weather. Before you do this, take a few minutes to go through each set of clothes and get rid of any clothes that no longer fit or that you don’t wear anymore. The 20 minutes now will save hours down the road. Same goes for shoes and accessories.
Put away Winter accessories (and purge the ones that don’t fit or the mittens missing their partner) and pull out Spring/Summer accessories like towels for the pool. Get rid of any towels that are falling apart.
Pick one area of your house to organize - could be a closet, pantry, guest room, or playroom. You don’t have to organize your whole house. A lot of times, it’s better to bite off small pieces and keep from feeling overwhelmed. A word of caution, really declutter and donate - don’t just move junk from room to room!
Rotate children’s toys. One way to minimize day to day clutter is to simply have fewer toys available for play. Kids will surprise you with their creativity when there are limited options. You can rotate toys each season to keep options feeling fresh without adding to the visual clutter. This is a great time to donate toys your kids have outgrown. They’re less likely to miss them if you have an expected transition time regularly.
What other systems do you use to stay organized and refreshed throughout the year?