Resetting After the Holidays: Organisation Advice for a Year of Calm and Order
The lead-up to Christmas is one of the most chaotic moments of the year. While it’s filled with festive joy, family time, and perhaps one too many baubles and bubbles, by the time January 1st arrives many of us are ready to crash — both physically and mentally.
The house feels fuller than usual, routines have slipped, and the quieter weeks ahead often have us spending far more time indoors. It’s precisely at this moment that the act of packing away Christmas decorations presents a unique opportunity: not just to tidy up, but to reset your home for the year ahead.
At The Organised Atelier, we see this mid-winter moment as a powerful (and often overlooked) window to gently clear clutter, restore order, and create spaces that feel calm, supportive, and easy to live in.
Start With the Festive Reset
Taking down Christmas decorations is often done quickly — boxes out, everything packed away, job done. But slowing this process down slightly can make all the difference.
As decorations come down, ask yourself:
Does this still feel relevant to how we live now?
Has it been used, loved, or missed this year?
Is it worth storing for another 11 months?
Be selective. Letting go of tired, broken, or unused festive items reduces what you store — and what you’ll need to manage next year. Fewer boxes, fewer decisions, less visual noise.
Edit What Accumulated Over the Holidays
The festive season has a way of bringing more into our homes — gifts, packaging, novelty items, extra kitchenware, toys, and well-intentioned purchases.
January is the ideal time to gently edit:
Toys and games that no longer hold interest
Kitchen items used once but not reached for again
Clothing that doesn’t suit your current lifestyle
Decorative pieces that feel more “seasonal clutter” than joy
This isn’t about being ruthless — it’s about creating breathing room.
Focus on the Spaces You’ll Use Most
Winter naturally draws us inward. We spend more time at home, often in the same key zones, which means these areas benefit most from a reset.
Consider starting with:
The kitchen — clearing surfaces and cupboards creates immediate calm
Living areas — reducing excess throws, cushions, and piles restores balance
Entryways — simple systems for coats, shoes, and bags set the tone every day
Small changes in these high-use spaces have a disproportionate impact on how the home feels.
Create Simple, Sustainable Systems
January organisation works best when it’s realistic. This is not the moment for overly complex systems or perfection.
Instead, aim for:
Clear categories
Easy-to-maintain storage
Homes for everyday items that make sense to how you actually live
If a system feels hard to maintain in winter, it won’t last long-term.
Let Calm, Not Perfection, Be the Goal
A mid-winter reset isn’t about transforming your home overnight. It’s about removing friction, reducing visual clutter, and creating spaces that support rest, focus, and daily life as routines resume.
When your surroundings feel calmer, it becomes easier to:
Ease back into structure
Feel more grounded at home
Start the year with intention rather than overwhelm
A Gentle Start to the Year Ahead
Clearing away Christmas is more than a seasonal task — it’s an invitation to reset. By letting go of what you no longer need and bringing order back into your home, you create space not just physically, but mentally as well.
Need help getting started, feeling inspired, or simply want support organising things before they’re stored away?
Get in touch to book a consultation and let us help you reset your home with calm and intention for the year ahead.
