The Autumn Reset: A Cozy Seasonal Decluttering Guide

September 29, 2026

I have a complicated relationship with fall.

There are so many things I love about it: changing leaves, flannel shirts, sweaters and scarves, pumpkin picking, football, hot apple cider, and all those wonderful fall smells. There’s something about seeing the L.L.Bean catalog show up that makes me want to put on a sweater and go find a pumpkin patch.

But after living in Seattle for about 20 years, fall also meant something else: the rain was coming.

And not a charming little afternoon shower. The kind of rain where you look at the forecast and there is a rain cloud every single day for the foreseeable future. The days get shorter. The house gets darker. Suddenly, you’re spending a lot more time indoors.

Which is exactly why I think fall is such a wonderful time to reset your home.

Our lives change with the seasons. The sandals get pushed aside for boots. We start cooking warmer meals. Blankets come back out. The garden slows down. Holiday plans start appearing on the calendar.

And our homes need to change a little, too.

I like to think of this as the Autumn Reset.

I’m not talking about a massive whole-house decluttering project or a weekend spent pulling every possession you own into a giant pile. Just a few small changes that make your home feel cozy, functional and ready for the season you’re actually entering.

Start With Your Closet

There is something genuinely exciting about pulling out your favorite sweaters for the first time.

But before you cram them into a closet that’s still full of summer clothes, take a few minutes to look at what you actually wore this summer.

Were there shorts you passed over every single time? Sandals that hurt your feet? A bathing suit you haven’t worn in three summers?

You don’t necessarily have to get rid of every summer item you didn’t wear, but this is useful information. Pay attention to what you consistently choose, and what you consistently avoid.

Then give your sweaters, jackets, boots and scarves some breathing room.

Reset the Entryway

Fall tends to bring more stuff by the door.

Jackets. Boots. Hats. Scarves. Dog leashes. Umbrellas. Bags.

Before all of that arrives, clear out whatever has accumulated there over the summer. Make sure the things you use most often have an easy place to land.

The goal isn’t to create a Pinterest-perfect entryway. It’s to make leaving the house on a chilly morning slightly less chaotic.

Take a Look at the Pantry

Fall makes me want to cook.

Soup! Chili! Roasted vegetables! Pumpkin everything! All of the things that sounded completely unappealing when it was 100 degrees outside suddenly sound wonderful.

Before stocking up on fall ingredients, spend 15 minutes looking through your pantry.

Pull out anything expired. Combine duplicates. Notice what needs to be used soon. Do the same thing with your freezer if you’re feeling ambitious.

You may discover that you already have half the ingredients for dinner.

Bring Out the Cozy Stuff

This is the fun part.

Wash the throw blankets. Pull out the heavier bedding. Find your candles. Bring out the mugs that somehow feel too autumnal to use in July.

But as you do, pay attention.

If you own twelve throw blankets and only love four of them, perhaps you don’t need twelve.

Seasonal transitions are wonderful decluttering opportunities because you’re handling these things anyway. You don’t have to create a separate organizing project.

Give the Garage a Quick Reset

If you live somewhere with brutally hot summers, fall may also be the first time in months that entering your garage doesn’t feel like walking directly into the sun.

Take advantage of it.

Put away summer gear. Evaluate gardening supplies. Hang up tools. Make room for whatever you’ll actually use this fall and winter.

You don’t have to organize the entire garage.

Even one cleared shelf counts.

Edit Your Holiday Decorations

As you pull out Halloween, Thanksgiving and eventually Christmas decorations, resist the urge to automatically put everything out.

Ask yourself:

Do I still actually like this?

Not Did I pay money for it?

Not Have I owned it since 2009?

Not Could I theoretically find somewhere to put it?

Do I like it?

Keep the things that make you happy when you rediscover them every year. Those are the decorations worth storing for the other eleven months.

Make Your Home Ready for the Life You’re About to Live

That’s really what seasonal organizing is about.

Your home isn’t static. It should change as your life changes.

Fall doesn’t require an enormous decluttering challenge or a trip to the Container Store. Sometimes it just means making room in the coat closet, clearing the kitchen counter, washing your favorite blanket and putting the apple cider on the stove.

Open the windows if it’s finally cool enough. Put on a football game. Light the fall candle. Pull on your favorite flannel.

Then spend 20 minutes making your home a little more comfortable for the season ahead.