Rosie on the House: Welcoming 2026 with a fresh, clutter-free home

New year, new room

Conner said the most popular rooms for a revamp are the master areas or the kitchen. It really depends on if the family does a lot of cooking – then, the kitchen is the place to start.

“I like to start with the master areas and clear the clutter to create an oasis for the family. Sometimes, the master area becomes a dumping zone for the rest of the house (especially the woman’s closet), so I always try to get a workspace (if possible) out of the bedroom to eliminate some of the chaos,” Conner said.

Tackle one space at a time

Instead of trying to overhaul your entire home in one weekend, focus on one area at a time. High-traffic spaces like entryways and living rooms are great places to start, as they tend to collect clutter quickly and impact daily flow. Working in smaller zones helps keep the process manageable and allows you to see progress faster, which can also be used as motivation!

“The process is the same whether it is a junk drawer or a garage — everything has to come out of the space, get sorted and get purged to get down to what the clients loves and needs,” Conner said. “Then it's put back and assigned a home.”

She mentioned a helpful acronym for organizing: SPACE, which means sort, purge, assign a home, containerize, and then equalize. When it comes to a busy room, like a closet that’s become a catch-all for clothes, décor, holiday items and more, the first thing to keep in mind is ‘is the original structure sufficient for a reorganization?’

“I always recommend that a closet company comes in to utilize the space,” Conner said. “This includes increasing the height and understanding how they use the space and what they own.”

Create smart storage solutions

Once you’ve edited down your belongings, it’s time to organize what remains. Storage solutions don’t have to be complicated or expensive to be effective. Clear bins, labeled baskets, and drawer dividers make it easier to find what you need and put items back where they belong. Vertical storage, such as shelving or over-the-door organizers, can be especially helpful in smaller homes or apartments, maximizing space without adding visual clutter.

“Bookshelves or a cube system are good alternatives to shelves. It is imperative that the vertical space is utilized because you can’t always go out,” Conner said.

Build systems that work for your lifestyle

The key to long-term organization is creating systems you can realistically maintain. A small drop zone near the front door for keys, bags, and mail can prevent clutter from spreading throughout the house. In the kitchen, grouping items by function — baking supplies, cookware, snacks — streamlines daily routines and reduces frustration. The goal isn’t perfection, but consistency and ease.

“Sometimes the clients get overwhelmed. I hear that every day they just shut the door because they don’t even know where to start,” Conner said. When you follow a system, there is a wonderful outcome. The goal is to get rid of items the client does not love or need.”

Keeping your home organized doesn’t require constant effort. Simple habits, like a five-minute nightly tidy or a weekly reset, can make a big difference over time. Seasonal check-ins are also helpful for reassessing what you use, what you can donate, and what may need a better storage solution. These small routines ensure your space continues to support your lifestyle all year long. Learn more at rosieonthehouse.com or getorganizedwithbridges.com.