4 Professional Organizers Reveal the First Thing They Tackle After the Holidays

Start your reset the way the pros do.

Person holding jars of food ingredients in a kitchen — Credit:
Daniel de la Hoz / Getty Images

When the last sugar cookie is devoured and the New Year confetti swept away, it’s officially time to redirect your focus to post-holiday organizing and a household reset. But with all the garland, baubles, and holiday dishes to put away (among other things), it’s tricky to know where to begin.

To help you kickstart the process, we asked four professional organizers about the first task they take on during this seasonal reset, and why these are smart areas to begin.

Meghan Cocchiaro, founder of Organized by Meg
Wendy Trunz, head organizer at Jane's Addiction Organization
Tatyana Dimitrova, organizing professional
Olivia Parks, lead organizer at My Professional Organizer Northshore

01 of 04

Taking Down All Holiday Décor

Taking down all your holiday décor feels a little bittersweet, but reframe it as a fresh, clean slate for the new year. You can even make it a tradition: Put on some music, pour yourself a cup of something nice, and slowly take the pieces down one by one. This is what professional organizer Meghan Cocchiaro, founder of Organized by Meg, does.

“I cannot start my new year doing anything before the holiday décor is taken down,” she says. “Its presence marks a time that has passed ... If they linger, it becomes clutter that is in my way mentally and physically.”

She adds that this is a great opportunity to do some holiday décor editing. Make donate and discard piles, and store what you're keeping in clearly labeled boxes so it's ready to go for next year.

02 of 04

Organizing the Kitchen

The kitchen remains a busy hub all year long, but the holidays really give this space a run. Wendy Trunz, head organizer at Jane's Addiction Organization, says this is the first thing she tackles after the holidays.

“I always organize the kitchen that ‘hosted’ the holidays by cleaning out the refrigerator and pantry,” Trunz says. “I throw out expired food and beverages, discard the bags of chips and snacks that are stale or half-eaten. I also donate food that is not expired, but that I know I will not use, to local food pantries, which really need to be restocked this time of year.”

Along with food items, take stock of any holiday serveware and dining pieces. If you haven’t used something in the past couple of years, you’ve most likely outgrown it. Consider this an opportunity to make space for something new that you’ll love using.

03 of 04

Resetting Living Spaces

The very first project organizing professional Tatyana Dimitrova tackles after the holidays is a full decluttering and reset of her main living areas. These are areas where the family gathers most, including the living room, kitchen, and entryway.

“I focus on these areas first because they tend to accumulate the most holiday items, from decorations to leftover packaging, and a cluttered communal space can immediately create a sense of chaos, even if the rest of the home is relatively tidy,” Dimitrova explains. “By addressing this first, I create a visible improvement that the whole household can feel, which sets a positive tone for the rest of the year.”

She adds that this project also provides momentum because it helps establish order as she clears surfaces, reorganizes storage, and reinitiates “normal” routines. It naturally reveals areas that need a deeper clean, so other tasks follow more easily.

04 of 04

Closet Cleanup

Another post-holiday task is assessing your closet. It’s mid-winter, so you already have a feel of what clothes you’re reaching for this season and what items can be donated. This is what Olivia Parks, lead organizer at My Professional Organizer Northshore, likes to tackle early on.

“I usually receive new clothes and accessories during the holidays, so it's a great time for me to reassess what I actually use and what I haven't grabbed for this past year. And if I haven't worn something all year, it's a clear sign to me that I should probably donate it,” she explains. “With my closet, I start small, choosing one category to go through first, so it's less overwhelming—for example, shoes or belts.”

Once she’s gone through all of the categories and decluttered anything that can be tossed or donated, she straightens up and organizes everything she’s keeping for a fresh reset.

4 Professional Organizers Reveal the First Thing They Tackle After the Holidays

Taking Down All Holiday Décor

Organizing the Kitchen

Resetting Living Spaces

Closet Cleanup

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