Professional Organizers Say You Should Get Rid Of These 7 Things In 2026
As one year rolls into the next, professional organizers aren’t thinking about trends. They’re thinking about making space for the new and ditching the things in our homes that make daily life harder without us noticing. Decluttering for 2026 isn’t about throwing everything out or starting over. It’s about letting go of items that no longer match how you actually live. These are the things organizers see weighing people down the most.
Decorative Items You Were Gifted
Gifts, inherited décor, or items tied to memories often stay on display in your home out of guilt. Organizers gently remind clients that appreciation for gifts and your friends doesn’t mean it has to have a permanent place in your house. If an item doesn’t bring comfort or joy when you see it, it may be time to store it away or let it go. Your home doesn’t need to carry reminders of every chapter of your life at once.
Clothes That Only Worked For A Past Version Of You
Closets are full of clothes tied to past jobs, old routines, or hopeful future plans. Organizers suggest asking one simple question: does this fit my life right now? Do I still wear this? If not, it’s taking up closet space without adding value to your life. Letting go of these items creates space for clothes that actually support your current lifestyle, not one you’re trying to return to or waiting for.
Hobby Supplies For Hobbies You’ve Quit
There’s nothing wrong with changing interests, but unfinished hobby supplies often linger out of guilt or the belief you’ll pick up the hobby again. Organizers often see these items weighing people down emotionally. If a hobby no longer fits your life or brings joy, releasing the supplies can feel surprisingly freeing. Donate them or give them to a friend. Someone else may be excited to use them. Letting go creates space for interests that fit who you are now.
“Just In Case” Containers Without A Purpose
That drawer of empty takeout containers, mismatched lids, and random jars feels responsible, but it often creates more clutter than convenience. Organizers say if you don’t have a specific use in mind for a container, it’s time to let them go. Keeping one or two sturdy containers is enough. The rest quietly take up space and mental energy every time you open a cabinet and can’t find what you actually need.
Old Christmas Cards
Stacks of Christmas cards often live in drawers, boxes, or bags for years. Organizers say most people keep them out of guilt, not nostalgia. If the message still means something, take a photo or put it in a scrapbook. Letting go of the rest doesn’t erase the memory. It simply frees space from seasonal clutter that no longer serves a purpose eleven months of the year.
Paperwork You’ve Already Digitized
Many people scan documents for safety, then keep the originals anyway. Organizers call this double clutter. Once paperwork is securely digitized and backed up, most of it no longer needs to take up physical space. Old appliance manuals, statements, and receipts often linger out of fear of the “what if”, not necessity. Getting rid of them frees drawers and reduces the stress that comes from stacks of paper you never touch.
Broken Or Damaged Ornaments You Keep “Just In Case”
Chipped, cracked, or missing-piece ornaments often get packed away year after year because we think we’ll deal with it next year. Organizers say these are some of the hardest items for people to let go of because of the memories attached to them. But broken ornaments rarely get repaired, and they often crowd out the ones you truly love. If it can’t be displayed without worry, it’s time to let it go. Memories don’t live in the ornament itself.
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Getting rid of things is all about aligning your lifestyle with who you are now. Professional organizers don’t want you to have an empty home. They want you to have a home that works. As you move into 2026, letting go of what no longer serves you makes room for ease, clarity, and comfort in the new year.
Bliss Donahue-Power
