Pre-Holiday Decluttering Guide to Make Room for Joy This Season

October 22, 2024 | Family Life

The holiday season is filled with joy, but it can also bring a fair share of clutter as we prepare for family gatherings, gift exchanges, and dinner parties. Whether you’re hosting out-of-town guests, planning a Thanksgiving feast, or trying to find space for all those new holiday goodies, a little pre-holiday decluttering can make all the difference. By clearing out your home beforehand, you’ll create a stress-free, welcoming space so you can focus on what truly matters—celebrating with family and friends.

From organizing the kitchen to managing children’s rooms and toys and tidying up your coat closet, these steps will help you stay on top of the holiday chaos. We’ve even got some tips on how to get your wrapping supplies in order, so you’re ready to wrap up your holidays with ease! Let’s get started and make room for more joy this season with these simple tips to declutter before the holiday rush.

Decluttering Your Kitchen Storage

The kitchen is the heart of a home, where families and friends gather to celebrate the holidays. So, if you only have time to declutter one room before the holidays, these quick tips will help you tackle kitchen clutter. Begin by removing pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and even small appliances if you no longer use them and don’t see a use for them over the holidays. Then you can better focus on grouping similar items, like utensils, pots, and pans, to create designated zones for easy access. This is an excellent time to list items you may want to purchase to make holiday cooking and entertaining more effortless and elegant; like a fancy gravy boat or a new serving platter.

If you don’t already have them, consider incorporating drawer dividers and cabinet organizers to maximize your storage space. Now is also a good time to make a grocery list of spices and other perishable items that you might need during the holidays, such as sage, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, canned pumpkin, Trader Joe’s prepared gravy, frozen pie crusts, and other items for your freezer and pantry. When reorganizing your kitchen, place frequently used items within easy reach, ensuring you can grab them without hassle.

If you have an open wall in your kitchen, consider installing shelves or hanging racks for additional storage options. A really cool pantry look is to use clear containers—these can be store-bought plastic containers or, for a more budget-friendly approach, buy pickle jars in assorted sizes to store dry goods like grains, pasta, and snacks, making them visible and easily accessible. A well-organized kitchen will make holiday cooking and entertaining more efficient, enjoyable, and less stressful.

Refreshing the Laundry Room

During the holiday season, the laundry room gets a lot of traffic, and it’s probably the second busiest place in your home, especially if you have small children. Decluttering your laundry area—whether you have a spacious laundry room or your washer and dryer are located in the garage—will make it easier for everyone over the holidays if you organize supplies and create storage solutions. If you’re planning for a house full of guests, be sure the washer and dryer are in tip-top shape. For example, if you’ve never had your dryer ducts vacuumed out by a professional and your machines are over five years old, this would be a great time to check this home maintenance item off your list.

Also, step back and consider the layout of your laundry area to see if you can implement any creative ideas to organize this space better. For example, adding storage solutions like open shelving can free up valuable counter space while making everything visible and accessible. Be sure to throw out or recycle any products or items you haven’t used in a while and won’t need in the future. Make sure frequently used items, such as detergents and fabric softeners, are labeled and easily accessible. You might want to purchase a detergent free of fragrance and harmful chemicals if you have guests with sensitivities.

Sorting Through Toys

The Christmas season is a time of joy and jubilation, especially for children eagerly anticipating Santa’s arrival. It’s the perfect opportunity to engage kids in a little pre-holiday decluttering, as they often find it easier to part with old toys when they know new presents are on the way. Encourage them to reflect on the toys they truly cherish and enjoy while also considering which ones they might be ready to let go of to make room for Santa’s new surprises.

By framing decluttering as a festive activity, you can inspire excitement rather than resistance. Create a fun atmosphere by playing holiday music, sharing stories about their favorite toys, and emphasizing the joy of giving. Suggest that some toys could be donated to children in need, allowing your kids to feel like they’re making space for new gifts while also spreading joy to others.

Tidying Up Your Coat Closet

You’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo, a renowned tidying expert, author, and television personality known for her unique approach to organization and decluttering. She emphasizes the importance of keeping only those items that bring a feeling of joy. Before the holidays is a perfect time of year to declutter bedroom closets. To begin, empty one closet at a time so you start with a clean slate, ready to welcome the holiday season with a refreshed and organized space. As you go through everything, let go of any coats or accessories that haven’t been used in the past year.

Organize similar items together so that winter coats are easily accessible when it is cold and lighter jackets are easily accessible during spring and summer months. You may even consider using a temporary storage unit to safely stash seasonal belongings.

Another way to maximize your closet space is by using the same hanger style for all your coats and jackets, creating a uniform appearance. Consider installing additional shelves or hooks inside the closet door for smaller items if there’s space. If you have more coats than closet space, you can do a seasonal rotation twice a year. Storing off-season coats in garment or vacuum-sealed bags can free up valuable space for current items, ensuring your closet is always organized and efficient.

Organizing Your Wrapping Supplies

Creating an organized wrapping paper station can transform your gift-giving experience, turning the tedious task of wrapping gifts more enjoyable. One clever idea is repurposing an old armoire into a dedicated wrapping paper station. This provides ample storage and keeps your supplies hidden when not in use. You can hang wrapping paper on rods inside the armoire and use the shelves or drawers for gift bags, ribbons, and other supplies. This setup saves space and adds a touch of elegance to your home decor.

Recycling leftover wrapping paper and ribbons are two ways to have a greener present exchange. Let everyone know you plan to reuse as much wrapping paper and ribbons as possible before gift unwrapping begins. Afterward, flatten out and fold wrapping paper and roll up the ribbons for next year’s holiday. Secondly, not all wrapping paper is recyclable.

Remember that most recycling programs do not accept metallic and glittery holiday wrapping papers. So stick with plain paper (it will be less messy, too!). You can also use fabric to wrap gifts and pillowcases (that can become a gift to the recipient or returned to you for next year!

Pre-Holiday Decluttering with Metro for the Holidays

Let Metro Self Storage help you unwrap extra space for easy entertaining this holiday season. Whether you need a secret spot to stash those surprise gifts or a place to clear the way for guests, we’ve got you covered. Our convenient drive-up units and climate-controlled spaces come in all sizes, making holiday storage a breeze. Don’t let clutter steal the joy of the season—visit metrostorage.com to reserve your unit today and make your holiday planning merry and bright!