After taking a second glance around your home, are you now regretting your ridiculous
suggestion of having your friends and family over for the holidays? It’s happened to all of us. Not only do you have a lot of cleaning and preparing to do, but you’ve come to the realization that everything in your home just looks out of place.
Instead of standing there and wishing you had put your foot in your mouth, check out our
decluttering tips that are just in time for the holidays. We guarantee that your home will feel nice and cozy when your loved ones arrive, especially if you decide to lavish it with Christmas decor.
- See Your Home through a Stranger’s Eye`s
As ridiculous as it may sound, try to imagine that it’s your first time walking into your home by
physically stepping outside and then coming back in.
● What are the first thoughts going through your mind as a visitor?
● Are there certain areas that are kind of embarrassing or that could just use a little
reorganizing?
● What can stay and what needs to go?
You can even consider inviting one of your friends over and ask what their honest first
impressions were of your home. If they’re willing to be honest with you, you’ve found yourself a
good friend. - Make a Decluttering List
As you’re going through each room of your home with tip #1, make a checklist of things that you need to get rid of. This will help show you exactly where you need to get started.
If you’re planning on having friends and family over this holiday season, we would like to
recommend that you start in the living room and then move on to the kitchen and dining room areas. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to dress these rooms in beautiful holiday décor! - Use the Four Box Method
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and have absolutely no idea where to start, we suggest that you give the four-box method a try. Just like it sounds, you’ll need four boxes or bins that need to be labeled keep, trash, give away, or relocate.
This not only helps you realize just how much you own but also where the appropriate home is for each of those items. You will use this method for each room in your house. - Donate Clothing and Items You Never Use
When’s the last time you went through all of the closets in your home and got rid of clothing that no one seems to wear? Both Fred and I have lost a significant amount of weight over the last few years and doing this was huge in helping us see the progress we’ve both made as well as realizing HOW MUCH stuff we were actually holding on to. Perhaps you still have toys your kids have outgrown lingering around from last holiday season going through the toys that have been pushed under the bed or stashed in the closet will help free up space. If you can’t remember the last time you did this then you’re way overdue! Allowing items to sit there and collect dust is just silly, so
make it a habit every 3 to 6 months and donate those items to people that are in need.
- Clear off Tables and Counter Space
For whatever reason, countertops, coffee tables, and kitchen tables seem to be a breeding
ground for clutter, whether it’s mail, paperwork, magazines, or any other cluttered item that you
can think of. This was evident when we transformed out dining room into a home gym. Clutter was ending up everywhere else. Make it a priority of yours to remove these eyesores and make sure that they don’t start showing up there again. - Stow Away Items the Right Way
Keeping your home decluttered will be nearly impossible if you don’t have the right tools to keep
everything organized and in its rightful place. Don’t just throw everything in miscellaneous
drawers or shut them behind closet doors.
Provide each item with a home by purchasing baskets, bins, storage ottomans, or hooks for
certain things to be hung up. You may even want to install shelving on the walls in your living
room. Don’t stop there! You’ll feel good about yourself once you’ve added the organization to
your kitchen pantry. - Fill a Trash Bag
Another great way to get rid of a bunch of clutter in a hurry is to take an empty trash bag into a
room with the sole purpose of getting rid of junk, such as papers, magazines, broken items, or
things that just don’t make sense holding onto. You may need to only do one trash bag a week
so that your garbage container doesn’t get backed up. - Take Before and After Photos
Decluttering an entire home isn’t a quick and simple task for anyone, especially for those that
have a knack for collecting things, I say this as I plan to have my daughters room repainted for her birthday, so if this is your struggle, you can motivate yourself by working on just one room of your house, such as your living room. Taking a before and after picture of the room and you’ll notice the amazing difference and will want to continue the process through the rest of your house. - Get Help from a Friend
Maybe you’re discovering that it’s very difficult parting ways with pretty much anything. Asking
help from a friend will provide you with the help and support that you need, as well as a second
opinion as to whether you should get rid of something or not. Just try not to get in an argument
over it because they’re trying their best to help you. - Add Cheerful Essence to the Air
While this last tip has nothing to do with decluttering, a pleasant fragrance will provide your
home with just the right finishing touch. There are a handful of fragrances that are wonderful to
use at Christmas time, including cinnamon brooms, gingerbread, peppermint, or pumpkin pie
scented candles. Also, you could simply go with your favorite essential oil to help uplift
everyone’s spirit. Sometimes smelling something pleasant is WAY better than getting rid of yet
another unnecessary item.
With the holidays just around the corner, these decluttering tips will help your home look and
feel absolutely amazing. Even when the Christmas season is in your rearview mirror, you’ll still
continue to live a more peaceful and relaxing life. What are some other simple ways that you’ve
been able to get rid of clutter in your home?