TL;DR
A Veranda report published in November 2026 gathers advice from professional organizers and designers on 12 categories to clear or review before holiday guests and gatherings. Their recommendations focus on frequently used and guest-facing spaces, while preserving useful and meaningful belongings.
Veranda’s November 2026 report recommends that households review 12 categories of belongings before holiday gatherings, drawing on advice from organizers and designers. The guidance focuses on making room in areas guests use and easing seasonal routines, rather than attempting a whole-house purge.
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The report’s list includes excess decorative accessories, old magazines and books, unused coats and boots, worn winter accessories, surplus gift wrap, and worn-out towels and sheets. It also recommends clearing items from an overfilled guest room, removing damaged or lidless food-storage containers, and reviewing old candles and strong home fragrances. The supplied report excerpt cuts off during the candle section and does not show the full list of 12 categories, so the remaining items cannot be verified from the available material.
Experts quoted by Veranda advise working in short, targeted sessions rather than trying to overhaul the entire home. Kerrie Kelly suggests spending 20 or 30 minutes in each space that visitors are likely to use, including the entry, living room, dining room, kitchen, powder room and guest bedroom. Items can be donated, discarded or moved elsewhere, depending on their condition and usefulness.
The report also suggests checking supplies before buying more. Laura Kinsella recommends taking stock of wrapping paper, bags and ribbon, recycling or discarding damaged materials and keeping usable supplies together. For linens, Ann Lightfoot advises keeping enough clean sets for guests and checking whether animal shelters will accept retired towels or sheets. Donation options and acceptance rules vary, so the report advises contacting organizations before bringing items.
Make Room in Guest-Facing Spaces
The advice addresses a practical seasonal problem: holiday preparations bring guests, gifts, food and decorations into homes that may already have limited storage and work surfaces. Clearing an entry closet, guest bedroom or kitchen cupboard can make those spaces easier to use without requiring a major cleanout.
The recommendations may also help households avoid buying supplies they already own and direct usable coats or other belongings toward local donation programs. The report frames decluttering as preparation for hosting, not as a demand to discard objects simply because they are old or do not match. That distinction matters for readers deciding what to keep: function and personal meaning, rather than appearance alone, guide the advice.
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A Short, Targeted Seasonal Edit
The report presents decluttering as a task to do before the holiday rush, when seasonal purchases, leftovers and coats may make accumulated clutter harder to address. It does not offer research or measured outcomes; it is a service report based on comments from professional organizers and a designer.
Its sources include Ann Lightfoot, cofounder of DDH Home Organizing & Move Management; Amelia Meena, owner of Appleshine, Organization + Design; Kerrie Kelly, CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio; and Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze. Their suggestions emphasize editing specific rooms and belongings while keeping objects that contribute to a home’s character.
“I like to think of it as making room for the experience rather than simply getting rid of things.”
— Kerrie Kelly, CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio, as quoted by Veranda
The Full List Is Not Available
The supplied source excerpt ends partway through its section on old candles and home fragrances. Although the headline promises 12 categories, the excerpt does not provide all 12, so this article cannot confirm the complete list. The source also gives no local donation directory or uniform rules for what charities and shelters accept; readers would need to check with organizations in their area.
Check Supplies Before Hosting
The report’s practical next step is to choose a few high-use or guest-facing rooms and spend 20 to 30 minutes per space sorting items to keep, relocate, donate or discard. Households can then check existing gift wrap and food containers before shopping, and contact nearby donation centers, coat drives or animal shelters about accepted items. The source provides no scheduled follow-up or additional reporting milestone.
Key Questions
What does the report recommend clearing before the holidays?
The available excerpt names excess decor, old magazines and books, unused coats and boots, worn winter accessories, surplus gift wrap, worn linens, guest-room clutter, damaged food containers, and old candles or strong fragrances. The supplied text cuts off before all 12 categories appear.
Does the advice call for a whole-house cleanout?
No. The experts quoted by Veranda recommend a focused edit of key spaces, especially areas used by guests, rather than an ambitious whole-house purge.
How much time should someone spend on each room?
Designer Kerrie Kelly suggests setting aside 20 or 30 minutes per space and concentrating on items to donate, discard or relocate.
Should meaningful or inherited items be discarded?
Kelly says not to remove belongings simply because they are old or do not match. Her advice is to clear clutter while keeping meaningful objects that give a home character.
Where can people donate old towels or coats?
The report mentions coat drives and shelters for gently used clothing and says animal shelters may accept towels or sheets. Acceptance varies, so contact the organization first to confirm what it can use.
Source: veranda.com
