The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on all of us. One minute it’s Halloween decorations and pumpkin spice, and the next minute Thanksgiving dinners, holiday guests and gift wrapping have completely taken over the house.
That’s exactly why this is the perfect time to declutter and organize your home before the busy season begins.
As a professional home organizer, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that an organized home helps create calm during what can otherwise feel like a hectic and stressful time of year. When your spaces are tidy and functional, it’s easier to enjoy the holidays instead of constantly feeling behind.
And the good news? You do not need to organize your entire house all at once.
START WITH THE SPACES YOU USE MOST
One of the easiest ways to feel overwhelmed is telling yourself you need to get your whole house organized before the holidays. Instead, focus on the rooms that will have the biggest impact on your daily life and holiday routines.
Ask yourself:
- Where do guests spend the most time?
- Which areas become clutter magnets during the holidays?
- Which spaces create the most stress for me personally?
For some people, it’s the kitchen. For others, it’s the guest room, mud room, pantry or living room.
By breaking organizing projects into smaller spaces, the process feels far more manageable and much less intimidating.
CLEAR THE CLUTTER BEFORE THE HOLIDAY CHAOS ARRIVES
Once you choose a starting point, it’s time to declutter.
If you haven’t used or worn something in the last year or two, consider donating it. If it’s broken, damaged or no longer useful, give yourself permission to let it go.
And don’t forget about the items that simply belong somewhere else.
One of the easiest ways to create a tidy home is by returning things to their proper place. After all, your roasting pan probably makes more sense in the kitchen than buried in a bedroom closet. 😊
The less unnecessary clutter you have in your home before the holidays, the easier it will be to maintain order once decorations, guests and gifts start arriving.
PREPARE FOR HOLIDAY GUESTS
If you’ll be hosting family or friends, take a little time to prepare spaces that help guests feel welcome and comfortable.
Simple things can make a big difference:
- clear space in the guest room closet
- empty a dresser drawer
- tidy bathroom counters
- organize entryways and mud rooms
- create space for luggage or personal items
As someone who travels often to help clients organize and move, I always appreciate when someone has thoughtfully made room for guests to settle in comfortably instead of living out of a suitcase.
Creating calm for your guests also creates peace of mind for you.
CREATE A GIFT ORGANIZING SYSTEM
Holiday gifts have a way of disappearing into closets and cabinets if there isn’t a designated place to store them.
How many times have you bought the perfect gift early… only to completely forget where you hid it weeks later?
Creating a simple “to-give” gift zone helps prevent duplicate purchases, lost presents and unnecessary stress. Use one closet shelf, storage bin or designated cabinet to keep gifts together until it’s time to wrap them.
And while you’re at it, think ahead to all the new items that will soon be entering your home:
- kids’ toys
- clothing
- electronics
- kitchen gadgets
- decorations
Planning ahead now makes it much easier to find space for those incoming items later.
AN ORGANIZED HOME MAKES THE HOLIDAYS FEEL EASIER
The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, not spent searching for wrapping paper, digging through cluttered closets or trying to clean around piles of stuff.
A little decluttering and organizing before the busy season begins can make a huge difference in how your home feels and functions.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, Smart Organizing Solutions can help. I work with clients throughout Denver, Central Park, Park Hill, Cherry Creek, Aurora and surrounding Colorado communities to declutter homes, create organizing systems and help families create calm with a place for everything.
You can learn more or contact me here at Smart Organizing Solutions in Denver, CO.