Declutter Before the Holidays

Create a Calm, Cozy, and Organized Home

Decluttering before the holiday season can help you enjoy one of the most exciting times of year. Between decorating, shopping, hosting guests, baking, and celebrating with family and friends, our homes can quickly become filled with extra items, clutter, and everyday messes. One of the best ways to prepare for the holidays is to start with a little decluttering!

Taking time to organize your home before the holiday rush can make a big difference. Not only will your space feel cleaner and more inviting, but you’ll also have more room for holiday decorations, gifts, guests, and all the special memories you’ll make along the way.

The good news? You don’t have to tackle your entire house in one day. A little progress in each area can go a long way!

If you want to see my home tidy and cleaned up for the holidays, then check out my Christmas Home Tour from 2025.

Start with the Entryway and Mudroom

The entryway is the first thing your guests see when entering your home. During the colder months, it can quickly become a drop zone for coats, boots, shoes, backpacks, hats, and gloves. In our home the mudroom is what gets the messiest. It is our laundry room and our families main entry. It quickly becomes the landing zone for so many items. We continually have to work on decluttering this area.

Take some time to:

• Remove shoes and boots that are no longer worn.
• Donate coats, hats, and gloves that no longer fit or are needed.
• Organize everyday essentials into baskets or bins.
• Add hooks for coats and bags to keep items off the floor.
• Create a designated spot for wet boots and shoes.

Tidy Tip: Use labeled baskets for each family member to keep hats, mittens, and scarves organized and easy to find. A small shoe rack or boot tray can also help keep the area looking neat.

Clean Out the Kitchen and Pantry

The kitchen continues to be the heart of the home during the holidays. From baking cookies to preparing family dinners, you’ll want plenty of space to work and entertain.

Before the holiday cooking begins, take a look through your cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator.

Focus on:

• Tossing expired food and spices.
• Donating unopened, nonperishable foods you won’t use.
• Organizing baking supplies and ingredients.
• Removing duplicate kitchen gadgets and utensils.
• Clearing off countertops and getting rid of unnecessary items.
• Cleaning out the refrigerator to make room for holiday groceries and leftovers.

Tidy Tip: Group similar pantry items together and use clear containers or labeled baskets to keep everything organized. Keep frequently used ingredients within easy reach, especially baking essentials during the holiday season.

Declutter the Living Room

The living room is often where families gather, watch holiday movies, exchange gifts, and relax. Creating a little extra space will make it feel cozy and welcoming.

Start by:

• Removing excess paper clutter, old kids projects and junk mail.
• Sorting through blankets and decorative pillows.
• Finding a home for toys, games, and electronics.
• Clearing off coffee tables and side tables.
• Organizing remote controls and charging cords.
• Removing decorations that you no longer love or use.

Tidy Tip: Keep a decorative basket nearby for extra blankets and another for frequently used items. At the end of each day, take five minutes to return everything to its proper place. Bonus, find your baskets at thrift stores and use them in other areas of the home.

Organize Bedrooms and Guest Rooms

If you’re expecting overnight guests during the holidays, now is the perfect time to freshen up bedrooms and guest spaces. We use our guest cottage on our property as our “extra room” since we live in a two bedroom house with four kids. This space still needs refreshed every so often as well.

In your bedrooms:

• Go through closets and donate clothing that no longer fits.
• Clear out nightstands and dresser drawers.
• Put away out-of-season clothing.
• Organize shoes, accessories, and handbags.
• Remove items that don’t belong in the bedroom.

For guest rooms:

• Clear off dressers and nightstands.
• Make room in the closet for guests’ belongings.
• Wash bedding and extra blankets.
• Remove unnecessary storage items.
• Make sure the room feels comfortable and inviting.

Tidy Tip: Keep an extra basket or laundry hamper in the guest room. It gives visitors a convenient place for their belongings and helps keep the space organized.

Don’t Forget the Bathrooms

Bathrooms can collect plenty of clutter, especially when it comes to toiletries, makeup, and cleaning supplies. We use our hallway linen closet for extra bathroom storage besides the vanity. This space however, needs plenty of TLC too as it can become quite unsightly.

Take a few minutes to:

• Toss expired medications and personal care products according to safe disposal guidelines.
• Get rid of empty bottles and products you no longer use.
• Organize makeup, hair products, and skincare.
• Sort through towels and washcloths.
• Restock toilet paper, hand soap, and other guest essentials.

Tidy Tip: Use drawer organizers, small baskets, and clear containers to keep bathroom essentials neat. Keep everyday products together and store extras in a designated area.

Tackle Closets and Storage Spaces

Closets, laundry rooms, and storage areas are often places where clutter gets pushed out of sight. Before bringing out holiday decorations and new gifts, take time to make room.

Think about decluttering:

• Coat closets.
• Linen closets.
• Laundry room shelves.
• Hallway storage.
• Toy bins and playrooms.
• Holiday decoration storage.

Donate or list on Facebook Marketplace items in good condition that your family no longer needs, and dispose of anything broken or unusable.

Tidy Tip: Use labeled storage bins so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Store similar items together and keep frequently used items in easy to access locations.

Make Room for Holiday Decorations

Before pulling out the holiday decorations, take inventory of what you already have.

We all have those boxes filled with decorations we haven’t used in years! Instead of adding more to the collection, take time to sort through everything.

• Keep decorations that you truly love.
• Donate gently used decorations you no longer want.
• Toss broken lights and damaged ornaments.
• Untangle and organize seasonal lights.
• Store decorations by category.
• Label bins so decorating and packing up are easier next year.

Tidy Tip: Take a picture of each storage bin’s contents before putting it away. This makes it easier to find specific decorations next holiday season without digging through every box.

Simple Tips for Keeping Your Home Tidy During the Holidays

Once you’ve decluttered, the next step is keeping everything organized! With busy schedules and extra activities, it’s easy for clutter to creep back in. A few simple habits can help you stay on top of things.

1. Do a 10-Minute Daily Reset

Set aside 10 minutes each evening to pick up the main living areas. Put away shoes, fold blankets, clear countertops, and return misplaced items to their homes. Make sure to get the whole family involved in this.

2. Follow the One-In, One-Out Rule

When something new comes into your home, consider removing something similar. This is especially helpful with new clothing, toys, kitchen gadgets, and holiday decorations.

3. Give Everything a Home

One of the easiest ways to prevent clutter is to make sure everything has a designated place. Baskets, bins, drawer organizers, and hooks can make staying organized much easier.

4. Keep Flat Surfaces Clear

Kitchen counters, coffee tables, dressers, and entryway tables tend to collect clutter quickly. Make it a habit to clear these surfaces at the end of each day.

5. Deal with Mail and Paperwork Right Away

Don’t let mail pile up on the kitchen counter. Sort it as soon as it comes in, recycle what you don’t need, and create a designated spot for important paperwork.

6. Involve the Whole Family

Keeping a home tidy shouldn’t fall on one person. Give everyone a few simple responsibilities, such as putting away shoes, picking up toys, or keeping their bedrooms organized.

7. Don’t Aim for Perfection

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed! Your home doesn’t have to look perfect every day. Focus on maintaining simple routines and creating a comfortable space for your family and guests.

Make Decluttering a Little More Manageable

If the thought of decluttering your entire home feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller tasks.

Try tackling one room or area each day. Set a timer for 15–20 minutes and focus on making progress rather than finishing everything at once.

Keep four boxes or bags handy:

• Keep: Items you use and love.
• Donate: Items that are still in good condition but no longer needed.
• Sell: Pieces that are worth putting effort into listing on a site like Facebook Marketplace.
• Toss: Broken, damaged, or unusable items.

Once you’ve finished an area, take a moment to enjoy the results before moving on to the next space!

Enjoy a Clutter-Free Holiday Season

Decluttering before the holidays isn’t just about having a clean house. It’s about creating a home that feels peaceful, welcoming, and ready for the season ahead.

By clearing out unnecessary items, organizing everyday spaces, and establishing a few simple tidying habits, you’ll spend less time searching for things and cleaning up and more time enjoying what matters most.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Start small, stay consistent, and give yourself grace along the way.

A little decluttering now can make room for more joy, more memories, and a little extra holiday magic!

Here’s to a cozy, organized, and stress-free holiday season!

Davee