Bring More Joy to Your Holidays by Decluttering in 5 Easy Steps

The holidays are upon us. It could be my imagination, but they seem to arrive earlier and earlier each year.

We usually associate the holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. Yet it often comes with a fair amount of stress, especially for women who are juggling work and the demands of a busy household.

As you pull out decorations, prepare for guests, and gather gifts, the clutter seems to multiply, filling up every corner, countertop, and chair. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the added "stuff" taking up precious space and energy.

This year, consider making the holiday season a time not only for celebrating but also for simplifying. By taking a strategic approach to decluttering, you can create a more peaceful, welcoming environment for you, your family, and your guests.

Before we get caught up in the holiday decorating frenzy, let’s use this opportunity to simplify, allowing for more joy and less stress during the season.

Whether it’s clearing out storage areas before gifts arrive, organizing décor as we move from one holiday to another, or just making a little extra breathing room, decluttering can add calm to your home during this busy season. 

(Check out the Country Christmas Planner to help you get organized for the holidays.)

Step 1: Start with Pre-Holiday Decluttering

A perfect time to do a little pre-holiday decluttering is before the tubs of holiday decorations come out of storage. Starting with a clean space can make decorating less overwhelming. It will be easier to decide where decorations should go based on color, size, shape, and purpose.

Focus on areas like the entryway, kitchen, and living room, where holiday decorations are usually displayed, or guests often gather. Store or remove non-essential items that won’t be needed during the season, like books, toss pillows, knick-knacks, or out-of-season décor. Clearing out items you don’t or won’t use will allow your holiday décor to stand out.

To benefit even more from pre-holiday decluttering, keep a donation box handy for easy sorting as you go. It’s a simple way to clear things out without being tempted to add clutter back in after the holidays are over.

With the demands of work and home, time saved by getting organized makes a difference in your stress level. You can ease into the holiday season, and set up your home for festive gatherings, cozy nights, and maybe even some peaceful moments.

Step 2: Mindful Holiday Decorating to Prevent Clutter Buildup

When it comes to holiday decorating, a purposeful and practical approach can make all the difference in preventing clutter from taking over. Start by choosing decorations that you truly love. Think about the décor of your home and the items that hold special meaning to you and your family.

Instead of filling every shelf and surface, focus on a few pieces that capture the spirit of the season. This way, each item has a purpose and a place, creating an inviting atmosphere without overwhelming the space.

Consider reducing the amount of holiday decorations you’ve been storing by tossing broken or disfigured items. Use your donation box for those things that are still usable but no longer fit your taste or needs.

If you have a collection of holiday decorations, try rotating them each year. Displaying just a few favorites can keep your home feeling fresh and new each holiday season, plus it gives you a chance to truly enjoy each piece.

A thoughtful, well-curated approach will leave your home looking beautiful, festive, and clutter-free—ready for the holiday gatherings ahead!

Step 3: Simplify Holiday Shopping and Gift-Giving

Holiday shopping and gift-giving is a much-anticipated part of the holidays. But they also have the potential to add clutter if we’re not careful. This year, consider focusing on practical gifts or experiences that won’t just take up space.

Thoughtful presents like homemade treats, kitchen essentials, or handcrafted items are both useful and meaningful.

And experiences, like a gift certificate to a local restaurant or tickets to a nearby event, can create lasting memories without adding more “stuff” to the home. This approach not only helps keep things simple but can also make gift-giving more personal and enjoyable.

This is also one way to limit potential clutter in your own space as well. Gift cards take up little space and are easy to hide from holiday snoopers.

As you prepare for holiday gift exchanges, take a moment to clear out storage areas where you might keep gifts or wrapping supplies. Having a specific place and method for storing gift wrapping supplies lets you quickly see what you already have on hand.

Then later, you can stock up on supplies during sales without going overboard and creating more clutter.

You can keep the holiday spirit alive by choosing gifts and wrapping methods with care. And you can keep a handle on holiday “clutter stress” by creating a place and system for storing you gift wrapping supplies.

Step 4: Keep Your Kitchen and Dining Areas Clutter-Free

The kitchen and dining areas easily become the heart of holiday gatherings. But they can also be where clutter sneaks in the fastest.

Before diving into holiday cooking, take a little time to clear countertops and organize your essential cookware. Creating a clean, open space makes cooking and baking much more enjoyable. You’ll have room to spread out and get creative.

For the big holiday meal, designate areas for ingredients, cookware, and serving dishes you’ll use, making it easy to access everything without crowding your workspace. Keep the items you’ll need within reach and tuck away any non-essentials to avoid unnecessary clutter. With a streamlined setup, your holiday meal prep will be smoother and less stressful.

And when guests start arriving, think about adding temporary storage options, like a folding table for extra food or drink storage, so your counters stay clear. This way, you’ll keep the kitchen flowing smoothly and have more room for everyone to gather, chat, and savor the holiday moments.

A little thoughtful planning can go a long way toward keeping your kitchen and dining areas festive yet clutter-free!

Step 5: Start the New Year Fresh with Post-Holiday Decluttering

As the holiday season winds down, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what truly brings you joy. Take a moment to evaluate your decorations and gifts, keeping only the pieces you genuinely like using or displaying.

If some holiday decor felt like more of a hassle than a pleasure, consider donating it. The same goes for gifts—if there are items you don’t envision using, think about giving them a new home. This simple post-holiday assessment allows you to enter the new year with a fresh, lighter space.

A practical post-holiday decluttering routine can make next year’s setup a breeze. Start by sorting through decorations and recycling or repurposing any items that are still in good condition but you’re not likely to use again. Organize what you choose to keep in clearly labeled storage bins or boxes for easy access next year.

By developing a quick routine to put everything back in order, you’ll be setting yourself up for a smoother start to each holiday season, keeping clutter at bay while preserving the things that bring joy.

A little effort now will help you enter the new year with more calm and clarity.

Conclusion: Enjoy a More Peaceful Holiday Season

We don’t usually associate the holidays as a time to tackle clutter. We tend to accept the chaos of “extra stuff” shoved here and there as part of season. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

While it may not be possible to have a totally stress-free time of it, we can create a more relaxing environment for our holiday events.

Use these simple steps to guide you through your own holiday decluttering, from preparation to celebration and beyond. They provide practical strategies you can easily add into your holiday preparations.

With a little effort ahead of time, you’ll create a space that feels welcoming and ready for all the joy the season brings.

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Check out the Country Christmas Planner in my Etsy shop - A SENSE OF COUNTRY. It's all you need to plan, prep, create shopping lists, etc. for the holidays.