Summer has a habit of bringing half the great outdoors indoors and into our homes. Holiday bits, picnic gear and warm-weather essentials all have their moment, but they can be surprisingly bulky – and very good at sticking around long after the sunny plans have ended. Before you know it, they’re still taking up space well into Christmas.
The trouble is, once these things have been part of the furniture for a few months, we can stop noticing them. Your guests may have spotted that pile of beach bags by the door, though. A quick reset can make your home feel calmer and free up space for the things you actually use now.
Here are seven spots to check for leftover summer clutter and how to get each one back in order.
The car boot
Picnic blankets, fold-up chairs, beach toys, reusable bags and stray wrappers can quickly turn the car boot into a second storage cupboard of mass chaos. Take everything out and sort it into what needs washing, what belongs back in the house, what won’t be needed till next summer and what you won’t use ever again. Keep only a few genuinely useful car essentials in the boot, rather than letting every day-trip item live there indefinitely.
The freezer
Ice packs, ice lollies, frozen fruit and leftover BBQ food can get pushed to the back of the freezer, where they’re easy to forget (especially when covered in a blanket of freezer burn). Check what you have, label any unmarked leftovers and move older food to the front so it can be used up first. If there are items you still want to use, make a quick ‘use first’ list and plan them into meals or snacks.
The bathroom shelf or cabinet
The bathroom is littered with summer specific content that we, sadly, will no longer need. Sun cream, aftersun, insect repellent and travel-sized toiletries often stay out long after the holiday or heatwave that brought them in. Check the packaging and the condition of each product before deciding what to keep, as some may have passed their recommended period of use. Group the products you’ll still need together, and put everyday toiletries back in their usual place.
What to read next
The garden storage box or shed entrance
Naturally, the garden will need some attention to get it ready for winter, and a quick declutter will do it a world of good, both aesthetically and practically. Cushions, toys, watering cans and BBQ tools tend to collect near the door of a shed or in an outdoor storage box when they’re being used regularly. Bring in anything that needs protection from the colder, wetter weather and clean items before putting them away. Give frequently used garden tools a clear home so they don’t end up in another seasonal pile.
The hallway drop zone
The hallway in a busy household is always a clutter hot spot, but especially during seasonal change over. Make way for the winter coats and well boots of autumn by clearing the sun hats, sunglasses, tote bags, water bottles and summer shoes. Return anything that belongs elsewhere, then keep a small basket or a few hooks for the items you’re still using. Once you’re less likely to need them every day, put the rest away with your seasonal accessories.
The picnic and reusable-container cupboard
Picnic plates, flasks, lunch boxes and ice packs can leave kitchen cupboards muddled, especially if lids and containers have been put away separately. I think we can safely say picnic weather is soon to be a thing of mere memories, so it’s time to store them away. Match lids to their containers, recycle or discard any damaged pieces and stack the picnic items together. Store less-used pieces at the back or elsewhere, leaving the everyday kitchenware easy to reach.
The suitcase or ‘holiday bits’ corner
An unpacked suitcase can quickly become a holding place for laundry, travel adapters, beach bags and toiletries that never quite made it back to their usual homes. Empty it completely, checking the pockets and zipped compartments for stray chargers, receipts and half-used products, then put any laundry straight in the wash.
Return useful travel items to one pouch or drawer, so they’re easy to find next time, and store the suitcase somewhere out of the way. Recycle packaging and be honest about anything you brought home but are unlikely to use again – those tiny hotel toiletries can multiply surprisingly fast.
