TL;DR
A Veranda report published ahead of the 2026 holiday season lists 12 categories of household items that professional organizers and designers recommend sorting out. Their advice is to focus on guest-facing rooms and everyday clutter, not attempt a whole-home purge, and donate usable items where appropriate.
Professional organizers and designers are advising households to clear 12 categories of clutter before the 2026 holiday season, according to a Veranda report. The recommendations focus on spaces guests may use—including entryways, kitchens and guest rooms—and on making room for seasonal items without attempting a whole-home purge.
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The list includes excess decorative accessories, piles of old magazines and books, coats and boots that no one wears, worn winter hats and gloves, and gift-wrap supplies that are damaged or unlikely to be used. It also covers worn-out towels and sheets, items stored in an overfilled guest room, and food-storage containers that are stained, damaged or missing matching lids.
The remaining categories are old candles and overpowering home fragrances, unused or outdated kitchen items, and other belongings that no longer serve the household’s needs. The report’s advice is to take inventory before shopping for more supplies, keep usable items organized, and remove only what is no longer functional or wanted. The supplied source excerpt ends partway through the section on candles and fragrances, so it does not provide the full wording or all details for every item on its stated 12-item list.
Several experts recommend working in short sessions rather than taking on every room. Kerrie Kelly suggests spending 20 or 30 minutes per space and concentrating on what can be donated, discarded or relocated. Ann Lightfoot says donation centers, coat drives and shelters need gently used belongings during the season; she also advises checking with animal shelters before donating old linens.
Making Room for Holiday Guests
The advice addresses a practical seasonal problem: households often bring in food, decorations, gifts and visitors at the same time, putting pressure on storage and shared rooms. Clearing a few high-use areas can make it easier to use entry closets, prepare food, store leftovers and host overnight guests, according to the experts quoted in Veranda.
The recommendations also distinguish between clutter and meaningful belongings. Kelly cautions against discarding items simply because they are old or mismatched, noting that family china, inherited linens, collected ornaments and other personal objects can contribute to a home’s character. The aim, she says, is to make space for gatherings without removing items that matter to the household.
Donation is another stated reason to sort belongings before the holiday rush. Lightfoot points to the seasonal need for coats and other gently used goods. However, donation options vary by organization, and households should check what local centers or shelters accept before dropping items off.
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A Short, Targeted Decluttering Plan
The report frames the work as a limited pre-holiday reset, not a full reorganization project. Amelia Meena, owner of Appleshine, Organization + Design, recommends one or two rounds of decluttering before the busy period begins and says people should focus on what they can finish rather than worry about everything left undone.
Kelly’s suggested areas are the entry, living room, dining room, kitchen, powder room and guest bedroom—places visitors are likely to encounter or use. Lightfoot, cofounder of DDH Home Organizing & Move Management, similarly highlights the entry closet and guest room, where coats, shoes and temporary storage can quickly crowd out their intended uses.
The report also urges people to consider how they actually use their possessions. For example, Kinsella advises checking which hats, scarves and gloves household members reach for, rather than keeping every item by default. For gift wrap, she recommends gathering usable supplies in one designated place before buying more.
“I like to think of it as making room for the experience rather than simply getting rid of things.”
— Kerrie Kelly, CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio
The Full List Needs Verification
The supplied source material is an incomplete excerpt: it cuts off during the discussion of old candles and home fragrances, before the remaining article text appears. Although the headline promises 12 items, the excerpt does not fully identify or explain all 12 categories. The article’s complete list and any additional expert guidance cannot be confirmed from the material provided.
The recommendations are expert advice, not a formal standard, and the source does not report a survey, study or measured outcomes. It also does not specify which donation centers accept particular goods, how local needs differ, or whether every item described as worn or unwanted is suitable for donation or recycling.
Sort Rooms Before the Rush
The immediate next step in the report’s advice is to choose a few guest-facing or frequently used spaces and set aside 20 to 30 minutes per room. Households can separate items to keep, relocate, discard or donate, then check local donation guidelines before giving belongings away. For linens, Lightfoot specifically suggests contacting animal shelters to ask whether they can use them.
The source does not announce a follow-up report, event or deadline. Its recommendations are presented as actions readers can take before holiday hosting and seasonal shopping increase the demands on household space.
Key Questions
What is the report about?
Veranda summarizes advice from organizers and designers on household clutter to address before the 2026 holiday season, with an emphasis on spaces used by residents and guests.
Which areas should people prioritize?
Kerrie Kelly names the entry, living room, dining room, kitchen, powder room and guest bedroom as spaces to consider because guests are likely to see or use them.
Does the advice recommend a whole-house purge?
No. The report recommends a short, targeted effort rather than taking on every room. Amelia Meena advises doing what is manageable before the busy season.
What items might be donated?
The experts point to gently used coats and other usable belongings as possible donations. Lightfoot says to check with animal shelters before offering old towels or sheets, since organizations may have different needs and acceptance rules.
Does the supplied source confirm all 12 items?
No. The provided excerpt stops partway through the section on candles and home fragrances, so it does not show the full list or the complete advice for every category.
Source: veranda.com
