New Year, New Home: The Ultimate Decluttering Guide for New Year’s Movers

Welcome to White & Company’s Ultimate Decluttering Guide for New Year’s Movers

Moving to a new home in 2026?

There’s something about a new year that makes us itch for a fresh start. And if you’re planning a house move, that fresh start begins long before the removal van turns the corner onto your street.

Decluttering isn’t just a nice idea, it’s your secret weapon for a smoother, cheaper and far less chaotic move.

By cutting down on the excess now, you’ll reduce packing time, streamline your inventory, and avoid paying to move items you no longer want or need.

More importantly, it clears your head and helps you picture life in your new space with greater clarity.

In this guide, we’ll walk through genuinely helpful ways to tidy, trim, and transform your home ahead of moving day, setting you up for a confident leap into 2026 and beyond.

1. Why Decluttering Matters Before a Move

A lighter load means fewer boxes and lower transport costs. Decluttering now sets the tone for a fresh start in your new home.

Before diving into boxes and bubble wrap, it’s worth appreciating why a decluttered home sets the tone for everything that follows.

Many of us relocate only a few times in our lives, so moving house is one of those rare moments when all your belongings are up for review.

Every cupboard and drawer will be opened anyway, so this is the perfect opportunity to get honest about what’s worth keeping and, more importantly, what is not.

A lighter load means fewer removal crates, lower transport costs, and a relocation team that can get to work more efficiently.

It also speeds up the unpacking phase because you’re not wrestling with belongings that should have been retired years ago, a particular point if you are downsizing.

Many homeowners don’t realise how much clutter sneaks into daily life until moving forces it into the open.

Turning that moment into a smart, intentional reset is both empowering and surprisingly rewarding.

2. Start with the “Invisible Stuff”: Cupboards, Drawers & Lofts

Don’t start with furniture. Tackle lofts, understairs cupboards, and drawers first to clear the hidden “just in case” items.

Most people jump straight to big items like furniture when decluttering, but the real progress happens where clutter hides.

Storage spaces such as lofts, understairs cupboards and utility drawers quietly fill with forgotten “just in case” items.

Tackle these zones first, and you’ll instantly feel lighter. Start by emptying one cupboard at a time and grouping things into Keep, Donate, Sell and Recycle piles.

This prevents overwhelm and keeps decisions manageable.

For items in good condition, consider listing them on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or donating to charities like Sue Ryder or your local Salvation Army.

Clearing out storage areas early also gives your removal team a clearer picture of what they’re working with, helping them plan packing and transport much more efficiently.

3. Decluttering Room-by-Room Without Losing Your Mind

Avoid overwhelm by breaking the job down. Be ruthless in the kitchen and wardrobe—if you wouldn’t buy it today, don’t move it.

Trying to declutter the whole house in one marathon session is a recipe for frustration. A smarter approach is breaking it down space by space.

Bedrooms often reveal forgotten clothing, impulse purchases, and half-used toiletries.

Kitchens are notorious for duplicates, three tin openers, anyone? Not to mention all those expired cupboard staples.

Living rooms collect books, DVDs and decorative pieces that may no longer suit your taste or your new home.

Give yourself permission to be ruthless. Ask: Would I buy this again today? If the answer is no, it doesn’t need to follow you to your next address.

Room-by-room decluttering also makes packing simpler because you’re effectively pre-sorting everything into logical zones.

By the time moving day arrives, each room is already streamlined, making it much easier for your movers to navigate.

4. Digital Decluttering: The Forgotten Pre-Move Task

Scan essential documents and back up your files now to ensure important paperwork is safe during the move.

While most people focus on physical items, digital clutter also has a tendency to cause chaos during a move.

Think about it, old utility statements, insurance paperwork, screenshots of broken appliances, and years of unorganised photos eat up space and mental bandwidth.

Take an hour to scan essential documents using apps like Camcard or Adobe and back everything up securely to Google Drive or Dropbox.

Clear out outdated files, unsubscribe from irrelevant mailing lists, and tidy up important digital info you’ll need after settling in, such as council tax accounts, home insurance details, and service provider contracts.

Getting your digital life in shape means fewer headaches when you update addresses and ensures important documents are easy to find at your new property.

5. How to Keep Momentum When You’d Rather Not Declutter at All

Use the “one-in, two-out” rule and visualise your new, tidy home to keep your motivation high during the sorting process.

Life is busy, even with the best intentions, but decluttering can feel tedious.

The trick is to create momentum without forcing yourself into an all-day slog.

Try setting a timer for 10–15 minutes and blitz one drawer. Play your favourite playlist. Reward yourself after finishing a room.

You can also adopt the “one-in, two-out” rule in the weeks before the move: for every item you buy, two older items must go.

Another motivator is picturing your new home exactly as you want it: clean, organised, and uncluttered. That mental image alone can push you through the trickier decisions.

And remember, you’re not aiming for perfection. You’re simply creating breathing space, so you arrive in your new home with intention rather than baggage.

Why You Should Choose White & Company for Your Move

Once your home is organised and you have a move date in mind, you’ll want to hire a removals team that matches your energy; calm, prepared and professional from start to finish.

White & Company have been handling moves across the UK and overseas for well over 150 years, combining modern expertise with genuine, old-school reliability.

Our trained crews, secure packing services and fleet of purpose-built vehicles take the strain out of moving day, giving you the freedom to focus on settling into your new surroundings.

Whether you’re relocating locally or making a long-distance leap, they’ll treat your belongings with the care they deserve.

Looking to store some of your belongings for a while? We have you covered here, too.

Each of our depots up and down the country offers storage facilities and reasonably prices for your convenience.

Don’t delay, give us a call today. After all the effort you’ve put into decluttering, partnering with a trusted mover ensures the final stage of your journey is every bit as smooth as the fresh start you’re aiming for.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.