10 Things I Decluttered at the End of the Year (That Might Spark Your Own Edit)

Dec 30

As a Seattle-based home organizer and KonMari Consultant, I always find the end of the year to be the perfect time to reset. With short daylight hours and Seattle’s signature drizzle keeping me indoors, I become a full-blown homebody. And now, with a baby on the way, I’ve been extra motivated to make sure our space feels calm, functional, and ready to support this next season of life.

Inspired by my friend Lisbet of Get So Organized, I wanted to share 10 very real, very specific things I let go of this month. Maybe they’ll spark something for you too:

1. A purse I bought recently and instantly regretted

It had one job: look good with a specific outfit. And maybe it did… but the feel was off and the closing mechanism drove me nuts. I kept it out of guilt, but it never earned its keep. Out it goes.

2. Half my stash of office supplies

Turns out I’m not going through highlighters at the rate I did in college. I had over 40, and still use the same one from years ago. I also let go of backup erasers, lead refills, and more—donated to a local Seattle elementary school where they’ll actually be used.

3. A well-loved but worn-out pair of athletic shoes

I loved them so much I wore a hole through the toe. The soles were toast. I replaced them with the same model (on sale!), knowing they’d get just as much wear.

4. A second pair of blue-light glasses

I had two, but always reached for the same pair. The other just sat on my desk collecting dust. Gone.

5. An under-sink shelf I always hated

Marketed years ago as the "right" way to organize under the sink, but it never worked for our setup. The dimensions were awkward, and I ended up with less usable space. Removing it gave me instant breathing room.

6. A couple of old computer science textbooks

These were holdovers from my tech career. I thought I might reference them or felt like I "should" keep them. But they only reminded me of a past version of myself I’m no longer trying to be. I donated them to someone who will actually use them.

7. Extra linens and towels from my old Airbnb hosting days

I hosted with pride (five stars!), but that season’s over. We don’t need five backup sheet sets anymore, and the linen closet was craving some space.

8. A growing stash of partial paint cans

Despite a previous purge, they’d crept back in. I pared them down to the ones we actually use for touch-ups and brought the rest to my local hardware store (Tweedy Pop in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood) for eco-friendly disposal.

9. Big-dog gear from my late golden retriever, Cooper

Cooper was 85 pounds of love. Phoebe, our current pup, is 32 pounds and only plays with rubber toys. I’d been storing his gear for 5 years. It felt right to finally donate the collars, bowls, and stuffed toys to a local animal shelter.

10. My ultra-wide desktop monitor

It was great when I worked in code all day, but now it just overwhelmed my smaller desk. I sold it and replaced it with a monitor that fits my new space—and my current life.

BONUS #11: Holiday decor I didn’t use this year

As I packed up this season’s decorations, I paid attention to what actually got used. If it felt like a burden to display or store, I let it go. A gentle edit now means a lighter lift next year.

Feeling inspired to do your own end-of-year edit? Start with one drawer, one shelf, one pile.

If you’re in the Seattle area and want support in making your home feel lighter and more aligned with your current life, I’d love to help. Contact me here!

Wishing you a cozy and joyful start to the new year!

— Kari

Refine Organizing | Seattle Home Organizer & KonMari Consultant

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Kari Lonczak