10 things to do in September

The lazy days of summer are ending, and no matter how many years it's been since you last filled a backpack with textbooks, back-to-school is in the air, and with it a feeling that it's time to reorganize for fall. Get started with these 10 ideas for purging, decluttering and making your home serene and inviting.

1 Cut the clutter
Getting organized is a significantly easier task when there's less stuff to deal with. So before tackling bigger projects, sweep through your house and clear out any clutter that's accumulated while you've been outdoors enjoying the hot and sunny weather.

2 Start your fall garden clean-up
After a long summer enjoying your garden, it's time to start preparing it for the winter chill. Read our suggestions for mid-September garden chores, set aside a few hours on a sunny afternoon and get started!

3 Organize the broom closet
Your household chores will go a lot faster once your cleaning supplies are under control. Check out our suggestions for a clutter-free broom closet -- including organization ideas for those of us without one!

4 Get a head start on holiday correspondence
It may only be September, but it won't be long before it's time to decorate and prepare for the holiday season. One thing you can get out of the way right now is organizing your stationery and writing supplies. Make sure your address book is up to date and plan ahead for buying stamps, cards and invitations.

5 Prep the front hall closet for winter coats
With the fall fashion season comes a closet full of coats, whether they're new purchases or taken out of storage and dry-cleaned. Don't be caught scrambling for a coat on the first chilly morning of autumn! Get organized ahead of time with our 6 solutions for front hall closets.