16 Clutter Culprits Pro Organizers Toss Before Summer And You Should Too
Summer is approaching, and it’s the perfect time to declutter your living space. Professional organizers know that removing certain items before the warmer months arrive can make your home feel lighter, brighter, and more welcoming.
Ready to transform your space? Here are sixteen items professional organizers recommend tossing before summer arrives.
1. Dust-Collecting Decorative Knick-Knacks
Ever notice how those little ceramic figurines seem to multiply overnight? Small decorative items that serve no purpose beyond collecting dust are prime candidates for removal.
Consider keeping only pieces that truly spark joy or have significant sentimental value. Your cleaning routine will become significantly easier, and your shelves will suddenly look intentional rather than overcrowded.
2. Faded or Outdated Throw Pillows
Remember when you bought those vibrant pillows that perfectly matched your living room? Now they’re faded, flattened, and frankly, a bit sad-looking.
Swapping tired throw pillows for fresh options instantly updates your space. Look for washable covers in summery colors or patterns that can be easily changed with the seasons, giving your room an instant refresh without major expense.
3. Worn or Stained Area Rugs
Walking across a threadbare rug every day? That matted, stained floor covering has served its purpose admirably, but summer calls for something fresh underfoot.
Area rugs endure tremendous wear and tear, especially in high-traffic zones. Replacing a dingy rug with something lighter and brighter creates an immediate visual upgrade to any room while removing hidden allergens that have accumulated over time.
4. Broken or Unused Lamps and Light Fixtures
Lurking in corners are those lamps you keep meaning to fix. Maybe the shade is torn, the base is wobbly, or it simply doesn’t work anymore.
Summer brings extended daylight hours, making this the ideal time to assess your lighting needs. Donate working lamps that don’t suit your style and recycle broken ones that have been gathering dust in your “someday I’ll fix it” collection.
5. Excess Picture Frames Without Photos
Admit it – you’ve got a stash of empty frames tucked away somewhere. Perhaps they were impulse purchases or frames whose photos you removed with intentions to update.
Empty frames create visual clutter and unfulfilled potential. Keep only the quantity you realistically need, and fill remaining frames with meaningful images. For the extras, consider donating to schools for art projects or thrift stores.
6. Outdated Wall Art That No Longer Fits Your Style
Looking at that poster you bought in college still hanging in your hallway? Art that once spoke to you but now feels disconnected from your current aesthetic creates visual discord.
Summer’s brightness offers the perfect backdrop for refreshing your walls. Rather go with a gallery wall of pieces you truly love, or leave some walls intentionally bare to create a sense of spaciousness and light that complements the season.
7. Stacked, Unread Coffee Table Books
How many coffee table books do you actually open? Those impressive architecture tomes and fashion retrospectives often serve as dust collectors rather than sources of inspiration.
Keep only the books you truly enjoy revisiting—quality over quantity makes shelves feel intentional, not cluttered. Swap in seasonal favorites now and then to refresh the vibe. Pass along the rest to libraries or schools where they’ll become meaningful reads instead of forgotten dust collectors.
8. Unused Vases and Planters
Open your cabinet and count how many flower vases you own. Shocked? Most households accumulate far more vessels than they’ll ever use simultaneously.
Keep a thoughtful selection of different sizes and styles that suit your aesthetic. Summer is the perfect season for fresh flowers, so select vases you truly love. Donate extras to flower shops or schools that can repurpose them.
9. Mismatched or Chipped Dishware on Display
Peeking inside your glass-front cabinets reveals a hodgepodge of plates and glasses accumulated over years. Chipped mugs and mismatched serving pieces create visual chaos even when neatly arranged.
Summer entertaining calls for cohesive table settings. Keep your favorites and release the rest.
10. Old or Tattered Curtains and Drapes
Squinting at your windows reveals sun-faded, dusty curtains that have hung there since… when exactly? Fabric window treatments absorb cooking odors, dust, and pet hair while slowly discoloring from sun exposure.
Summer sunshine deserves to stream through fresh window dressings. Go with lightweight options that allow natural light to flood your space while providing privacy. Your room will instantly feel updated and seasonally appropriate.
11. Expired or Empty Scented Candles
Scattered throughout your home are candles with barely-there wicks or no scent left at all. Perhaps you’ve been saving that special seasonal candle, but its fragrance has long since evaporated.
Candles don’t improve with age – their scents fade and waxes can become discolored. Replace winter’s heavy fragrances with light, fresh summer scents. Recycle glass containers from spent candles for small storage or plant propagation.
12. Outdated Seasonal Decor You Never Rotate In
Buried in storage bins are holiday decorations you haven’t displayed in years. Maybe they’re showing their age or no longer match your aesthetic – yet they continue occupying valuable storage space.
Summer is ideal for assessing seasonal items before year-end holidays approach. Be ruthlessly honest about what you’ll actually use. Children’s schools and community centers often welcome donated decorations for their seasonal events.
13. Extra Furniture That Clutters the Flow
Navigating around that extra side table or unused ottoman has become second nature. Surplus furniture pieces interrupt natural movement patterns and make rooms feel smaller than they actually are.
Summer living calls for open, breezy spaces. Temporarily storing or permanently removing pieces that impede flow can make rooms feel significantly larger—just right for the indoor-outdoor lifestyle the season inspires.
14. Unused Decorative Trays and Bowls
Stashed in cupboards are decorative vessels you received as gifts or purchased on vacation. While beautiful, they rarely see the light of day yet continue consuming valuable storage space.
Decorative bowls and trays should earn their keep through regular use. Select a few favorites for displaying summer fruits or corralling everyday items. Pass the extras to friends who might appreciate them or donate to organizations helping people establish new homes.
15. Worn Throw Blankets Piling Up
Cozy winter evenings required plenty of throw blankets, but now they’re occupying valuable closet space or draped permanently over furniture. Many have seen better days, with pills, tears, or faded colors.
Keep only your favorites in good condition. Animal shelters often welcome old blankets for furry residents, giving worn textiles a purposeful second life while clearing space for summer-weight throws in fresh colors.
16. Unnecessary Storage Baskets That Collect Dust
Around your home sit empty decorative baskets or ones filled with random items you rarely access. Originally purchased as organizing solutions, they’ve become dust-collecting problems instead.
Assess whether each basket truly serves a purpose or just creates visual noise. Quality baskets in good condition can be donated to schools for classroom organization or thrift stores where budget-conscious decorators will appreciate them.
