Clear the Clutter Before the Holidays!
Accompanying the most wonderful time of the year is a flurry of decorating, school events, holiday parties, travel, and gift giving. Planning for the busy holiday season can make us feel so tense, it’s no wonder we’re relieved when December 26th arrives and we finally feel like we can release the breath of air we were holding!
Having a space that is cluttered can add to the impending feelings of stress as the countdown to the holidays marches on. However, decluttering before the season is upon us can help us go into it feeling calm and relaxed (helpful hint: start in October). An added bonus of decluttering earlier is you’ll be prepared to host visitors or house guests.
No major or drastic decluttering overhauls are necessary for the time being. The following focus areas to declutter will help you start the holiday season on the right foot:
Unused Decor - If you haven’t used certain decorations for 2 seasons, and unless they’re heirlooms or cherished items, it’s time to donate them. When it comes to decorating, less is more. 5 thoughtfully placed nutcrackers are more impactful than 25 nutcrackers.
Gift wrap - Have you held onto scraps of paper or ribbon intending to use them, only for the ribbon to end up in a balled knot or the paper unorganized and crumpled? Get rid of the extras. Resist buying any new supplies unless necessary.
Christmas lights - Holding onto the strand of lights with a broken bulb that you meant to replace? Or do you have an array of lights collections that aren’t being used? It’s time to get rid of the excess!
Pantry and fridge - It’s that time of year where our kitchen feels like Grand Central Station! With all the food prep, cooking, and baking that takes place, you will want to look through your pantry and fridge beforehand.
Throw away any old, unused, and expired ingredients.
Group and categorize items together so you can see what you have on hand.
Make a list of items to buy at the store.
Toys and books - Make it a rule that before new toys and books enter the house, room must be made. Have the kids go through their items and discard broken toys and donate those less frequently used so others can enjoy them. Reviewing what they chose to give away will help with gift purchasing. As kids get older, experiences make great gifts and fond memories (and take up no space!).
Craft Supplies - Oof. Does stray supplies fall out of your craft cabinets every time you open the door? Are the craft drawers so full they can’t be completely shut? If this is a bigger project that will take a few hours or a full day and the thought brings on heart palpitations, skim through items to see what can be tossed or donated before new craft gifts arrive. Return to this project January 1!
Electronics - Donate any unused and functioning electronics. Any broken items or those missing pieces can be responsibly disposed.
Clothes/cold weather gear - If you take advantage of the November/December sales, take just a few minutes to go through each closet in your house and pull items to donate. Anything that hasn’t been worn for 1 - 2 years or no longer fits is donation worthy.
Table linens - As you look through linens for parties or special meals, sort and weed out any stained, unused, or single pieces. The same rule applies to stemware, serve ware, utensils, and especially to mugs!
Decorative Blankets - Ever since fuzzy blankets became popular to gift, an accumulation of blankets in households is a common theme. Donate gently used or unused blankets to homeless or animal shelters.
Linens - If you have guests coming to stay, pre-organize your linen closet so bedding and towels are neatly folded and easy to find. Recycle any linens that are frayed, discolored, and thinning. Extra blankets can be donated to shelters, and some vets accept towels.
Candles - I love, love, love candles that smell good and look good. Which means that over time, it’s easy to amass quite a collection. As you’re pulling out your winter scented candles, take a few minutes to sort through your candles. Toss old candles, empty jars, extra lids, and donate any unused/unwanted candles.
Visible spaces to guests - Clear the counters, tables, and sitting areas of clutter and loose papers or items. Tuck important papers in a folder and place it in a safe spot. If you don’t need or forget about any items put away before entertaining, chances are you probably don’t need to be keep them.
Completing the decluttering tasks on this list will not only prepare your home for the holidays, but will leave plenty of time for you to host parties, roast marshmallows, and spend time with loved ones!
Hosting a holiday gathering this season? Be sure to read our Hacks for Holiday Entertaining Blog!
Wishing you love and warmth this season,
Cherie Frazier