November is here, and with Halloween in the rearview mirror, it’s time to think about preparing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the magical gatherings in between! I can already picture me as well as you starting to put the halloween decorations back and pulling down all the bins and bags of decorations and gift wrapping supplies for Thanksgiving and Chritsmas.
Decluttering and organizing all your holiday supplies brings several benefits:
Less Stress: Knowing where everything is reduces decorating and gift-wrapping stress.
More Space: With fewer, well-chosen items, you’ll maximize storage.
Money Saved: Avoid duplicate purchases by knowing what you have.
Now, while all the benefits sounds really appealing, here’s an easy to follow guide to efficiently declutter and organize holiday decoration supplies so you’re ready to make every season joyful and stress-free.
1. Declutter and Edit Your Holiday Decor
While you are putting back the halloween decor and pulling down the christmas decor, take a quick inventory of all the decorations. Decluttering now saves you time and space during the busiest season.
Assess and Sort: Look at each item and ask yourself and your family how long have you been using them for and will you be using it again next year. Check if it’s still in good shape and brings joy. Set aside broken or worn-out items to discard or recycle and consider donating pieces you no longer use. Check all the lights if they work.
Keep Only What You Love: Prioritize decorations that are versatile or meaningful. This simplifies your collection and reduces storage needs.
Organize by Season: Group items by holiday, type and material. Eg: Separate the Inflatables, costumes, fall pumpkins and halloween decor with stakes into separate bins to prevent damage to each othe. Label the bins for easy access.
2. Store with Efficiency
Clearly labeled and oganized storage not only saves space but makes unpacking and packing away quicker each year.
Labeled Bins: Labeled bins help you know exactly what’s inside, reducing the time spent searching. I always say, every one has different modalities. Some people like to use clear bins so that they can see what's inside. Some people find clear bins visually busy and cluttered. Use the black bins with yellow lids that are available at Costco, The Home Depot or Lowe's. There are no right or wrong bins here. However, if you store all your seasonal supplies in the attic or garage, like most of us do, refrain from using the moving boxes as they tend to attract pests.
Protect Fragile Items: Use bubble wrap or divided storage for delicate pieces to keep them safe. Bag string lights to prevent tangles, or wrap them around cardboard.
Dedicated Storage for Wreaths and Garlands: Special storage bags or hooks keep these items intact and ready for next year.
Source: www.closetfactory.com
3. Simplify Gift Giving
Gift wrapping and card-sending can pile up quickly during the holidays, so keeping these items organized makes the process more enjoyable.
Prepare lists of people and the gifts you are buying for them as well as a list of people whom you are sending cards to.
Declutter Wrapping Supplies: Go through your gift wrap, bags, ribbon, notepads, holiday cards and discard anything damaged, unusable or dated. Store items in a bin, hanging organizers, and photoboxes so everything’s at your fingertips.
The “One In, One Out” Rule: To avoid excess, consider donating or repurposing old wrapping supplies and cards each year when you buy new ones.
Gift Storage Solutions: Have a designated spot for purchased gifts, keeping them hidden but organized. Use gift labels, tags and you list for easy identification.
Source: Unsplash
4. Organize Greeting Cards and Addresses
Sending cards is a wonderful tradition, but managing supplies and addresses can get messy.
Keep Cards and Stamps Together: Store cards, stamps, and address labels in a single pouch or bin so they’re easy to access.
Address Book: If you don’t already, create a digital or physical address book that’s easy to update. This small habit can save hours when it’s time to send holiday greetings.
Pre-Prep Your Cards: For an easier December, fill out cards and address envelopes as early as possible! Also declutter cards you are never going to use or cards other people sent you and have no emotional value. (Did you know such cards can be sent to St. Jude's Ranch for Children?)
Involve the entire family over a weekend. A few hours spent decluttering and organizing together now sets the tone for a calm, cozy holiday season. So let’s clear out the clutter, donate, give to people in need, enjoy the festive sparkle, and focus on what truly matters—making memories with loved ones!
If the thought of decluttering, organizing or the entire process of getting ready for the holidays makes you feel overwhelmed, Declutter Bee would be happy to help you and take care the over whelm out of your holidays by decluttering (with you), organizing, getting your home ready for the get togethers, holiday decoration set up and take down, mailing cards for you, while you focus on your family and yourself. Get in touch with us here.
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