School’s Out! 5 Smart Tips for a Calmer Summer
As a former teacher turned professional organizer, I believe the end of the school year is the perfect time for a household refresh. It’s a natural transition point—routines shift, new schedules are created, and kids come home with bags full of stuff. Rather than letting the chaos take over, this is your opportunity to reset and prepare your home for a calmer summer and smoother fall.
Let’s break it down by category: artwork, schoolwork, clothes, toys, and books.
As a former teacher turned professional organizer, I believe the end of the school year is the perfect time for a household refresh. It’s a natural transition point—routines shift, new schedules are created, and kids come home with bags full of stuff. Rather than letting the chaos take over, this is your opportunity to reset and prepare your home for a calmer summer and smoother fall.
Let’s break it down by category: artwork, schoolwork, clothes, toys, and books.
1. Artwork: Keep the Treasures, Let Go of the Clutter
The end of the year often brings a flood of finger paintings, dioramas, and glitter-covered masterpieces. While it’s all adorable, it’s just not practical—or necessary—to keep it all.
Sort with your child: Ask them to choose their favorite 5–10 pieces from the year. This helps them learn decision-making and gives you insight into what’s most meaningful to them.
Display with intention: Use frames, a rotating gallery wall, or a string with clips to highlight a few important creations.
Digitize the rest: Take photos of large or bulky items. There are apps like Artkive that can turn these into custom photo books—less clutter, same memories. Pro tip: Have your child hold the item in the photo!
Recycle guilt-free: It’s okay to let go of the extras. You’re not erasing the memory—you’re curating it.
2. Schoolwork: Create a Simple Archive System
Those folders full of spelling tests, math worksheets, and writing prompts can pile up fast. Here’s how to tackle it:
Quick Sort: Pull out anything with personal reflections, creative writing, or work that shows major progress. Recycle the rest.
Use a file bin or accordion folder: Have one per child and label one folder per school year. The size of the container and the files within act as your built-in boundary.
Digitize if you prefer: Scan or take photos of standout work and store it in a cloud folder by year.
3. Clothes: Declutter and Prepare for the Next Size Up
Kids grow fast—and often unpredictably. The end of the school year is a smart time to review their wardrobe.
Do a quick try-on session: Make it fun with music or a fashion show vibe.
Sort into three categories: Keep (fits now or will soon), Donate (good condition but outgrown), and Toss/Textile Recycling (worn out or stained). Pro Tip: Keep two bins in your child’s closet— one for outgrown and one for next size up. This makes it easy to keep on top of what fits and what doesn’t!
Make a summer list: Take note of what they need for summer—swimwear, sandals, shorts—and shop intentionally.
This also creates space for back-to-school clothes in a few months, without the clutter creeping in.
4. Toys: Less Is More for Summer Play
With more time at home during summer, kids often rediscover old favorites. But that’s hard to do when everything is jumbled and they’re overwhelmed.
Declutter by category: Sort toys into like groups—puzzles, building sets, dolls, etc.—and have your child help decide what to keep.
Use bins and labels: Clear containers with labels (or photos for younger kids) make cleanup easier and more likely to happen.
Rotate toys: Store half of their toys out of sight and swap them out mid-summer. It keeps things fresh without buying more. Pro Tip: Add a reminder on your calendar to do the switch!
5. Books: Make Room for Summer Reading
Books often get scattered across shelves, nightstands, and backpacks. Now’s a great time to refresh your home library.
Pull out anything too young or no longer interesting: Donate or pass along to friends or younger siblings.
Create a summer reading shelf or basket: Make books visible and accessible. A themed basket (beach reads, animal stories, graphic novels) adds excitement.
Visit the library together: Encourage reading by letting kids choose what excites them. Tie it into activities—books about nature before a hike, or cookbooks before making summer treats.
Final Thoughts
Organizing at the end of the school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it’s one of the best gifts you can give yourself—and your kids. It creates space (literally and mentally) for a slower, more intentional summer. And when fall rolls around, you’ll be steps ahead with systems already in place.
Start small. Pick one category, enlist your kids, and celebrate progress—not perfection. You’ve got this!
10 Thoughtful Questions to Help You Reduce Clutter
Have you started feeling the urge to purge your house this spring? As a professional organizer, I know that decluttering can feel overwhelming. You start with good intentions, but suddenly, you’re surrounded by old clothes, unread books, and sentimental keepsakes, unsure of what to keep and what to let go of. That’s where asking the right questions can make all the difference.
Have you started feeling the urge to purge your house this spring? As a professional organizer, I know that decluttering can feel overwhelming. You start with good intentions, but suddenly, you’re surrounded by old clothes, unread books, and sentimental keepsakes, unsure of what to keep and what to let go of. That’s where asking the right questions can make all the difference.
Decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of stuff—it’s about creating a space that supports your life and well-being. These 10 questions are what I use with my clients and they will help you make clear, confident decisions about what stays and what goes, so your home truly reflects what matters most to you.
1. Do I use this regularly?
One of the simplest ways to determine if an item belongs in your home is to ask whether you actually use it. If it’s something you reach for daily, weekly, or even seasonally, it probably has a place in your life. But if you haven’t used it in months (or years), it might be time to reconsider its presence.
2. Would I buy this again today?
Imagine you’re shopping right now—would you purchase this item again at full price? If the answer is no, that’s a strong indication that it’s not essential to your current life. This question helps cut through the emotional attachment and brings focus to the practicality of keeping something.
3. Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation?
Many of us hold onto gifts we don’t love, heirlooms that don’t fit our style, or items we spent a lot of money on but never use. Guilt and obligation are not good reasons to keep things. Your home should reflect what you love, not what you feel forced to keep. If an item carries more emotional weight than joy, consider letting it go.
4. Does this support the life I want to live?
Every item in your home should contribute to the lifestyle you desire. If you want a calm and clutter-free environment but are drowning in excess possessions, it’s time to align your belongings with your goals. If something doesn’t serve your current or aspirational lifestyle, it’s worth reevaluating.
5. Am I keeping this because I might need it “someday”?
“Someday” is a dangerous word in decluttering. It often leads to a pile of “just in case” items that never get used. Be honest—if you haven’t needed something in a year or more, chances are you won’t. If it’s something easily replaceable or can be borrowed, you probably don’t need to keep it.
6. Does this bring me joy or positive feelings?
Marie Kondo made this question famous for a reason. If an item brings happiness, beauty, or sentimental value, it deserves a place in your home. But if it sparks stress, frustration, or negative emotions, it’s time to part ways. Your surroundings should lift you up, not weigh you down.
7. Is this item taking up space I’d rather use for something else?
Every inch of your home is valuable real estate. Ask yourself if an item is worth the space it occupies. Could you use that shelf for something more meaningful? Could that overstuffed closet be a more functional space if it wasn’t jam-packed? If an item isn’t earning its keep, it might be time to free up that space.
8. Do I have multiples of this item?
It’s easy to accumulate duplicates—kitchen gadgets, black t-shirts, office supplies. If you have more than you realistically use, pick your favorite and donate or discard the extras. Reducing duplicates helps create space and makes it easier to find and appreciate what you have.
9. Could someone else benefit from this more than I do?
If you’re struggling to let go of something, think about who else might need it. That dress you never wear could be perfect for someone who truly needs it. That kitchen appliance collecting dust might bring joy to an avid cook. Donating or gifting items can make letting go easier and more fulfilling.
10. What’s the worst that could happen if I let this go?
Sometimes, we hold onto things out of fear—fear of missing them, fear of needing them, or fear of regretting our decision. But in most cases, if you declutter something and later realize you need it, you can replace it, borrow it, or live without it. More often than not, the freedom of a clutter-free space outweighs the unlikely scenario of regretting a single item.
Final Thoughts
Decluttering isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating a home that works for you. By asking these 10 questions, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and a greater sense of control over your space. Remember, the goal isn’t just to get rid of things—it’s to make room for what truly matters to you.
Happy decluttering!