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Preparing Your Home for the Holidays: Simple Tips for an Organized and Stress-Free Season


Can you believe it? The holiday season is just around the corner! (If you've stepped foot in Costco, Home Depot, or pretty much any store, you aren't surprised, as they've been ready since the end of August). For many of us, November first signals the start to think about the holidays. As you start planning gatherings, meals, and cozy nights in, creating an organized space can make all the difference. With these easy tips, you’ll be ready to enjoy the season with less stress and more holiday cheer. Let’s get started!

1. Declutter Common Areas

During the holidays, living rooms, dining areas, and entryways tend to be the busiest spaces. Give each of these areas a pre-holiday refresh:

  • Start Small: Focus on one area at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Begin with the entryway since it's the first space guests will see.

  • Prioritize Essentials: Remove items that don’t serve a purpose during the season. Consider storing everyday decor items to make room for seasonal touches without overcrowding.

  • Optimize Seating: Rearrange or add seating options to create a welcoming atmosphere for holiday gatherings.

2. Holiday Kitchen Prep

The kitchen often becomes the heart of holiday action, whether it’s baking cookies, preparing holiday meals, or serving guests. Streamline your kitchen to make these moments stress-free:

  • Declutter Counters: Store non-essential appliances and keep only the ones you’ll be using often, like mixers and crockpots.

  • Organize Pantry Staples: Ensure ingredients you’ll use often—like flour, sugar, spices, and oils—are organized and easily accessible. A quick pantry tidy-up can make a big difference in holiday meal prep. Make a list of any missing or expired seasonal seasonings (ginger, cinnamon, allspice, etc.) to be sure you have everything you need and avoid purchasing duplicates.

  • Prep Serving Dishes: Gather and clean any serving dishes, platters, or special cookware so they’re ready when you need them.

3. Refresh Your Guest Room

If you’re hosting family or friends, a cozy, organized guest room (or designated guest space) can make guests feel at home.

  • Essentials Only: Make sure the guest room has all essentials—fresh linens, towels, and toiletries. Consider adding a small basket with treats or a water bottle to make your guests feel special.

  • Closet and Drawer Space: Clear a bit of closet or drawer space for guests to use, and keep hangers ready if they’ll need them.

  • Add a Cozy Touch: Blankets, pillows, and a bedside lamp or nightlight create a welcoming feel, even if the “guest room” is a multi-purpose space.

4. Seasonal Decor Organization

Decorating can be so much fun—but digging through tangled lights and mismatched ornaments? Not so much! Streamline your decor setup with these tips:

  • Sort by Season: Store holiday decor by season or theme so you can easily find what you need each year. Clear bins with labels make it easy to locate exactly what you want.

  • Create a System for Lights and Ornaments: Use organizers for ornaments and wind lights neatly around cardboard to prevent tangling.

  • Declutter While You Decorate: As you set up, take note of decor items you don’t love anymore or haven’t used in years. Consider donating these pieces to make room for new finds you love.

5. Set Up a Holiday Shopping & Gift Wrapping Station

Gift giving is a joyful part of the season, but storing gifts and wrapping supplies can quickly turn chaotic without a system in place.

  • Designate a Gift-Wrapping Zone: If possible, set up a temporary wrapping station with wrapping paper, tape, scissors, ribbons, and tags in one accessible spot.

  • Use Small Storage for Wrapping Supplies: Keep everything in baskets or small bins so it’s easy to move as needed, and label bins to stay organized.

  • Hide Gifts with Purpose: If you’re buying gifts early, designate a storage space (a guest room closet, high-up shelf, or even labeled bins in the basement) to keep them organized and out of the way until wrapping time.

With a little planning, you can create a space that’s as functional as it is festive. Happy organizing, and here’s to a smooth and joyful holiday season!

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