When Spring Sunshine Hits the PNW

Typically, I am all about the crisp change of fall colors. Give me a good storm on a cold grey day and I am a truly happy lady.

But this year… this year I am loving the sunshine.

Here in Blaine, Washington, when the clouds finally part after a long Pacific Northwest winter, it feels like one big cleanse. The sunlight pours through the windows and suddenly every corner of the house says, “Hey… maybe it's time.”

Instead of teasing all the sunshine lovers, I’m officially joining your ranks this year - if you’ll have me.

Many of us across Whatcom County and the greater PNW have spent plenty of time in our homes this winter. By spring, we know every nook that causes stress and every drawer that needs attention.

Spring has always felt like the perfect time to deep clean, declutter, and shake off the winter blues. When the sun comes out in the Pacific Northwest, I find myself wanting to open the windows, let the fresh air in, and reset my space.

It’s one of the times each year when I do a full home declutter and inventory. (To be honest, I’ve also been known to do this randomly just because.)

I never really thought of my approach as a “system,” but when I started writing my list for the next few weeks, I realized it might be helpful to share.

If you’d like to work through this list together, that would be way more fun.

My spring decluttering list looks a bit like this.

1. Start with Clothes

Much like Marie Kondo, I like to start with clothes.

I’m sure Marie has a beautifully inspirational reason for starting here. My reason is simpler: it’s the most black-and-white category and it gets me into the purging mindset quickly.

This year I’ll be honest-this step has been a little harder.

I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe. When I traveled frequently for work, I had this down perfectly. But when I evaluated my wardrobe recently, I realized I had slowly started accumulating pieces that didn’t all work together.

I had to ask myself:

Should I replace perfectly good clothes just to create a more minimal wardrobe?

That didn’t quite align with my goal of consuming less.

So this year my plan is simple:Work with what I have and gradually replace pieces with timeless classics as things wear out.

Helpful starting steps

• Change out seasonal clothing

• Donate items you haven’t worn in the last 3 months (if weather appropriate)

• Include your jewelry box and makeup drawer in the process

  
  

One of my favorite people - the owner of Betty Be Good Boutique - once told me that clothing has personalities.

If something sits in your closet unworn, it probably just hasn’t found the right home yet.

Maybe it belongs in someone else’s closet where it can finally shine.

If you have littles in the house, include them in the process. The more opinionated ones may surprise you with their honesty.

2. Books and Media

Next up: books and media.

I love books. I read plenty on my Kindle, but I still adore the feel of paper pages.

I also have a small weakness for owning all of my book club books. Part of me thinks that if they live on my shelf, I can claim to be more intellectual than I probably am

.

But the truth is, my favorite genre is bed-and-breakfast mystery series.

Book club pushes me to read things I never would have chosen on my own, and I truly believe every book teaches us something.

Still… most of those books will probably only be read once.

So this time of year I like to pass a few along to Little Free Libraries around Whatcom County so someone else can enjoy them.

While I’m at it, I also evaluate:

• DVDs

• CDs

• old media collections

• 
  

And if you happen to still have VHS tapes…

No judgment. I recently found a stack myself that we’re planning to convert.

3. Piles of Papers

Spring is also a great time to tidy up your paper systems, especially with tax season approaching.

Paper is one of the most challenging organizing categories for many people.

Personally, I fall on the Marie Kondo side here too.

I keep only:

• a few documents forever

• some until they are completed

• and the rest rarely even make it into the house

  
  

Refreshing your filing system once a year can dramatically reduce household stress.

4. Kitchen Refresh

Next stop: the kitchen pantry and fridge.

This one is simple but important.

Go through and discard anything that has expired.

It sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many things accumulate in the back corners of a pantry - especially during long winters here in the Pacific Northwest when we tend to stock up.

5. Mystery Cords and Random Gadgets

Every home I organize across Blaine and Whatcom County seems to have one universal category:

The box of mysterious cords.

Where do they come from?

No one knows.

But we all seem to have them.

If you don’t know what they belong to and haven’t used them in years, it’s safe to let them go.

Unused gadgets can also be donated. Sometimes they are exactly what someone else has been searching for.

6. Room-by-Room Evaluation

Finally, I walk through the home room by room.

I start in the far left corner and move:

Left to right - Top to bottom

In one hand I carry a donation bag. In the other, a notepad.

This is when I evaluate the extras.

• What décor still feels like me?

• What is simply taking up space?

• Is there something this room truly needs?

  
  

As I move through the house, my donation bag fills while my wish list grows.

If you have kids, bring them along. You might be surprised how quickly they find things they’re ready to donate.

Ready for Your Spring Reset?

Spring in the Pacific Northwest always feels like an invitation to start fresh.

Sunshine through the windows. Cool air drifting through the house.And the quiet satisfaction of spaces that finally feel lighter.

I’ve shared my list.

What’s on yours?

If you’re tackling a decluttering project here in Blaine or anywhere in Whatcom County, I’d love to hear how it’s going.

And if you’d like a little extra support creating calm, functional spaces in your home, you can always reach out to Sugar & Space for a consultation.