The New Year is a fantastic time to give your home a refresh. By tackling a few smart organization projects, you can make your space feel more relaxing and more functional.

The turning of the calendar year often brings an itch to get our homes in order as a reflection of getting our lives a little more organized too. Tackling a few smart home-organization projects now can set the tone for the months ahead, and it doesn’t take too much effort to make a meaningful difference.

An easy place to start is by clearing all the seasonal clutter that is no doubt still kicking around in early January. Gather up all of the decorations, lights, and specialty holiday dishes and linens and pack them neatly into labeled bins before tucking them away. Reclaiming the space in your home that was previously hidden under all the decor can spark motivation to keep going and clear up more than just those seasonal extras.

The kitchen, in particular, is another great place to focus early in the year. Start by emptying the fridge and tossing away expired condiments and leftovers. This gives you the chance to wipe down the shelves and put everything back in a more organized manner. Take a similar approach with cupboards, and consider tossing or donating dishes and gadgets that you didn’t use all of last year. A streamlined kitchen sets the stage for your whole home.

When it comes to decluttering the rest of your home, breaking things down room by room keeps the process manageable. Bathrooms, for example, will benefit from a quick clearout of items like expired medications or unused makeup. In the home office, properly file or even digitize important documents, and shred the rest. Closets are one of the top sources of clutter, so go through your clothes and consider donating items you never wear anymore. An easy trick to stay on top of your wardrobe is to flip all your hangers in one direction at the start of the year and flip them back when you wear an item. By next January, you’ll know exactly which clothes never left the hanger.

Once things are cleared out, it’s time to think about storage. You don’t need fancy or expensive organizers to get the job done—you just need smarter systems. Stackable bins under sinks and drawer dividers in the kitchen and bathroom will allow you to better utilize available storage space. Even small adjustments, like storing lids separately from food containers, can make everyday tasks faster and less frustrating. In closets or on open shelving, baskets and fabric cubes can work wonders for corralling small items. Over-the-door hooks or hanging organizers can instantly add storage without taking up floor space, and a few well-placed labels can make it easier for everyone in the household to keep things where they belong.

Remember that organization doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing affair. Even quick, 15-minute tasks, like sorting the mail pile or organizing a junk drawer, will fuel your motivation to keep going. You might be surprised by how much difference these micro-tasks make once they start adding up.

Starting the New Year with a tidier home can help set the stage for a successful year ahead. Out with the old year’s clutter, in with a calmer, clearer space.