As the holiday season draws to a close, it's time to reclaim your home and garden with an end-of-season declutter. But putting your summer paraphernalia into storage for winter can be a bittersweet experience.
Once those attic ladders recede back into their hole in the ceiling, you know there’s no going back until spring (the annual Christmas decoration hunt aside, of course). No more camping trips, summer festivals or long, langarous days on the beach...
But stashing your redundant summer items can also be a highly cathartic exercise – and the perfect opportunity for a serious clear-out in preparation for the new season.
“Clutter in our external environment is often a clue to congestion in our internal world, and letting go of physical things that no longer serve us can have a profound effect on every area of our lives,” says life coach, broadcaster and Huffpost blogger, Jayne Morris.
“Allowing the natural rhythm of the year to prompt a clear-out can be transformative, welcoming in an abundance of happiness, health and space,” she adds.
Well, if that’s not enough of an incentive to chuck out that broken tennis racket and mildew-ravaged deckchair, we don’t know what is!
Put a day aside for the big de-clutter with an aim to: donate or recycle anything you don’t want, chuck out anything that’s broken beyond repair, and repair, prepare and store anything you’d like to be reunited with next spring.
If the loft is going to be one of your main storage spaces, Rebecca Tucker, interior designer and co-director of Suna Interior Design suggests: “Treat your attic like another room. Keep it clean and tidy. Store items in labelled boxes and no matter how tempting it is, don’t just dump!”
Likewise, now is the time to brave those spiders and give your garage or shed a thorough sweep, clean and clearout.
Once your storage spaces are good to go, it’s time to tackle your summer regalia one item at a time. Here’s how…
10 Summer Things To Pack Away For Autumn
Summer Sports Equipment(01 of10)
Open Image ModalSummer sports equipment can be one of the biggest storage-sapping legacies of the summer. DIY or purpose-built wall racks in the garage are great for storing big items, such as surf boards and kayaks, without taking up valuable floor space.Keep racket sport equipment zipped safely in water-tight bags. Again, to save floor space, wall shelves are ideal for these smaller items. (credit:Peter Cade via Getty Images)
BBQ(02 of10)
Open Image ModalSadly, it's time to wave goodbye to the smell of chargrilled sausages wafting on the summer breeze. "Unless you’re a hardened and devout barbecuer, your barbeque will need to be either stored or properly covered to protect them from the harsh weather.," says Rebecca of Suna Interior Design. "An outdoor shed is ideal, but a sturdy tarpaulin will also suffice." (credit:andreusK via Getty Images)
Summer Clothes(03 of10)
Open Image Modal“Store summer clothes in vacuum-packed bags. This will both reduce the space they take up, and ensure that moths and other unwanted creatures don’t destroy them,” says Rebecca.But before you do so, use this as an opportunity for a summer wardrobe overhaul. If you're never going to squeeze back into that itsy-bitsy, teeny weeny bikini, don't hold onto it simply for nostalgia's sake. The same goes for worn-out sandals and those Thai fisherman pants you haven't worn since your gap year. (credit:Dougal Waters via Getty Images)
Beach Paraphernalia(04 of10)
Open Image ModalCome on, it's time to pack up your bucket, spade, beach towels and deck chairs - but sadly, not for a trip to the beach. Seaside paraphernalia can take up a lot of room - especially if you have kids. Lockable, watertight plastic garden storage boxes, which can be kept in the garden or garage, are great for keeping bulky items secure and mould-free. Store beach towels, like summer bedding, in vacuum-pack bags in the attic. (credit:edurubin via Getty Images)
Camping Equipment(05 of10)
Open Image ModalTo keep your tent in tip-top condition over the winter, make sure you clean (and dry) it thoroughly after EVERY camping trip - with special care and attention after the last outing of the season. Any dirt or damp will result in one horribly mouldy tent next spring.Also, remember to check everything's there, before you pack up. There's nothing more frustrating than discovering there are tent pegs missing five minutes before you're about to head off on your first camping adventure of the year. (credit:Tom Merton via Getty Images)
Patio And Garden Furniture(06 of10)
Open Image Modal"Firstly, store all cushions and non-weather-proof furniture. This may be obvious, but many a favourite outdoor cushion has been relegated to the bin after wintering outdoors," says Rebecca.Before storing outdoor furniture, give it a good clean to prevent mould or mildew forming over winter. Then give them a once-over with a sealant (wood sealant for, er, wood; silicone spray for metal or paste wax for wicker) to keep them fresh for spring.Bear in mind, it's worth investing in a furniture cover/tarpaulin - even if you're storing it in a shed or garage. (credit:fallbrook via Getty Images)
Outdoor Toys(07 of10)
Open Image ModalChildren have a tendency to commandeer gardens over the summer months with their trampolines, sandpits and ball games. But now is the time to reclaim your lawn. Even the most sturdy sandpit cover is unlikely to protect the sand from the ravages of winter so decant the sand into plastic air-tight containers and either haul the sandpit into the garage or secure its cover with bungee ropes. (credit:Jill Giardino via Getty Images)
Gardening Tools(08 of10)
Open Image ModalAn hour spent prepping your garden tools ready for winter will save you a pricey trip to the hardware shop to replace them all next spring.First, remove all traces of dirt and soil from the metal then spray with WD-40 to prevent rust setting in over the winter months.To keep wooden handles in great shape, give them a quick sand down and paint with a wood sealant.Wall hooks allow for space-saving storage of your tools, as seen here. (credit:Simon Watson via Getty Images)
Picnic Equipment(09 of10)
Open Image ModalLet's face it, opportunities for al fresco dining are going to be few and far between over the coming months - so all those plastic knifes, forks, plates and glasses that have gradually infiltrated your kitchen cupboards and drawers over summer, can be banished to a box in an out-of-the-way top cupboard to give your indoor kitchen equipment some breathing space once again. (credit:omgimages via Getty Images)
Suitcases(10 of10)
Open Image ModalIf they're the beautiful mid-century variety, like the ones pictured here, pile them on top of your wardrobe for a storage solution that adds a twist of vintage chic to your bedroom.But let's face it, few of us actually use these for our summer holidays. So as modern suitcases are not objets d'art, fill them with your newly vacuum-packed summer clothes, towels and bedding and stash them in the attic until your next holiday. (credit:Jill Ferry Photography via Getty Images)