5 Ways to Declutter Before the Holidays

The holidays are upon us: Thanksgiving is little more than a week away, and Christmas will come flying soon after. This weekend is the perfect time to declutter, clean, and rejuvenate your home before it gets re-cluttered with decor and gifts galore.

Here are my tips for refreshing your space before the holidays:

Store away your summer clothes.

If you haven’t done this already, it’s time. Pack up your summer wear or rearrange your closet so that winter clothing is front and center. As you move your summer pieces, make a pile of items you didn’t wear this past season to give away. I always donate summer clothes in the winter and winter clothes in the summer, based on whether I wore them the previous season or not. If I didn’t, I say goodbye.

Clear out the fridge.

You’re going to have double the food in your fridge over the holidays, so it’s time for a deep clean. Take each item out, toss everything old, and wipe it down. It’s an easily procrastinated task, but if you buckle down and do it, you’ll feel so satisfied when it’s done.

Switch out summer items.

Scan your home. If you still have summer magazine issues lying around, lightweight blankets, and floral candles, put them up in favor of cozier decor and cedar scents.

…But don’t junk up the closet.

It can be easy to put everything in a closet, and feel like you’ve decluttered. In fact, you’re just cluttering up a closet. Be disciplined and donate anything you haven’t really used in the past year. Things like candles, vases, and purposeless gifts are often stored and forgotten. Don’t just put things away – get them out of your home completely if they aren’t being used.

Take it in small bites.

It can be overwhelming to tackle everything in a weekend. If reading this stresses you out, then you probably just need to take it in stages. Give yourself five minutes per day – that’s it – and accomplish one task. For instance: Clear out one drawer. Pick just five items to give away. Designate a clear spot for Christmas cards.

Just focusing on one task per day for five minutes will give you instant satisfaction and get you into a routine of slowly decluttering day by day.

 

When do you like to refresh your home? Do you have any tips for doing so? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Love, Bee