10 Pre-holiday decluttering ideas
If you haven't already guessed, we encourage routine decluttering around here, no matter the season. But here it is October, and the tri-holiday is upon us, gaining height and anticipation like a roller coaster. Soon the cars will tip and the mad rush won't stop until you've reached the end of the ride. So we're here to inspire you to do what you can to give yourself more capacity for the madness. Here are ten spaces and categories we encourage you to declutter before the holidays hit.
seasonal decor
You probably knew I was going to start with this one. It bears repeating nonetheless.
Maybe the Christmas theme or Autumn color you used the past couple of years doesn't suit you anymore. That's ok. You've got plenty of pictures of past seasons to reminisce with. Maybe it's not the aesthetic but the amount you have and therefore have to arrange (and put away) that makes you anxious. Maybe you need to scale back. Just because you think you might want a neutral, woodsy, minimalist palette this year doesn't mean you're a Grinch.
This is your permission to say goodbye to what brings you down, to make room for what makes you merry.
gift wrap supplies
Cute wrapping paper tempts me, too. But the truth is, wrapping paper and ribbons are as feeting as snowfakes in Texas. Housing so much of it means less room for possessions that are more permanent.
Take a little time to sort all of your gift wrapping supplies--paper, ribbons, tags, packages, boxes and bags--to know what you need to stock up on before you begin buying gifts and wrapping in earnest.
If you've got ribbon cuttings and paper scraps lying around--if they're only big enough to wrap around an elf-sized package--just throw them away. If you're like most folks who save and recycle gift bags and bows, take a hard look at the state they're in. Some of them that you're "recycling" have been recycled already-- several times over in fact--and have seen better days. Toss them. You will inevitably receive replacements.
Do keep extra scissors and tape handy. This is one of the only times you'll hear me encourage MORE of something. Scissors at my house get lost with the frequency of socks in the dryer. I should take my own advice and stock up!
socks and undies
For some of us, opening a package of socks or underwear is a let-down. For others, it's a small joy we revel in. Whether you're expecting Aunt Marge to get you a 10-pack or not, your delicates drawer probably needs you to release some of its occupants to underwear heaven.
This means bras, too. If the elastic is wrinkly or you can't wear it for more than twenty minutes without wanting to take it off again, let it go. Maybe you ask for a specialty bra ftting as a gift this year!
hobby equipment
Holidays should be a time when you ask for fun items that you have been putting off buying for yourself, or something you can't justify spending money on any other time of the year.
Take stock of sports equipment, craft supplies, kitchen appliances and cookware, and your travel gear. Odds are, something is worn out and needs replacing, and you probably would engage in that activity more often if you had a new one. Or maybe your favorite brand just came out with a new model, but you don't know where to store it. What can be donated to make room for the upgrade?
toiletries
I have two precious family members who I can count on every year to buy me some combination of creamy and good-smelling bath items. I know I'll need to fnd a place to store them if I can't use them immediately, so I take a few minutes to go through my bathroom cabinets before the big family get-together.
No room in the inn? Toss expired items, mostly-used bottles (including your travel-sized stash!), and products that you don't use anymore.
pantry
During the holidays, you'll need to make room in your pantry for all the ingredients for all the dishes for all the events you'll be cooking for. I've decluttered enough pantries to know that most are housing some amount of expired foodstuffs. Maybe you don't have time or capacity for a total pantry over-haul. That's ok. Take twenty minutes one afternoon simply to check labels and expiration dates. This will also give you a sense of what you have on-hand that's usable. Keep a notepad with you to list what you've tossed and what needs replacing.
Toys
Mimi and Papa will defnitely over-indulge the grandkids this year, no matter how many times they say they won't, and no matter how many times you encourage "experience gifts" instead of toys. The playroom probably needs some TLC before it can receive shiny new things.
Just like you may not have time for a whole pantry makeover, your toy room might be an overwhelming project, too. If so, just take thirty minutes and use a zoomed-out lens to look for broken pieces, duplicates, toys your littles have outgrown or phases they've abandoned, and craft packs that are half used. Even if you don't have the capacity to sort what's worth donating and what's just trash, put the collected items in another area of the house--garage, attic, Harry Potter Closet--just for the time being to clear some mental and visual clutter.
After all the gifts have been unwrapped and it's time to fnd homes for them, you can encourage your kids to sort and declutter with you!
guest room closets
If you're expecting to house out-of-town family or friends over the holidays, take a few moments to assess what you're storing in that guest room closet. Odds are, it's a mix of a few of the categories we've already discussed--seasonal decor, gift wrap supplies, hobby equipment, back stock items, toys. See above for recommendations on decluttering these categories, and make room to accommodate your guests' items while they enjoy their stay.
entertaining ware
Ok, you are number four of ten siblings, and you each have an average of 2.75 kids, all of whom will be convening (conveniently) at your house for Thanksgiving dinner. Still, do you need eight charcuterie boards?
Take a look at all of your entertaining pieces and refect on what you have used and not used in seasons past. If you haven't used it in a year, or if you continually pass over it in favor of another piece, you're not likely to use it in the future. You ARE likely have some pieces that could be repurposed (a cake stand can show off more than just a cake!), and you can add seasonal touches to any neutral piece, eliminating the need to store themed dishes for each holiday.
disposables
Take stock of your disposable dish ware. Do you have fun party plates left over from your last four kid's birthday parties? This is the perfect opportunity to use them! It's the fve o'clock hour, everyone is still too full from lunch to want dinner yet, but they're all snacky and eating the candied pecans on the counter because, well, they're in front of them and that's what humans do. Let the family use that stack of mismatched napkins and that bright orange disposable cutlery. You've cleaned out your cabinet/pantry while simultaneously saving yourself clean-up time and energy after a long day of hostessing. Genius.
Take this all with a grain of flaky sea salt. We realize that some folks fnd an inordinate amount of joy in having every eve and awning strung with lights, and every surface set with enough snowmen to make a village. It invigorates you to be so demonstrative about your love for the holiday. You do you.
Alternatively, if you are one who is already feeling anxious about all that's going to be required of you this holiday season, carve out some time to carve out some clutter. Or, if doing this alone feels daunting, we can help! The Team at Simplifed Austin would be honored to guide you through any decluttering and organizing project that needs attention. If you're in the greater Austin, Texas area, ask us to your home for a free consultation and an encouraging word. We've been doing this for a while, and we can help you make room for the joy of bright new memories.