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It’s a myth that all-encompassing cleaning and organizing is reserved for a single season per year. Oftentimes, if you want your home to feel fresh, inviting, and as easy on the eyes as it is on the mind, regular curating is required. “Editing a home doesn’t mean stripping away its personality—in fact, it usually allows the pieces you love to stand out,” says principal designer Deborah Jeanne of Jeanne Renee Fine Interiors.
Because rummaging through displayed and stored home decor can sometimes be overwhelming, it helps to know where to start. Instead of approaching the task solely from a professional organizer’s perspective, however, we decided to go straight to the designers.
“Summer always makes me want a home that feels lighter and a little more relaxed,” Jeanne says. “We’re opening the windows, having people over, and spending more time outside, so it’s a natural moment to step back and notice what might be making a space feel heavy, cluttered, or just a bit tired.” She adds, “Even removing a handful of things can instantly give a room some breathing room without needing to overhaul everything.”
As for what to donate or toss? Five designers share their best suggestions below.
Tired, Saggy, Half-Filled Pillows
Whether for sleep or aesthetics, tired, saggy, half-filled pillows need to go, Bishop Studio founding principal Jennie Bishop says. “It’s time to replace them—they don’t support your head, nor do they look good on your bed,” she explains.
The Pillows That Came With Your Sofa
Leah Hook, founder and principal designer of Gray Oak Studio, says the pillows that came with your sofa can go into the donation pile, too. “Please throw the pillows that came with your sofa away,” she begs. “You can keep the insert, but the matching pillowcase needs to be recycled or tossed. A sofa with an eclectic collection of patterned, textural pillows is instantly elevated. A sofa with matching factory pillows feels outdated.”
Matching Furniture Sets
Once upon a time, matching furniture sets were considered smart, streamlined, and a surefire way to make a room look cohesive. Now, they’re considered a rookie design mistake. "A complete matching bedroom or living room can make a home feel more like a showroom than a collected interior,” Jeanne says. “Everything does not have to match. The most interesting rooms feel collected over time, not purchased all at once."
Sarah Moore, founder and principal designer of Sarah Catherine Design, seconds that. “I know it’s easy to buy matching furniture sets, but try adding complementary furnishings, rather than true matching sets,” she says. “This will make your home feel so much more thoughtful and collected.”
Bleached, Whitewashed, or Grayed Wood
Another note on furniture? Discard any bleached, whitewashed, or grayed wood to make room for striking natural grains. “Let wood be in its natural state,” Hook says. “Overworked finishes that remove the grain and tone variation of wood are over.”
Blankets Covering Your Sofa
Blankets are meant to be used for a specific purpose: to add comfort and warmth. While it’s standard to toss a throw over your sofa to add texture and functionality, Bishop says to ditch full-coverage displays. “We understand pets, but blankets covering your entire sofa is the equivalent of plastic on our grandmothers’ divans,” she points out.
Jeanne agrees on streamlining your blanket collection, but for a different reason. “Summer is a perfect time to tuck away heavier throws and edit a few pillows,” she says. “The room will instantly feel lighter, cooler, and a little more relaxed.”
The Everyday Tablecloth
The way Bishop sees it, full-coverage textiles should be nixed almost entirely. Another place to reconsider them? The table. “Tablecloth covering your new, beautiful dining table [needs to go],” she says. “A table is made to be used, seen, and patinated; you may have a beautiful tablecloth, but not [for] all day every day.”
Faux Florals and Plants
Faux florals and greenery have become so commonplace today that shockingly realistic sprigs and blooms are seen everywhere, from homes and restaurants to high-end event venues. Designers across the board advise against them, though. “Summer is the perfect time to bring in fresh flowers from the yard, or if your yard isn’t cooperating, perhaps your neighbor’s is,” Jeanne says.
Moore expands on the faux floral departure. “I understand that we may not all have a green thumb or the perfect conditions in our homes for live plants, such as natural light, but it’s time to ditch the faux greenery,” she says. “Even the best ones can seem a bit cliché. There are so many other options for adding decor to your home—get creative without using fake plants.”
Overdone Decorative Objects
One way to add color and personality to your home is with trinkets and decorative objects. Too many, however, can lend to a cluttered, chaotic home. Because of this, Moore prefers a more curated approach. “I am all for styling, but you absolutely do not need something on every surface or every wall,” she says. “In fact, too many items sitting around can have an overwhelming effect and can feel distracting.”
Her suggestion? “Give your eyes a place to rest, which will not only give a more curated feel to your home, but will actually highlight the decorative items that are truly special by letting them shine without the extra clutter,” she says.
Rugs That Don’t Fit the Scale of the Room
One of the biggest design faux pas is setting the stage for a room with a rug that is far too small. Let this be the summer that you evaluate every rug in your home and act accordingly. “If the rug doesn’t fit under all the front legs of your furniture, it shouldn’t be in the room,” Hook says. “It will throw off the proportions of all the other elements and make the room feel small and awkward.”
The perk of sizing up? “Rugs that address the furniture arrangement and/or more of the room make a space feel bigger, quieter, and more luxurious,” Bishop reveals.
Boring Bath Mats
While on the topic of floor textiles, Hook says to rethink your bath mat, too. “Your old, overused bath mat is ready for an upgrade,” she says. “Rather than a single color, uncomfortably flat bath mat that makes you wonder if it’s actually a towel, try some color and personality. Especially in bathrooms that are predominantly white, an interesting bath mat goes a long way.”
VERANDA’s Style Director, Rachael Rummel, agrees, and says the bath mat is officially dead. She likes to use small antique or vintage rugs in their place.
Cold Lighting—and “Big” Lights
No matter the season, a home’s lighting feels most inviting when it’s warm. While committing to warm bulbs throughout your home is a great first step, Bishop says you’ll also want to prioritize charming accent lighting over harsh overhead illumination.
“There is really nothing I dislike more than cold, overhead ceiling lights,” Bishop says. “I drive around my village in Chicago’s North Shore, and I want to knock on doors and hand out new light bulbs—warm lighting only; 2700 mandatory.”
That’s not to say you can never use overhead lighting. Bishop merely advocates for softer, warmer bulbs and layered lights in a room.
Bedside Table Lamps
Speaking of lighting, Hook suggests bidding farewell to bedside table lamps. “It’s time we all agree that wall-mounted sconces are better than table lamps when it comes to bedside task lighting,” she says. “Sconces feel intentional and elevated. They also leave your nightstand surface free and clear for all the things that matter. Major function points.”
Old Lampshades
If you don’t want to part ways with your lamps, wherever they are in the home, there’s one simple way to make them look brand new for summer and beyond: “A fresh lampshade is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to update a room,” Jeanne says. “A tired or poorly proportioned shade can make even a wonderful lamp look dated."
Heavy Blackout Curtains
While lighting is top of mind, let’s talk about natural light—arguably one of the most important characteristics of a home. As coveted as it is, many people try to keep it out of their bedrooms. Moore says enough is enough.
“I am sure I will be debated on this, but heavy blackout curtains are overkill,” she says. “Having a little natural light in a bedroom, especially in the morning, is good for our natural health cycles. If you need a little more coverage, try layering drapes over a woven shade or wood blinds.”
Frameless Mirrors
During the mid-2010s and into the 2020s, we witnessed a shift toward ultra-minimalist interiors. In line with this, the introduction of sleek, frameless mirrors followed. Hook considers the design choice a missed opportunity, if not a major faux pas. “Other than in a bathroom, your mirror should always be framed—even in a bathroom, it’s not a personal favorite,” she says. “The frame is an opportunity to add a second material that can bring depth to the space with color, texture, and even pattern.”
Family Photos Everywhere
As useful as frames can be for infusing a space with texture, color, and depth, Bishop says not to go overboard, especially with family photos. To her, family photos peppered all over the house look messy and dated. “Concentrate these to a semi-private wall and make a thoughtful statement,” she suggests.
Worn Outdoor Goods
Jeanne says to extend your summer sprucing to your outdoor spaces. "People often refresh their interiors but overlook the patio,” she points out. “Faded cushions and tired outdoor accessories can make the entire home feel neglected." Take stock of your outdoor furniture, lanterns, planters, and watering cans, and edit as needed.
Fast-Fashion Seasonal Decor
It’s easy to fall into the trap of seasonal decor and, before you know it, you have an entire closet, if not a room, dedicated to trendy and often holiday-adjacent decor. While it’s perfectly fine to work a few seasonal items into your space, Moore says to cut it out with fast-fashion decor finds.
“Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean we need summer-themed throw pillows and trinkets throughout the house,” she explains. “And just like true fast fashion, those items tend to be on trend today and gone tomorrow.” Instead, she says to invest in timeless decor and lean into making your space feel seasonal with items like bowls of fresh fruit or flowers in vases around your home.
Anything You Are Keeping Purely Out of Guilt
Last but not least, if you’re holding on to a decor item as a way to satisfy others, Jeanne says to reconsider. “You’re not required to live with something simply because someone gave it to you,” she assures. “Keep the memory, photograph the object, and allow your home to reflect the life you are living now.”
Not Quite Ready to Part Ways? Do This Instead
Now that you know what to trim down, it’s time to put thoughts into action. Need an extra nudge to part with your belongings?
“Ask yourself if you still use the item, if it still serves a purpose, and whether you would choose it again today,” Jeanne says. “If the answer is no, then it’s time to say good-bye.”
Another option is to box up the items but let them sit. “Before you take my advice and fill up your trash can with faux greenery and seasonal decor, stash those items in a closet and see how long it takes you to miss them,” Moore says. “If the answer to that question is that you forgot about those items completely, then you have your answer.”
