5 Tips to Declutter Your Home Before the Holidays

Now is the perfect time to organize your home before the holiday decorations and new toys arrive, and I’ve got you covered. Let’s declutter your home before the holidays. Tis the season for less stress!

Table of Contents:

1. My story
2. Quick clutter tip
3. Tip One Start with an easy room
4. Tip Two Bring a box into the room with you
5. Tip Three Set a timer
6. Tip Four Pick five things to donate
7. Tip Five Take out anything that does not belong
8. Vacuum the room
9. You did it, and I am so proud of you.

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This post is for every parent who feels the clutter in their home taking over. I’m not talking about a simple clean-up routine. Nope. This is the “I’ve reached my limit, and it’s affecting my mood, black bag energy” decluttering post. (Only without the black bag.) And look, we’ve all been there. A messy home does not make you a hoarder, despite what the internet tells you. Life is busy, and decluttering is a daunting task. I am here to take the how and when off your shoulders and remind you that you aren’t alone. This post will share five tips to declutter your home before the holidays.

My story

Let’s be honest. I would much rather be doing something else.

So, I let it build up because I lack the time, budget, and motivation. It’s a vicious cycle.

Pretty soon, I became short-tempered and unfocused in my environment. Truthfully, we were all unhappy with how it was.

The kids’ rooms lacked storage space and overflowed with crumpled papers, a colorful collection of party favor necklaces, and Lego pieces stuffed under the bed. The boys were having trouble falling asleep in their own space.

The living room was also beginning to feel like a Radio Shack, with cords from 2012 sprawled out on the coffee table. It was no longer a place to relax and unwind after a long day.

We were all drowning, and yet no one made the first move.

However, everything changed one early November morning when I woke up and declared it was a great time for change.

I am happy to report that I feel 10 pounds lighter in my home and can finally think again. The kids also sleep much better and keep up with their “new” space. We finally all have breathing room, and you will, too.

Now, I am happy to share my decluttering process with you. And no, it doesn’t involve buying out The Container Store.

Quick clutter tip

Before we dive in, I want to make something super clear. Buying out The Container Store before we declutter is not your solution. Instead, it feeds more into the problem. You do not need a storage unit, either.

Sure, we will eventually need toy storage solutions, better pantry storage, and (maybe, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves) even a fresh coat of paint. But we’ll get to that after the unnecessary items are out. You know where to find me for phase two.

Our focus is limited right now, so let’s get to work with this manageable step-by-step guide. Dare I say I even had a good time?

QUICK TIP: I am all in for children, partners, and spouses doing their part with daily routines. Your home should never fall solely on your shoulders. In our home, Sunday is room cleaning day, and we discuss looking for invisible labor. However, I find it very helpful to have everyone out of the house for decluttering sessions such as this.

Tip One: Start with an easy room

The first thing to do is write down the rooms that are making you anxious. My list included the living room, decluttering toys in the playroom, boy’s bedroom one, and boy’s bedroom two.

Write down what keeps you up at night.

Some other spaces may be:

• Kitchen counters
• The coat closet
• The hall closet
• The linen closet

Start with the most effortless room on the list. This was the living room because I had a good chance of feeling successful.

I did this for a quick win to keep the momentum going. When you finish, you will look at the room and think, “Yes, I’ve got this.”

How do you know which room to pick first?

Pick the room that is bothering you but is manageable to straighten. Again, I started in the living room, which would soon house the Christmas tree and other decorations. You may want to scan the guest room if you have holiday guests.

PRO TIP: Crank up music that helps your mood or put on your favorite podcast.

Tip Two: Bring a box into the room with you

You have done the most challenging part. You have decided that today is the day, and you have brewed a strong coffee or hot cocoa to help you get there.

Now, let’s get to work.

Place the box (or a few boxes) in the room and scan it for items that stand out. You may even want to label the boxes for donations to a local food bank, thrift store, Facebook marketplace, or for friends. But do not spend much time labeling boxes. We need your momentum to be strong.

Scraps are under the couch cushions in the living room, and the fridge and medicine cabinet almost always have expiration dates close to the year I was born. (Slight exaggeration.) I also brought a trash bag for garbage and unwanted items that cannot be recycled or donated.

As you enter these high-traffic areas, ask yourself:

• What is in the room that I haven’t noticed in over a year?
• Does it bring me joy, or does it have sentimental value?
• Does it serve a purpose?

Declutter toys, ask yourself:

• What does my child DO to play most often? (Examples: building, reading, stacking, imaginative play, creating, art, etc.)
• Does this toy honor that action, or is it cluttering their play?
• Do I have a place to store it where my child can access it?

As you place the toy in the donate or keep pile, glance to see if it is in good condition. Old toys (such as magnetic tiles, Legos, and blocks) do not mean kids are done playing with them. They may no longer be able to find them amongst the clutter.

The article “Fewer Toys Children Have, the More They Play” by Raised Good provides more on this topic.

PRO TIP: I’ve had the best luck when I spend little time deciding yes or no to these questions. Out of all the years of donating, there is only one item that I still think about. It was a North Carolina hat from my first job working at Lids. (Random fun fact.)

Now, let’s get moving. Step three is ready for you.

Tip Three: Set a timer

Okay, you are in the room and will set a timer for 10 minutes. A timer makes the job more manageable and keeps me on task.

As your timer rings, consider whether you need another 10 or 20-minute session to complete the final parts of the job.

See that! We are already three steps in!!!

Tip Four: Pick five things to donate

Tips four and five move simultaneously. I suggest reading both tips together.

When I enter a room, I aim to pick five things that do not serve a purpose for the room or my life.

In the living room, I cleared out random cords (again, it looked like Radio Shack) and vases from HomeGoods that I had used to decorate my first apartment.

I started sorting garbage, books, and games with missing pieces in the boy’s room.

Here’s what to consider when decluttering a room:

• Pick five items.
• Put the items into the box.
• Look at the room.
• Is there more to take out?
• Go back for another five.
• Repeat until it feels like there is less stuff.

DO THIS NOW: Put the boxes directly into your trunk. Sure, You may drive around with it for another week or two. Right now, that is not what we are focusing on. Get it out of your sight.

Tip Five: Take out anything that does not belong

Remember that tips four and five work well together. Please think of this as a continuous movement.

Find the item. Move the item.

Have a donation box (tip two) and a tabletop or clean area where you can put items that you are keeping but are not in the correct room. An example is a kid’s toy or sock on the floor (IYKYK).

As you place the items you want to keep on the table, sort them into groups based on the correct room they go in.

PRO TIP: This is an excellent follow-up for children after the rooms have been decluttered. You can invite each child to pick many items to find their home.

Vacuum the room

Vacuum the room for the grand finale and make it official! You’ve done it, and the room looks great.

And good news! Now that you have less stuff, it will be a beautiful reminder of the work and effort you just put in.

You did it, and I am so proud of you.

As always, I am here cheering you on. If you are like me and love accountability, leave a comment telling me what you’ve done. I will raise my hot tea for you and your new, clean living space.