The holidays are about bringing friends and family together to celebrate the year and reconnect – but a few gifts certainly do not go amiss.
More gifts equals more stuff, however, and your home can quickly feel the strain if you pile stuff in without considering where it is going to go. That’s why professional home organizers suggest focusing on these five things to declutter before an influx of gifts.
With just a few basic pre-Christmas decluttering rules, you can keep clutter levels under control, even in the hectic festive season.
Things to declutter before an influx of gifts
While it might seem unimportant to embark on last-minute pre-Christmas organizing days before the holiday, it can help clear your home and mind of some of the stress of hosting. Here’s where to focus your efforts:
1. Children’s toy cabinets
Mom of one and head of Solved here at Homes & Gardens, Punteha van Terheyden, says, ‘If you have children, it should come as no surprise that you should always declutter toys before Christmas. Toy storage is often the first spot to feel the strain of an influx of gifts, especially for younger children where the toys are typically on the larger side.
‘Spending a few minutes taking out anything that is never played with, is broken, or that your child is willing to part with before a visit from Santa Clause is always worth it when it comes to tidying up after the big day.’
This will also mean their new toys and gifts won't live in piles well into the New Year as there will be adequate space to put them away until your children or grandchildren are ready to enjoy them.
Punteha has stackable large lidded wicker baskets, available at Amazon, in her lounge for this very purpose. She adds, 'This makes it easy for my daughter to put things away herself, whilst also not interrupting my organic modern living room ideas.'
Keeping toys readily accessible is a great way to keep children engaged with their toys (as they can see them all easily), makes tidying up easier for all, and helps you see what they have at a glance to help avoid duplicates.
2. Bookshelves
If you are an avid reader and usually get a nice big pile of books for the holidays, decluttering books should be your top priority. As Gillian Gudgeon, APDO member and professional organizer says, ‘Overfilled bookcases where books have been dumped on top of other books and random bits and bobs are placed on the edge of shelves are some of the biggest causes of visual clutter and over stimulation.’
When organizing a bookshelf, avoid having books piled on top of one another, keeping them all stacked in a specific order, be it by author, height, or color if you prefer a more aesthetic organizing trick.
3. Closets
Decluttering the closet can be stressful, but it's worth the effort if you might be getting some new clothes over the holiday season.
Ashley Murphy co-founder and CEO of NEAT Method says, ‘Remove and donate those items that haven’t been used in the last year for seasonal items, or the last six months for everything else.’
Anything that is damaged or stained is also a good contender for removal – as is anything you are hoping to get a replacement for (say if it is worn out or no longer fits). If you don’t end up with a replacement from gifting, it's a sign to find a new one in the new year. You might even find that once it's gone, you don’t think about it enough to warrant a replacement after all, helping you declutter clothes fast.
You would be hard pushed to find a professional organizer who doesn't love velvet slimline hangers. They keep clothes in place without taking up too much space.
Vacuum storage bags are a lifesaver for small closets, especially if you have to rotate your clothing seasonally to help fit everything in. Simply wash and dry out-of-season clothes before folding into the bags and removing the air, for storage on half the footprint.
Under bed storage is a great way to expand on your existing closet space, be it for storing your off-season items, or offering a place for you bulkier pieces that need folding, but take up too much space in dresser drawers. These bags on wheels makes them easy to pull out quickly and access as needed.
4. Makeup and jewelry
Decluttering makeup and skincare, taking stock of perfumes, and organizing jewelry are other good focus areas just before the gifting season.
Gillian Gudgeon, professional organizer, says, ‘These small jars, bottles, and products laid out on top of a cabinet are some of the quickest ways to make your bedroom look very cluttered and they are difficult to clean around.
‘Toiletries and cosmetics need to be contained and put away out of sight; find space in bathroom cabinets and drawers and keep spares together somewhere. These should be kept in a cool and dark space anyway to prolong their life.’
For jewelry, consider investing in a well-divided jewelry box, such as this three-layer jewelry box from Amazon, to help keep all your delicate pieces organized and free from dust and tangles.
5. Clear your vital spaces of duplicates
Duplicates are a category you should always consider when decluttering, but it is especially useful before Christmas. There is usually always one item we get as a gift that we already had, and there is no use having three or more of the same thing.
Miroslav Radov at London House Clearing Company suggests, ‘Embrace the idea that, like snowflakes, each item in your home should be unique and essential. By eliminating duplicates – whether it's the extra spatulas or redundant kitchen gadgets – you create a more functional and streamlined space, ensuring that everything you keep truly serves a purpose.’
Working through this quick decluttering checklist is a great way to create a little bit of wiggle room for presents around the holidays. Don’t panic if you don’t have time in the run-up, though. We have some smart tricks to tidy as you go on Christmas day to keep clutter at bay without piling on stress.
