I'm a professional party planner – these are the three things I always do after hosting New Year's Eve to reset my space

New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and whether you're having a cozy night at home or partying long into the night, it's a time for celebration and festivity.

Hosting your own party is a wonderful way to get your friends and family together under one roof, but the clean-up on New Year's Day can really leave little to be desired. Between party poppers, drinks, and glitter, it's no surprise that getting your home back in shape can feel like an overwhelming amount of work.

I'm Virginia Frischkorn, professional luxury party planner and founder of Partytrick, and these are the three things I always do to reset my space after hosting New Year's Eve, to welcome in the new year without any worry, before getting started on cleaning my house fast.

Three ways to reset after New Year's parties

Virginia Frischkorn

Virginia was born with entertaining in her blood, having been born into a family who loved to entertain. At just 26, she launched Bluebird Productions, her first luxury event planning company, recognized by the likes of Vogue. Now, she heads Party Trick, a digital party planning service that empowers clients across the world.

1. Clear surfaces

The day after hosting, countertops are often littered with empty glasses, leftover belongings, and New Year table decor ideas, which can really make your kitchen look cluttered.

So, to reduce visual clutter in my kitchen, and indeed anywhere else, I always start by clearing off my countertops. Start by tackling high-traffic areas first (think living room, kitchen, and dining space) and gather up any glasses or plates to pop into your best dishwasher. If you come across any New Year decor ideas from the night before, sort them into piles for washing, recycling, or storage, and set aside any miscellaneous belongings that got forgotten in the fun. Put everything else directly into a trash bag, such as the Hefty Ultra Strong Tall Kitchen Trash Bags available at Amazon, ready to take out of the house.

I always do this as the clearer your main areas are, the faster your space feels ready to breathe, helping you to avoid overwhelm. Plus, if you're exhausted from the night before, clearing by area keeps things manageable and motivating, and you get a quick visual win with each item moved.

2. Fresh scent for a fresh start

After hosting, it's essential to refresh the air to feel truly reset. Scent has a powerful effect on mood, so making your home smell nice with a fresh scent cues a shift from party mode back to cozy home mode, letting you fully relax and reset.

Use a favorite candle or essential oil diffuser, like the URPOWER 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser available at Amazon, to give your space a new scent.

When it comes to the best candles, look for warm, grounding scents like cedarwood or sandalwood, such as the Paddywax Scented Candles Artisan Apothecary Candle in Amber & Smoke available at Amazon to add a cozy but clean vibe.

All prices correct at time of publication.

3. Steam & soothe the sofa and fabrics

Finally, treat your seating area and pillows to a quick steam clean or spritz with a fabric refresher like the Febreze Fabric Spray Xtra Strength Original Scent available at Walmart. Hosting often leaves sofas with lingering scents or spills, so a quick refresh makes everything feel spotless and ready to enjoy again.

I also use my best steam cleaner, as steam and fabric sprays lift odors and freshen your fabrics – which is particularly satisfying if you’re hosting back-to-back gatherings!

It can be difficult to clean when feeling overwhelmed, but the most important step is simply getting started. Make sure you have all the necessary cleaning tools available and make a list of your tasks to tick off, in order of importance. This will help give you a sense of accomplishment and make cleaning your home after hosting a breeze.

Be sure to brush up on your holiday hosting tips to be the host with the most and impress your guests all season long beforehand, too.