How to Declutter Before the Holidays: 11 Awesome Ways to Simplify

It’s never too early, or too late, to simplify and declutter before the holidays. Any work you put into decluttering and simplifying your home, your life and your mindset will help you prepare for the holidays and make life easier!

By spending a bit of time decluttering and simplifying before the holidays, it will help you feel less overwhelmed and stressed. All so you can enjoy the holiday season more, and go into the new year feeling good.

It’s about progress, not perfection

Today I’m sharing 11 ways to simplify and declutter before the holidays. Start with whatever seems like it will make the biggest impact on your home and your life. Figure out what is causing you the most stress in your home right now and tackle that area first.

Use the ideas in this post as a starting place to give you some ideas. Pick the ones that will be most valuable to you by removing your biggest sources of stress before the holidays.

There’s no need to put extra pressure and stress on yourself trying to simplify and declutter everything before the holidays. Do what you can, and remember it’s about progress, not perfection.

Even if you aren’t able to do a super thorough job decluttering right now, simply do what you can. Any amount of decluttering you do now will make your holiday season as a whole simpler and more enjoyable!

11 ways to simplify and declutter before the holidays

Let’s dive into it! Here are 11 practical and easy ways to simplify and declutter before the holidays.

1. Christmas and holiday décor

As you’re decorating your house for the holidays, quickly sort through your Christmas and holiday décor. Get rid of anything you don’t love, don’t put out or don’t use.

Also, after you’re done decorating, keep a watchful eye out for any holiday decorations you aren’t loving. If there is something that doesn’t make you happy when you look at it, makes you feel frustrated, or you just don’t like the extra work it adds to your home and life, get rid of it!

Aim to only keep holiday décor items you love or use regularly. If you don’t use or love it, you have no obligation to keep it.

It can also be helpful to give yourself space limits for storing holiday decor. Decide how much space you’re willing to dedicate to holiday decor and use that limit to help you be more ruthless when deciding what to keep and get rid of.

2. Simplify the kitchen

I wrote a whole series of posts recently about the how and the why of simplifying your kitchen. You can find them here:

How to Declutter your Kitchen + 20 Things to Declutter Right Now!

13 Habits to Keep your Kitchen Organized & Clutter-Free

6 High-Impact Ways to Start Simplifying your Kitchen

But today I want to talk about why making time to declutter and simplify your kitchen before the holidays is so important.

The holidays are usually a time when you tend to do more cooking, baking and hosting. Simplifying your kitchen and decluttering before the holidays will make cooking, baking and hosting all significantly easier and more enjoyable.

There are two key areas to tackle in your kitchen when you declutter before the holidays.

First, work on clearing the flat surfaces in your kitchen (countertops, dining table, etc.). Not only will your kitchen look better with less visual clutter (always a bonus when you’re hosting friends and family!). But clear counters and surfaces will make cooking, baking, serving, hosting and cleaning up so much easier.

Second, clean out and declutter your pantry, fridge and freezer. Get rid of anything that’s expired or gone bad. Donate anything that’s still good, but you know you won’t use to the food bank so someone who needs it can use it.

After you’re done decluttering, give everything a quick wipe. Then organize your pantry, fridge and freezer quickly so you can find what you need easily and know what you have on hand.

Not only will you make room in your fridge, freezer and pantry for the extra food you may need during the holidays. But a clutter-free, organized fridge, freezer and pantry will make cooking, baking and hosting over the holidays easier!

3. Declutter the toys

If you have kids, decluttering the toys before the holidays is always a good idea.

Knowing your kids will likely be getting new toys as gifts, it’s easier to be more ruthless as you declutter before the holidays. Make space now so you and your kids won’t end up feeling overwhelmed with new toys after the holidays.

This is a great time to get rid of any toys that are unloved or aren’t being played with anymore. Or are broken, missing pieces or your kids have outgrown.

I always find the idea of making room for new toys coming as gifts is a great way to motivate my kids to help declutter their toys.

You can also encourage your kids to donate some of their toys to kids who aren’t as fortunate as them. This is especially great during the holidays.

4. Declutter gift-wrapping supplies

Speaking of gifts, this is a great time to declutter your gift-wrapping supplies too. Get rid of any gift-wrapping supplies that have seen better days.

Then, before you buy any new gift wrap or supplies, sort through and take stock of what you already have. Then decide what you need and only buy what you will actually use.

5. Simplify, declutter and prepare guest linens

Because many of us host family and friends over the holidays, this is a great time to declutter your guest linens, such as towels and bedding.

Look through your guest towels and bedding. Decide what you actually use and need regularly for hosting guests. Then get rid of any towels or bedding you never use or need. As well as anything that is worn out.

Once you have decluttered your guest linens, it’s also a great time to wash or air out any items you will be using so they are fresh and ready for holiday guests.

6. Declutter clothing

Again, if you have kids, they may be getting some new clothing items over the holidays or as gifts. Make room for the new items by doing a quick declutter before the holidays.

Get rid of anything outgrown or worn out. This is also a great opportunity to make a note of what your kids need if family or friends are asking for gift suggestions.

This is also a great time to tackle decluttering your own clothes. Take a quick look through your everyday clothes and see if there is anything you are ready to let go of.

It’s also a really great time to declutter your holiday/party/dressy clothes. As you are getting ready for any holiday parties or events take a quick look through your dressy clothes.

Are there any you never reach for anymore, don’t love, no longer fit, etc.? I like to challenge myself to ask if I don’t want to wear an item this year, will I ever want to wear it?

Even if you simply have more dressy clothes than you need, this is a great time to get rid of some. Keep your favourite pieces that you always reach for, feel great in and look great in. Then get rid of any you don’t love, wear or look/feel great in.

7. Simplify your makeup collection

Another great area to declutter before the holidays is your makeup collection.

As you are getting ready for holiday parties or events sort through your makeup collection and see what you no longer use, need or love. And remember, makeup doesn’t last forever.

It’s easy to hang onto extra makeup you plan to use for fancier or special occasions. This is a great time to see what you actually use and get rid of the extras, anything expired or things you simply never use.

Again, ask yourself if you don’t use something as you get ready for your holiday parties this year, will you ever use it?

8. Declutter seasonal gear

Another great area to declutter before the holidays is your seasonal gear like coats, mittens, hats, boots, etc. Get rid of anything you or your family no longer use, need or love. Along with anything worn out or outgrown.

Not only can you donate your excess to someone who could truly use and need it during the colder months. But simplifying your entryway also makes hosting easier over the holidays.

You’ll have a tidy, clutter-free entryway to greet guests. Along with space for guests to hang their coats when they come to visit.

9. Do a whole house decluttering sweep

Another great way to declutter before the holidays is by doing a quick decluttering sweep around the whole house. This is one of my favourite ways to kickstart decluttering in general. But it’s also a really great way to simplify your house before the holidays.

Grab a box or laundry basket and quickly walk around each area of your house looking for anything you no longer use, need or love. This is also a great time to get rid of any décor items you don’t use or love.

Especially when you have additional holiday décor out as well.

The more items you are able to declutter before the holidays, the easier it will be to keep your home tidy and clutter-free during the holidays.

10. Declutter your mindset

Although this isn’t a traditional decluttering project, choosing to declutter your mindset before and during the holidays is very important.

Try to let go of any unrealistic standards or expectations you’ve set for yourself during the holidays. Embrace a “perfectly imperfect” mindset during the holidays instead.

Cut yourself some slack and create a holiday season both you and your family can enjoy. Instead of trying to live up to some impossible standards of perfection that will only leave you overwhelmed, burnt out, stressed and exhausted.

11. Declutter your obligations

And finally, another great way to simplify the holidays is by simplifying your holiday obligations.

There is nothing wrong with choosing to slow down and do less over the holidays. In fact, choosing to do less during the holidays can often lead to a much more enjoyable, relaxed and stress-free holiday season for you and your whole family!

Remind yourself often that every time you say yes to one thing, it means saying no to something else. Make sure your “yeses” are saved for the things that matter most to you. Not the things you feel obligated or guilted into attending.

I hope these ideas help you to simplify and declutter before the holidays so you can enjoy a merrier, less stressful holiday season.

A little prep work, decluttering and simplifying before the holidays can go a long way toward making the whole holiday season more enjoyable.

What can you do to simplify and declutter before the holidays this year? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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