Out With the Old: Simplifying Your Home For The Holidays | 5 Expert Tips To Get You Started
Between colorful decorations and a full schedule of holiday gatherings with loved ones, the season is filled with magic and wonder. However, surrounding yourself with clutter can create undue stress and ruin your fun. Read on for tips for simplifying your home for the holidays by decluttering.
Is It Really the Most Joyful Time of the Year?
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 41% of Americans say they have more stress during the holiday season. Although most agree the festivities are exciting, 32% describe this time as overwhelming and tiring.
A cluttered home can significantly contribute to one’s stress levels. It’s common for households to adorn their homes with sparkly ornaments, lights, themed linens and other decor. The problem really stems from adding too many seasonal embellishments to your everyday belongings.
When you live in a state of clutter, you might feel unproductive, frustrated and unable to concentrate on your long holiday to-do list. Fortunately, you can do something about it and make the holidays more enjoyable in a calmer home environment.
Creating a Clutter-Free Home for the Holidays in 5 Steps
Simplifying your home for the holidays is no different from decluttering at any other time of the year. You can use many of the same principles to eliminate excess without sacrificing your holiday merriment.
Simplifying your home for the holidays involves decluttering, rotating decorations, organizing with labeled storage, and creating functional zones to reduce stress, stay organized, and fully embrace the joy of the season. Read on for more!
1. Declutter Before You Decorate
Although cleaning out your drawers and closets may be something you do in the spring, decluttering before you decorate for the holidays can reinvigorate you for a less chaotic season.
Before cracking open the containers of holiday decorations, go room by room and start decluttering what you no longer need. Make separate piles for items you intend to keep, donate or discard. Remember to clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry, too — you’ll need the space to store your ingredients for big holiday meals.
2. Rotate Decorations
There are various ways to rotate your holiday and everyday decor to avoid over-cluttering your home. For instance, swap out what you use each year and replace your usual pieces with holiday designs for the season only.
Many use the golden ratio to ensure a balanced and visually appealing look. This design principle states that 60% of the room should contain furnishings, while the rest should be filled with negative space and accents at 30% and 10%, respectively. The golden ratio can help you arrange decor in whatever way feels proportionate. It also allows you to rotate complementary items for a well-curated aesthetic.
3. Label Storage Boxes
Few things are more stressful than not knowing what each storage box contains. This forces you to open and sift through each one to take stock of what you have. Label each container as you open them so you can easily identify what’s in them in the future. Doing so will also help you keep the boxes more organized after the holiday season.
For example, write “ornaments” on the box where you put the tree decorations. Holiday-themed towels and blankets should be clearly marked on another container. You can even color-code the boxes, such as green for tree decor and red for string lights.
4. Create Zones
Keep your home organized by creating functional zones for specific activities or decorations. For instance, designate an area for gift wrapping, ornament sorting or baking, keeping other parts of your home clear. Another idea is to place a small basket on a console table to put holiday cards you receive in the mail.
5. Get Rid Of Excess
Like before you decorated, putting away holiday decorations is a great time to decide whether you want to save everything for next year. According to a Rocket Homes survey, 43.02% of Americans spend about $100 on Christmas decorations annually. However, the average is about $269. If you’ve bought more lights and decor during the season, you should adopt an out-with-the-old mindset and donate what you no longer need.
Make This Holiday Stress-Free With a Simplified Home
With the holidays making your life busier than usual, it’s best to clean your house before you prepare for the festivities. The simpler and more decluttered your home is, the more enjoyable and stress-free your holiday season will be.
In this blog, I shared my 5 expert tips for simplifying your home for the holidays.
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