Deck The Halls - Organizer Style

It’s almost time to begin preparing for holiday shopping, gatherings and of course meals! As the holiday season draws near, you likely feel excitement with a side of pressure that often comes with this busy time of year. This is a magical season, but we all know it can be quite stressful as well. Prepping and preparing for all the festive fun can help you feel less stress and be able to enjoy the time with loved ones. We are sharing our top tips to help you deck the halls with ease so you can be ready for all the fun, family and laughter.

Declutter Before Decorating

We all get excited to begin decorating, but the key to an organized decorating session is to declutter before! It really helps to make room for the additional items you will be adding around your home. Focus on key areas that will likely be most used. Think living room, kitchen, entryways and any shared bathroom spaces. Remove items that you won’t need during this season. You can tuck them away. This is also a good opportunity to let go of some things that you no longer need or use. Doing this will help create a more open and inviting space for your guests and less clutter to deal with for you!

Strategize Your Decorating

As much as you may want to dive headfirst into those holiday decorations you haven’t seen in a year, it will serve you better to pump those brakes and create a plan first. Take stock of what you have and build your decorating plan around that. Plan a layout where everything will go. Create a list for any additional decorating items you may need. As you sort through your items, use labeled bins to organize everything. Clear and stackable for the win here! This is also a great time to let go of any items that don’t work or you simply don’t want to keep. Have those donate and trash piles ready to go! You will be so happy you took these extra steps when it’s time to put everything away.

Create Space For Guests

If your home will be host to overnight company, getting those spaces ready before their arrival will help you avoid last minute rushing. Whether it’s a guest room or a shared space they will be using, declutter and remove any items not needed during their stay. This will help give them more space for their things. If you have extra closet space you can clear out, that will help keep their things tucked away. Add fresh linens and make sure you have extra blankets and pillows. Stock up plenty of towels and other bathroom essentials. Clearing off counters will give your guests space in any shared bathrooms for their toiletries.

Prepping Your Kitchen

If cooking and baking are a big part of your holiday celebrations then getting your kitchen ready is a must. Start by clearing out your pantry, fridge and freezer. This will help make room for the large amount of ingredients for all the holiday meals. It’s also a good opportunity for you to discard anything that’s expired and take inventory of what you have to avoid overbuying. You are also going to need all of your counter space. Remove any items that you don’t anticipate using and tuck them away. Keep your most used tools and small appliances easily accessible. Creating more space before all the holiday items start coming in will make a big difference for you when you begin your holiday cooking.

Organized Gifting

All of the new stuff coming in for gifts can quickly turn into chaos and clutter. Designate a space to store and wrap gifts. Have all of your gift wrapping supplies in a bin or basket to help keep everything organized and easy to find. Use vertical storage solutions for your wrapping paper. Not only will this help during the season, but will be perfect for storing away after the holidays. It may also be helpful to keep a running list of the gifts you have purchased. It can be easy to forget what’s under that wrapping paper. This will help you know what’s done and what's left as you work through your gift buying list.

Soak It Up

With a little decluttering and organizing before the holiday season, you will reduce your stress and have more time to enjoy the festivities with your friends and family. You will have your welcoming, organized space ready to go without all the chaos. Soak up every laugh, smile and hug this holiday season. Focus on creating memories with those that mean the most to you. And don’t forget to take a few moments for you!

Does your home need a little decluttering magic and you don’t have the time, energy or desire to do it yourself? I can put my decluttering and organizing expertise to work for you! Schedule your free consultation today and let’s see how I can help you find the joy in your space again.