Autumn Organizing: Prepare Your Home for Cosy Season

I love a seasonal reset!

I promise I won’t pull you into my level of madness (I start prepping for Christmas around September) but I will give you my top tips to prepare for a cosy autumn.

TIP #1

Wardrobe Reset

While there is always a crossover with seasonal weather in the UK, I like to be prepared for the most likely event. I am someone who has limited wardrobe space (or maybe too many clothes, depending on your view) so I tend to keep my Autumn/Winter collection in vacuum packed storage throughout the Spring/Summer season and vice versa.

During each seasonal changeover is a good time to take stock of what you actually wear. Where possible, I like to hang items in the wardrobe so when the new season is brought out of storage I hang everything up but with the hook of the hanger facing the wrong way. When an item is worn, washed and hung back up, it goes the right way. Anything still left hanging the wrong way when the seasonal switch is upon me gets donated or binned.

TIP #2

Kitchen Cupboards

Do you ever buy that one obscure ingredient for that one new recipe you wanted to try and then never find a use for that ingredient again?

Guilty.

Most consumable items, once opened, have a short shelf life. While they might not be dangerous to consume (Google ‘use by’ vs ‘best before’ dates) they also might not be their tastiest anymore. Declutter your food cupboards by throwing out any expired items. Unopened and still in date but you know you’re not going to use it? Donate to a friend or foodbank.

TIP #3

Bathroom

Did you know that makeup and toiletries also have expiry dates? They are usually much longer than most food products, most often 6-12 months from the time of opening. Again, they don’t become dangerous (although certain products can get a build-up of bacteria), rather they deteriorate and become ineffective. I make a habit of using a Sharpie to write the date of opening on most of my products. This will also help you to weed out the products you’re not using, reminding you to not buy them again in the future. Unused items can often be donated at allocated locations and even used products can be recycled (check your local area).

TIP #4

Bedroom

This is a good time to evaluate the state of your bedding. Every season I like to strip my bed and pillows of all their protectors and give them a good wash. I’ll sprinkle the mattress with bicarbonate soda and vacuum it off before going over it with the steamer. This helps to keep things fresh and hygienic. If you have washable pillows, wash them. Same with the duvet. Personally, I like to keep a low tog duvet all year round but I’ll add some cosy blankets over the top in the colder months. A lot of my clients use paired duvets (usually a 4.5 tog and a 9.5 tog that will button together) so I’ll always make sure the extra one is washed and dried before swapping over or adding in.

TIP #5

Blow away the cobwebs

Everyone has heard of a Spring Clean and although an Autumn Clean doesn’t sound so catchy, I still find it necessary. During the summer I have the windows and doors open all the time. This can mean letting in extra dust and pollen that may settle in unseen places. Take this time to vacuum soft furnishings (curtains and sofas), get underneath any furniture that doesn’t get moved often (if at all), and don’t forget on top of cupboards too.