After weeks of holiday chaos, it can feel like your entire home is one big clutter pile. If you’re craving a fresh start by January 1st, you are not alone.
The good news? You can reset your home in just five days without decluttering when you feel overwhelmed with our Five-Day New Year Decluttering Challenge, breaking everything down into manageable chunks to avoid exhausting yourself in the first week of the year.
By Monday, you’ll be in a home that feels lighter, calmer, and completely refreshed – it’s the mood-boosting reset you need to start your year as you mean to go on.
The 5-Day New Year Decluttering Challenge
The chances are, by the first week of January, we are battling the exhaustion of hosting, mixed with the tiredness that accompanies dark, short days. To reset your home without tidying when you feel overwhelmed, professional home organizer Olivia Parks, founder of Nola Organizers, suggests breaking things down and spreading them out throughout the five days, rather than working five days consecutively.
‘To prevent burnout, I'd recommend starting small and not trying to do everything at once. It will be too overwhelming that way,’ she warns. ‘Instead, I'd recommend breaking all the areas and spaces into categories (starting small), so the process feels manageable. For example, if someone is decluttering their closet, they can start with one category, like shoes, then move on to hats, belts, and so on. Focusing on one category at a time keeps the momentum going without making it feel too overwhelming.’
You can also tackle these tasks using microshifting, working chores in and around your daily schedule so that they do not take priority over work or relaxation.
Day 1: Start With the Kitchen
For Olivia, kitchens are the best place to start. Not only is it the hub of activity when hosting, but it is the most time-sensitive spot – restoring order here means no leftovers go bad in the back of the fridge, and your kitchen storage and countertops are reset for everyday use. The result is a less stressful mid-week cooking experience as you return to work after the festive break.
Olivia stresses the importance of clearing out anything that wasn’t used this year or wasn’t needed. There are several things you can do with the items you are decluttering, depending on what they are. Consider selling or donating items in good condition, while people still have the season – and this year’s hosting shortcomings – on their minds.
For the items you are keeping but moving back into storage, this five-piece dinnerware storage bundle from Amazon provides the perfect padded protection for seasonal pieces, protecting them from damage between now and your next event.
Day 2: Festive Decor
Christmas decorations have been up for a month or more at this point, so it is a good time to restore your home to normality.
Olivia says, ‘Seasonal decor is another great category to go through, which most people store in either their garage or attic. If you have seasonal decor that didn't get displayed this year, it probably won't get displayed next year, because if you really loved it, you would have put it out to decorate.’
When decluttering Christmas decorations, keep them in a separate box away from those you are keeping to avoid them accidentally ending up in attic storage again.
Rather than give in to the urge to toss everything in a bag and call it a day, take some time to organize Christmas decorations for storage, working by room and area, to make decorating next year easier.
We suggest investing in dedicated festive storage, such as this pre-divided ornament box from Walmart, or a Christmas tree bag from Amazon, to keep items safe from damage, mold, or pests.
Day 3: The Garage or Attic
As you move your packaged Christmas decor back into long-term storage ideas, take some time to give these areas a quick once-over, Olivia recommends.
This is especially important if you are struggling to fit your decorations back into the space – a key sign you have too much stuff in your attic, basement, or garage.
Be mindful that items stored in these areas, which are usually not climate-controlled, are more prone to pest and humidity problems. There are certain things you should never store in the basement, attic, or garage, and being mindful of those as you put festive items away and have a New Year's clear-out will prevent loss or disappointment later.
Day 4: Closets
Clothes are a typical Christmas gift, making decluttering a closet a good task to tack onto day four in your January blitz, as gifts find homes around the house, Olivia suggests. You don’t need to do a whole clear-out here, to keep things quick and less stressful, target only seasonal items, she adds.
‘Anything you didn't wear to this year's holiday events likely won't be worn next year. Also, since many people receive new clothes as gifts during the holidays, it's a good time to let go of items they didn't wear this year and make space for the new ones they've received.’
Any items you are keeping, but won’t need until Christmas next year (such as prized Christmas sweaters) stash in vacuum-sealed storage bags, from Walmart, to protect them from moisture and pests while minimizing their storage footprint.
Now that guest season is over, it also makes sense to tackle your entryway closet ideas, clearing out coats and shoes that got in the way and haven’t been used thus far in winter.
If you struggle to let go of items, try the Didn't Know method. If you didn't know or remember you had an item, it's a safe bet to donate, recycle, trash or sell it.
Day 5: The Living Room
The house should be mostly back to normal by this point, so finish the five-day New Year decluttering challenge with smaller tasks, such as tidying up and clearing visual clutter in a living room, sweeping away any remnants of holiday hosting.
Any decor you may have missed, Christmas cards, extra blankets, or board games brought in when guests were visiting should all be returned to their homes.
The ski-slope method is ideal for this, using a folding laundry basket (such as the Joseph Joseph Laundry Basket from Wayfair) to quickly collect and rehome items without constant back-and-forth trips.
If you suffer from pain, injury, illness, or fatigue, decluttering with health challenges is still possible with adaptive pacing.
What to Shop
This set is designed for moving, but it is ideal for seasonal dinnerware that you only use for special occasions. It can be stored in plain sight if you are short of storage space, as it's so chic.
A pre-divided ornament case is ideal for preventing baubles breaking or scratching in storage.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has certified Attitude products as non-toxic, meaning they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial compounds.
The Damp Duster is great for allergy sufferers as it removes all dust, pollen, pet hair, and more. Better yet, it is easy to clean – simply rinse the sponge with water to remove dust and grime.
Microfiber cloths are machine washable, meaning you can reuse them for years with proper care. Simply wash after use on a warm water cycle and gentle detergent (skip the softener) to sanitize.
I can't live without my folding laundry basket. It is essential for tidying up my home quickly and methodically, but folds away to save space in my small home when not in use.
Meet the Expert
Whether you are short on time, energy, or motivation, we have compiled a list of the best decluttering methods to suit every room and occasion, perfect for tackling a big decluttering challenge in the new year.
