Six Easy Things to Declutter in November

It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s grey. Welcome to November in the Pacific Northwest! This month presents the perfect opportunity to declutter your home before the busy December holidays. With Thanksgiving around the corner and winter festivities approaching, now is the time to streamline your space for a more peaceful and organized environment. Here’s a guide on what to declutter this November.

1. Seasonal Decor

As you transition from fall to winter decorations, take a moment to evaluate your current stash of decorative items.

What to Declutter:

  • Outdated or damaged items
  • Decorations that no longer resonate with your style
  • Duplicates (like multiple pumpkin decorations)

How to Let Go: Donate or sell items that are in good condition. This way, they can bring joy to someone else’s home. I give a lot away on my local Facebook Buy Nothing group—here is our guide on how to donate or give away things online.

2. Clothing and Accessories

With the changes in temperature, it’s essential to assess your wardrobe, as well as your partner’s and kids’.

What to Declutter:

  • Clothes that no longer fit or are worn out
  • Items you haven’t worn in the past year
  • Seasonal accessories that you don’t plan to use anymore (like summer hats, old sports uniforms, or outgrown swimsuits)

How to Let Go: Consider hosting a clothing swap with friends or donating to local charities.

3. Kitchenware

As you prepare for holiday cooking and entertaining, it’s a great time to assess what you are really using and what you aren’t. If you have not used something in at least a year, you can probably live without it.

What to Declutter:

  • Duplicate utensils or gadgets
  • Expired food items in your pantry or fridge (Toss out for food safety reasons.)
  • Cookware, bakeware, utensils, gadgets, or small appliances you rarely use

How to Let Go: Ask your circle of people if they want any of these items, then donate the rest.

4. Books and Magazines

November is a great time to cozy up with a good book, but it’s also a chance to lighten your shelves.

What to Declutter:

  • Books you’ve already read and don’t plan to revisit
  • Magazines that are outdated or collecting dust
  • Textbooks or manuals that are no longer relevant

How to Let Go: Donate to your local library or community “mini library”. We have a thorough guide on How to Pare Down Your Books.

5. Toys and Games

With the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time to go through your kiddos’ stuff. It will create more space for all the new items they’ll be receiving.

What to Declutter:

  • Toys that are broken, missing pieces, or no longer played with
  • Duplicates or items that don’t fit in the play area
  • Seasonal toys that can be stored away

How to Let Go: Host a toy drive or donate to local charities. Engage your children in the process to teach them about sharing. If your child has a really tough time letting go of things but forgets about these items pretty quickly, move these to a box in your trunk when they’re asleep.

6. Bathroom Supplies

Your bathroom can often become a catch-all for expired or unused items. Go through the medicine cabinet, drawers, and under-sink cabinet.

What to Declutter:

How to Let Go: Safely dispose of expired medications and donate unopened products to shelters or community organizations.

Final Thoughts

November is not just a time for gratitude and gathering—it’s also an opportunity to create a more functional, organized, and serene home. By decluttering now, you can make room for the holiday spirit and enjoy a more inviting, pleasant environment. Take small steps, and remember that every item you let go of creates space for new memories and experiences. Happy decluttering!

SHARE THIS:

Get a FREE In-home or Virtual Consultation

Need help from our professional organizers in the Seattle and Eastside areas? Schedule your FREE consultation with one of our experts today!