The holiday season is filled with joy, gatherings, and a whirlwind of activities. Suddenly we’re thrown into a tailspin of planning, prep, and clutter! The decorations, gifts, and the inevitable chaos of holiday prep can make the holidays far from peaceful. Staying organized during this festive period isn’t as difficult as you would think. Here are some practical tips to keep your space neat and manageable during the holidays.
1. Declutter Before You Decorate
It’s hard to organize anything without decluttering first, but who has that kind of time during the holidays? But a quick pre-holiday decluttering is essential!Before unpacking your holiday décor, take time to declutter your living spaces.
Here’s what I recommend:
Grab a trash bag for garbage and a box for donations.
Go from room to room and grab anything you know can go.
Get the family involved if possible!
Remind your family that to make space for new items, it’s time to let go of some old ones.
Donate or store items you don’t need during the holidays to make room for seasonal items. Clearing the space first ensures your decorations shine without feeling crowded.
Now that you can see all your decorations, it’s easier to realize that you may have more than you need. You may also notice a few items you no longer love, and this is a perfect time to donate them or let them go. With everything fresh in your mind, think seriously about how much holiday decor you want to keep for next year. Does a decoration bring enough cheer to justify storing it for a year? Or is it functional? And again — functional enough to store for 365 days?
2. Invest in Proper Storage Solutions for Holiday Organizing
After you’ve done a quick declutter, it’s time to get out the holiday decorations! Each year, you haul out the boxes and grumble about the tangled jumble of items you find. Make this the year you’ll get them organized before the holidays, rather than in January when all you want is to dump things in boxes and get those decorations down fast!
When organizing holiday decor, start by categorizing items into groups like lights, ornaments, wreaths, and garlands. See what types of containers you need, and remember to fit the container to the item so bulky or easily breakable items are accommodated.
Options for holiday decorations:
Clear Bins: If you want easy visibility of contents.
Color-coded Bins: Consider red/green for Christmas, blue for Hanukkah, etc.
Ornament Dividers: To keep fragile ornaments safe.
Wreath Boxes: To maintain the shape and beauty of wreaths.
Once you have the proper storage for your holiday decorations, be sure to label the containers so you can easily find things next year. Choose a location in your home where everything can be stored together and make sure the labels are facing out for quick reference.
Pro-tips:
To make next year’s setup a breeze, label each box by location (living room tree ornaments, outdoor lights, etc). Well-organized holiday decor not only simplifies decorating but also preserves items so they last for seasons to come.
While unpacking decorations, set aside a “holiday refresh” box for items you no longer use or love. At the end of the season, you can decide to donate, recycle, or repurpose these items.
3. Create a Holiday Command Center
Our brains become overloaded when the holidays arrive with all the shopping, decorating, wrapping, parties, and errands. No wonder we begin missing details! Try these suggestions to help manage it all:
Create one space to become command central. Keeping all this information centralized will improve your chances of not losing lists, schedules, invites, and receipts. Choose something that works for you whether it’s a digital hub, a planner, a three-ring binder, or a small corner of your kitchen.
Keeping track of holiday tasks, such as shopping lists, baking schedules, and party plans, becomes much easier when they’re all visible in one place.
A major contributor to holiday stress is trying to keep everything in your head. When you’re setting up your holiday command center, be sure to include a place for tracking gifts. Create a spreadsheet to note who’s receiving what, costs, and if the gift needs to be purchased, wrapped, or mailed. This helps you avoid forgetting anyone or accidentally double-gifting.
4. Create a Gift-Wrapping Station
It’s also helpful to set up a dedicated gift-wrapping area. Designate an area or a portable caddy for wrapping supplies. Stock it with essentials such as:
Wrapping paper
Ribbons, bows, and gift tags in small compartments.
Scissors, tape, and pens in an easy-to-reach holder.
Keeping everything together saves time and prevents the dreaded search for missing tape or scissors right when needed.
Having a dedicated station saves time and prevents misplaced supplies.
5. Make a Holiday Bucket List
It’s always disappointing when the holidays are over, and you suddenly remember a favorite movie you forgot to watch or a community event you missed. Spend ten minutes and make a list of fun things you or your family would like to do. Ask family members for input.
Remember to divide roles and responsibilities so they don’t all fall on your shoulders. Asking kids to look up events and adding them to the calendar helps them begin learning these skills while taking some of the pressure off you! This ensures making the most of the holiday season, but it also helps organize plans so everyone knows what to expect.
6. Final Organizing Tips:
Adopt a “One In, One Out” Rule - For every new holiday item you bring into your home—whether it’s a new decoration or a gift—consider removing an older or unused item. This keeps your storage space from overflowing and helps you avoid post-holiday clutter.
Digitize Holiday Keepsakes- Preserve the memory of your children’s holiday crafts, old cards, and other keepsakes by scanning them into digital formats. This minimizes physical clutter while keeping sentimental items accessible.
Organize the Kitchen for Holiday Meals
Declutter pantry items and make room for holiday-specific foods.
Use clear containers and labels for dry goods like flour and sugar.
Keep frequently used baking tools in an easy-to-reach spot to streamline holiday cooking.
Maintain Daily Tidying Habits- Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to tidy up. Small, consistent efforts go a long way toward keeping your home organized during the festivities.
Wrapping Up
Staying organized during the holidays doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s to create a meaningful and joyful holiday season. By preparing ahead of time, investing in the right storage solutions, and maintaining simple habits, you can enjoy a (somewhat!) clutter-free, stress-free season. Here’s to creating a home filled with warmth, cheer, and space for what matters most: time with loved ones.
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