Decluttering Before Christmas: Simplifying Your Space for the Holidays

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Get your home holiday-ready with these decluttering tips! Simplify your space before Christmas to create a calm, cozy environment for the holiday season.

Declutter Your Home For Christmas


The holiday season is almost here, and while that brings all the joy, festive decor, and time with loved ones, it can also come with a lot of extra stuff.

A decorated Christmas tree with twinkling lights and ornaments stands by a window in a bright, modern room. Amidst the festive charm, there's a white bed with a green blanket in the foreground, while abstract wall art adorns the gray wall, embodying holiday joy without clutter.

Whether it’s Christmas gifts, seasonal decorations, or just the general busyness that comes with the season, our homes can quickly start to feel cluttered and overwhelming.

That’s why there’s no better time to declutter than before Christmas!

By simplifying your space ahead of the holidays, you can create a clean, calm, and welcoming environment for yourself, your family, and your guests.

Plus, it will make decorating and hosting much more enjoyable when you’re not battling against piles of unnecessary things.

In this post, I’ll share practical tips for decluttering before Christmas so you can head into the holiday season with a space that feels peaceful and ready for all the festivities.



This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Simplifying Your Space For Christmas

Start with a Plan: Focus on Key Areas


Decluttering your whole house before Christmas can seem like a big task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you break it down.

A cozy living room is elegantly simplified for Christmas, featuring a TV displaying a snowy village scene. Shelves hold framed pictures and select decorations. By the window, a bench with festive pillows invites relaxation, while garlands tastefully adorn an uncluttered TV stand.

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the key areas that will make the most impact during the holidays.

Here are the spaces I recommend prioritizing:


  • Entryway: Clear this area so guests are welcomed by a tidy space when they walk in. Make room for coats, shoes, and bags by decluttering old or out-of-season items.

  • Living Room: Since this is where most holiday gatherings and family time happen, it’s important to clear out any unnecessary items to make space for decorations and cozy moments.

  • Kitchen: With all the holiday cooking and baking, a clutter-free kitchen will make your life so much easier. Declutter countertops, cabinets, and the fridge to ensure you have room to work.

  • Guest Rooms: If you’re hosting family or friends, spend time decluttering guest rooms so they feel welcoming and comfortable for your visitors.

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll simplify the spaces that matter most during the holiday season.

A cozy living room featuring a gray sectional sofa with white pillows, a side table with a lamp, and decorative miniature trees. As the holidays approach, consider simplifying your decor. Abstract art hangs on the wall above the sofa, while a large window lets in natural light.

Declutter Before You Decorate


One of the biggest reasons to declutter before Christmas is that it makes decorating so much easier.

I love adding festive touches around my home, but I’ve found that if I don’t declutter first, it can quickly feel overwhelming with the added holiday decor.

Read: Decluttering Before the Holidays: A Step-by-Step Plan for Busy Moms

A ceramic vase with pine branches and red berries sits on a stack of three books, perfectly capturing the essence of simplifying holiday decor. Behind them, two black-framed photographs showcase snowy scenes, all elegantly arranged on a wooden surface against a paneled wall.

Before you even take out the boxes of Christmas decorations, spend some time clearing the surfaces and spaces you want to decorate.

Remove any outdated decor or things that don’t need to be out for the season.

Wooden shelves elegantly display decorative items—books, ceramic pots, and festive Santa Claus mugs. A framed tree picture and a small house model add to the charm, all set against a gray background, capturing the spirit of Christmas while simplifying your decor.

This will give you a blank canvas to work with, allowing your holiday decor to really shine without competing with unnecessary clutter.

Make Room for New Gifts


Christmas often means new gifts, whether for yourself, your family, or your kids.

While receiving gifts is exciting, it can also add to the clutter if you don’t make room for those new items.

A bright, white nursery exudes a sense of simplifying charm, featuring a crib and star mobile. A green-leaved tree and a wooden rocking horse sit on the floor. By the window stands a small Christmas tree adorned with pink ornaments, while a soft, fluffy rug enhances the room's cozy atmosphere.

Get Ideas: Christmas Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, and Young Kids

To avoid this, take some time before the holidays to go through your belongings and declutter anything you no longer need or use.

Here are a few areas to focus on:


  • Kids’ Toys: Go through old toys with your children and donate or discard any they’ve outgrown or no longer play with. This will help make room for any new toys they receive for Christmas.

  • Clothing: Before adding new winter clothes or gifts from loved ones, declutter your closets. Remove anything that no longer fits, is out of style, or hasn’t been worn in a while.

  • Kitchen Gadgets: If you’re expecting new kitchen tools or appliances, declutter any old gadgets that are just taking up space in your cabinets.

By clearing out the old, you’ll be ready to welcome the new without creating extra clutter.

Use the “One In, One Out” Rule


When preparing your home for Christmas, the “one in, one out” rule can be a game changer.

The idea is simple: for every new item that comes into your home, something old must go out.

A festive shelf display featuring a gingerbread house, a framed family photo, and holiday ornaments in a bowl. With greenery and Christmas decorations beside a tree, the setup embraces the spirit of Christmas while simplifying with just key elements like a woven basket and chalkboard sign.

This rule is particularly helpful during the holiday season when gifts and decorations can pile up quickly.

For example:

  • If you’re buying a new set of holiday dishes, donate or get rid of an old set you no longer use.
  • If you’re adding new Christmas decor this year, go through your current stash and remove anything that’s damaged, outdated, or no longer your style.

Not only does this help control the flow of items into your home, but it also encourages a more intentional approach to what you keep and display.

Declutter Holiday Decorations


Speaking of decorations, the holidays are the perfect time to sort through your collection of Christmas decor.

It’s so easy to accumulate more decor each year, but how much of it do you actually use?

A small pine tree, perfect for simplifying your space, stands with a burlap-wrapped base in a round, light wood planter. The planter rests on a dark wooden table against a white paneled wall, creating a minimalist and modern aesthetic ideal for Christmas decor.

As you pull out your holiday bins, take a moment to declutter:


  • Broken or damaged items: If that string of lights no longer works or a favorite ornament is beyond repair, it’s time to say goodbye.

  • Outdated decor: We all have pieces that just don’t fit our current style anymore. If you haven’t used it in a few years, it’s safe to assume you won’t miss it.

  • Duplicates: How many wreaths or stockings do you really need? Pare down your collection to just the essentials and keep only the pieces that bring you joy.

Decluttering your holiday decor helps keep things organized and ensures that your favorite items have a chance to stand out.

Read: The Four-Box Method: A Simple Guide to Decluttering Your Home

Donate What You Don’t Need


Decluttering before Christmas is the perfect opportunity to give back.

As you go through your home and decide what to keep and what to let go of, consider donating gently used items to local charities or families in need.

A person uses the Four-Box Method for decluttering their home, placing clothing into a cardboard donation box labeled Donate with a red heart. The box sits on a white carpet, surrounded by additional clothing waiting to find its new purpose.

Many organizations welcome donations of toys, clothing, and household items, especially around the holidays.

By donating what you no longer need, you’re not only simplifying your space, but you’re also helping others enjoy the holiday season.

Create a Holiday Decluttering Schedule


Decluttering your entire home before Christmas can feel overwhelming, but creating a simple schedule can make it manageable.

I like to break it down into smaller tasks over a week or two, tackling one room or area per day.

A decorated Christmas tree with white lights and ornaments stands beside a large mirror in a cozy, modern bedroom. The room embraces decluttering with a minimalist wooden nightstand, framed pictures, a reading lamp, and an inviting chair. Soft natural light streams through the windows.

Here’s an example:

  • Day 1: Declutter the entryway
  • Day 2: Declutter the living room
  • Day 3: Declutter the kitchen
  • Day 4: Declutter holiday decor
  • Day 5: Declutter kids’ toys
  • Day 6: Declutter bedrooms/guest rooms
  • Day 7: Donate unwanted items

By taking a little time each day, you’ll get through the process without feeling rushed, and your home will be holiday-ready in no time!

Conclusion: A Clutter-Free Holiday Home


Decluttering before Christmas is the best way to ensure a stress-free, peaceful, and festive holiday season.

With a little preparation and organization, you’ll create a welcoming space for your family and guests, making room for new memories, gifts, and celebrations.

A Christmas wreath with lush greenery, including eucalyptus leaves and pine branches, brings festive charm to a decluttered white wall.

Plus, by getting rid of the unnecessary clutter, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the holiday season in a home that feels clean, cozy, and calm.

So, grab some boxes, start sorting, and get ready to welcome the holidays with a clutter-free, peaceful home. Happy decluttering and happy holidays!

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The post Decluttering Before Christmas: Simplifying Your Space for the Holidays appeared first on Christene Holder Home.
 
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