While we often associate home cleaning and organization with the spring, winter is the perfect season for decluttering. Between the early sunsets and cold temperatures, we spend more time indoors, but keeping winter-related necessities accessible but clutter-free can be difficult. Now that the holidays are behind us, get a start on home organization, and give yourself more space to enjoy your home and the people around you. Here are our agents' winter decluttering tips.

• Winter Accessories
  No winter decluttering spree would be complete without sorting your cold-weather gear. To get started, put your accessories into categories. Think scarves, coats, jackets, hats, and gloves. Take note of the items you wear consistently and those you don't anticipate using. Practice discernment and get rid of any extra items that haven't been used. The same goes for summer clothes and linens. To ensure your winter accessories aren't disorganized, get large woven baskets, storage ottomans, and bins for scarves, hats, and gloves. For coats and jackets, add a line of coat hooks in your entryway or get a coat rack.
  
  
• Holiday Decorations and Accessories
  Before you box up and store your holiday paraphernalia, sort through it first. Holiday-themed dishes, lights, ornaments, gift wraps, décor, and knickknacks are only used for a few weeks, but they tend to accumulate quickly. Go through your collection and eliminate anything that has lost sentimental value or hasn't been used in the last couple of seasons. Use plastic storage boxes for your delicate ornaments and wind lights around boards to avoid tangles.
  
  
• Chasing Paper
  We are constantly bringing papers into the house, but sometimes we keep them longer than we have to. Now it's time to go through your records and get rid of anything that you don't really need for the future. Keep only the most important ones, but be sure to invest in a few binders or filing boxes so you don't have piles of papers. Tax season will be here before you know it, and you'll be happy to have your most needed items for taxes properly organized.
  
  
• Pantry and Fridge
  Organizing your refrigerator and pantry is especially helpful during the winter when you may be preparing more homemade meals. Forgotten and expired items often lurk in the backs of our pantries and refrigerators, but you might be surprised how much space these take up. If something is expired, toss it. If an item is not expired, but you know you won't eat it, consider donating it to a local food pantry. Clean out the shelves, group your remaining food into categories, and avoid filling every inch of your shelves to ensure easy access and visibility.
  
  
• Medicine Cabinets
  Colds and stomach bugs abound in winter, so this is a good time to organize your medicine cabinet. Sort through your supply and dispose of anything unused or past its prime. Separate daily medications from those you don't take daily. That way, you won't have to dig through a pile of bottles every time you have a headache or runny nose.
  
  
• Game and Movie Collection
  Winter is the perfect season for cozy movie nights and game nights. This also means it's time to look through your collection and evaluate which ones you actually use. Toss the ones you know have broken or missing pieces. Donate whatever your family has outgrown or those you haven't played in months.

If you're planning to sell your home, decluttering before the open house can help it appeal to more buyers and sell faster. Our agents at Watson Realty are here to help you prepare your home and add it to the list of Bakersfield homes for sale. To learn more or get started, contact us today.