Perfect ideas for those looking to tidy up their spaces or simply have a refresh at the start of the year.
Recently, Christine Dychiao, the only Filipina to be certified as a KonMari Consultant, having learned how to organize from the internationally renowned Marie Kondo held a special session at the Trinoma store of Australian home and lifestyle brand Anko.
During that workshop, she dispensed tips on how to organize spaces by decluttering and tidying them up.
Worry not for those who were not able to attend the said event, as she also noted ideas that can be of help to anyone looking to refreshen their homes.
But first, she shared the emerging home organization trends that might shape 2026.
“Shifting sentiments from hustle culture and hauls towards slowing down, being present, downshifting and underconsumption are becoming prevalent,” told Dychiao. “People are realizing they are getting sick from burnout and want to spend more time at home, doing things that bring them calm, spending time with those they love, taking care of what they already have.“
She emphasized that making the home a “place to reset and regulate the nervous system” is key. “Many will want to use what they have and display the things they have accumulated rather than store them away to be forgotten.”
For people wanting to start the year light, she recommended that they first set their sights on things and spaces inside the home that causes them the “most stress in the morning.”
“It could be waking up to a messy bedroom, a cluttered bathroom, or your closet because dressing up for school or work stresses you out. Start with that and see how your day improves with that one adjustment,” shared Christine.
If an individual is looking to change their habits, she said that having a “home for everything,” where everyone in the household knows where things go could be a great start.
“Make it a habit to take stock and be aware of what you already have. If you know what you have, you don’t unnecessarily keep on buying things. Store things in see through containers, or label boxes and bins so you know what’s inside. Remember, out of sight, out of mind,” which will naturally lead to less clutter.
Regarding her own habit for decluttering during changes in seasons, Christine replied, “I always try to start fresh at the beginning of the year. Decluttering, cleaning, moving things around to change the flow of the space.”
“You don’t even have to set your our deadline to January 1. Even the Lunar New Year is fine. What’s important is you set the intention to welcome new energy into your home at the beginning of your year,” she continued.
On whether she has a routije or checklist that she follows to keep her spaces tidy throughout the entire year: “The great thing about having an organized space, where there is a home for everything, is that you don’t always have to keep on tidying.“
Christine emphasized: “Once I’ve organized a space, it stays that way for years. The space is so easy to maintain.”
If letting go is not easy, here is what she suggests people to do to known if they can or cannot cling on these items.
“I help process the attachment by asking these questions
-how long have you had this?
-how often do you use it?
-when did you last use it?
-if this goes to someone who will use it, how would you feel?
These questions typically make it easier for to let go of things, once we realize the things we hardly use or need will still be useful to others and would hardly be missed.”
Meanwhile, on a personal note, she narrated how her own approach to home organization and decluttering started, as well what motivated her to pursue it?
“I was not a naturally tidy person,” told Christine. “I kept a lot of things and was very sentimental about them. By the time I was pregnant with my third child, I realized that living like this was not sustainable.“
She said that being surrounded with a lot of things is “stressful,” as it impacts people’s nervous systems, which then affects their physical and mental well-being.
“Not many realize our nervous system manages our sleep, digestion, hormones and immunity-can’t think our our way to achieving calm and living our dreams, we have to set the space for it,” she added.
“I wanted a home that my family could feel safe in, and in decluttering and organizing it, I immediately saw and felt the difference. This is why I made it my mission to share the magic of tidying and mindful living with anyone who wants to experience the same shift,” furthered Dychiao.
Over the years, she learned that tidying is a technique that can be learned by anyone. “There is no such thing as a ‘hopeless case’. Before I mastered the technique of tidying, it would take me months, even years, of living with clutter before I would be able to make a space feel right. Now, It just takes me 3 hours max. We just get better and faster at it over time,” she said.
Meanwhile, she also revealed the moment in her life when a clever storage idea completely transformed her space and routine on the daily.
“It was a candy dish that solved the perpetual mystery of our missing car keys,” she disclosed. “I would always lose our car keys whenever I would use a car because it never had a home to go to. Sometimes I would leave it in my bag, in my pocket, or some table at home. My husband and I would often get stressed looking for keys before leaving.”
She continued, “But when I realized i could repurpose a glass candy dish into a key holder, and placed it by our doo our door, everyone at home knew where to leave and find the keys when needed. Problem solved!“
On the evolution of minimalism and mindful living in 2026, she thinks more people will begin adapting to this lifestyle.
“As more people realize that the key to a fulfilled life is not about how much we accumulate but how aligned we are with our values, and how authentic our life is, all the more that people will seek out a mindful and intentional life. Many will begin to adapt to this lifestyle and this movement will grow further in 2026. Sustainability is no longer a buzzword but a baseline to how we do things.“
Lastly, on her own personal style, she sees it evolving this year too and told the trends that she is most excited to try.
“I used to be rigid about following the rules of tidying, but I’ve relaxed now and care more about the intention and what makes sense for each individual. The important thing is that we are mindful and intentional about our space, and I look forward to seeing how sustainability plays into decluttering. and organizing our homes.”
“I love the idea of repurposing, repairing, and reusing things and giving them a second life,” Christine said.