How to Do a Pre- Christmas Declutter
Time to Deck the Halls.. But Wait!
I know I know... why do a declutter now when I am going to have to probably do it in January to start the New Year? Well, procrastinating is our next blog coming soon so stay tuned lol. But seriously, you will thank me for this later. It's time to bring out the boxes and totes from the attic and garage, but before you do it's the perfect time to declutter your home. Decluttering not only helps you get ready for family or guests, but also allows you to make room for new gifts and decorations.
1. Christmas Decorations
Before we start in the home, let's purge our holiday decorations first. Go through your totes and donate what you haven't used in a few years. This is also a good time to decide on your Christmas colors or theme based on what you are keeping. This really can save you money on your budget and give your more to use on entertaining or gifts. You may also want to make a list of decor you need such as more string lights or greenery as you go through your decor.
2. The Living Room
In our home, the living room is the gathering place on a daily basis. So you may find this area needs the most work. To be ready for those Christmas movie nights with family, start by removing any unnecessary items like old magazines or books from the coffee table, end tables, and entertainment center. This is when I do a count of pillows( pillow covers are much easier for me that storing all the seasonal pillows). For your basket of blankets or blanket ladder, leave only 2 blankets and put rest in a space bag to go in top of coat closet. This way you have room for cute Christmas blankets without adding to the clutter. If you have a cube storage for toys like me, then you may want to go thru them and donate. For the larger toys, I have relocate some of them to the playroom or my son's bedroom. We need that area for the Christmas tree.
2. Kitchen
We spend a lot of time here baking and prepping for holiday meals. Take the time to go through your pantry and refrigerator, discarding expired items and donating any unopened non-perishable food items to a local food bank. Clear off countertops like mail, keys etc. Another item that usually takes up too much space in our kitchen is plastic cups and water bottles. This is also a good time to check your flour, sugar and spices to make sure have enough and not expired. Lastly, take note of your pans, platters and small appliances you use for holiday meal prepping to make sure they aren't still at Aunt Joan's house from last Christmas lol.
3. The Bedroom
Your bedroom should be a peaceful and clutter-free haven to rest, but we all know the reality of stacks of clean clothes to put away or maybe half empty water bottles on the night stand. Start by decluttering your wardrobe, donating any clothes you no longer wear. If you are pre-menopausal like me, then just get rid of about half of your sweaters that are too hot to wear unless you are in a below zero climate. Clear off bedside tables and dressers. Change the sheets so you are ready to add those cute snowman pillows and buffalo plaid blanket.
4. Dining room
If you have a separate dining room like me, then you know how this can be a catch- all room. We literally only use ours for birthdays and holidays. Remove all items that don't belong. Then I like to wipe down the whole room. Dust bunnies and spiderwebs love this room especially the light fixture above the table. Then I check my buffet where I store chargers, holiday dishes, table runners, and table decor. Determine what decor you want to use this year and donate the rest. Yes, you even have permission to donate Aunt Edna's handmade placemats that no longer fit your style the last 5 years.
The entryway is the first impression guests have of your home, so it's crucial to keep it clutter-free and welcoming. Remove any shoes, coats, or bags that are not in use. Consider adding storage solutions such as hooks or a shoe rack to keep the area tidy. A clean and organized entryway sets the tone for a well-maintained home.
By decluttering these five areas of your home before Christmas, you can create a more organized and stress-free environment for the holiday season. Remember to donate any usable items to local charities, helping those in need during this time of year. Start the new year with a clean slate and a clutter-free home!
5. Calendar
Check your calendar and make sure you aren't overbooking yourself and try to limit the number of holiday events you commit to. This will allow for time for family and time for some self-care. Even if you need to send a group text to get all the family on the same page. Also check in with family to discuss what everyone really values and the must haves. Your family may want to change up the tradition of going to the town's Christmas play to starting a new one like riding around looking at Christmas lights in you Christmas PJs and drinking hot cocoa. Another good Pinterest worthy tradition to start is the Saran wrap Christmas gift ball. Everyone wins with this and make sure you snap some pics because it gets crazy!
I hope these ideas will give not only help your home stay clutter free during the holidays, but also give you more happiness and peace knowing you won't have to deal with all the Christmas aftermath. Let me know if tips like these helped you and if you tried any new holiday traditions.