Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Christmas is around the corner and our collective spirits are high. Everyone eagerly awaits this season of joy and festive cheer. Christmas parties, gifts, holidays, trees, decorations, stars, lights, cakes, wines, cards, carols…there is so much to celebrate and enjoy. And of course, children most look forward to dear old Santa Claus visiting them, laden with gifts, all the way from the North Pole. It’s most certainly the season to be jolly! But between ‘decking the halls' and giving and receiving gifts, there is bound to be a lot of disorder, which certainly takes away from the joy of the festivities. But worry not. We have some tips on how to spend a clutter-free Christmas.
1) Plan Ahead A little planning goes a long way to ensure a stress-free Christmas. We all know exactly when Christmas is and all the things that we typically need to get done to have a truly merry holiday season. There are gifts to be bought, homes to be decorated, Christmas trees, stars, and lights to be put up, cakes to be ordered or baked, and parties to organize – the list is truly endless. But to avoid the last-minute rush and to enjoy an organized holiday season, our best tip is to plan ahead. Make lists of all the main activities that need to be done and break them down into smaller tasks. It also makes a lot of sense to add timelines to your ‘Christmas Planner 2022’. And then ensure you stick to your plans as much as possible. Don’t keep things till the last minute, as you will usually run out of time, resources and patience. Add to your planner a list of all the Christmas sales, where you can pick up what you want at the best deals.
2) Clutter-Free Christmas Gifting This is not a myth; let us give you some tips so you can manage your entire Christmas gifting with ease. Make lists of all the people you need to gift to and put thought into gifts that would be appropriate. While kids are usually vocal about what they would like from Santa, Christmas gifts for adults can be a tricky area. The key thing to remember is that your gift shouldn’t lead to chaos. Avoid gifts that are bulky, cumbersome, or take up a lot of space. Something small but thoughtful is sure to be appreciated. Gifting consumables that are required around Christmas is a thoughtful gesture. If the consumable is homemade or handmade, it makes your gift all the more special. Homemade cakes, wine, dessert, a dish for a Christmas potluck, a handmade piece of Christmas décor – all these are very meaningful Christmas gifts that are also minimalist. Another great Christmas gift idea is to gift experiences. It will make your gift unusual, memorable, and most importantly, clutter-free. Gift vouchers and e-gift vouchers are also great ideas, especially when you aren’t sure of what the person may like. They provide the receiver the opportunity of buying something they actually like and/or need. Nowadays, gift vouchers come in beautiful Christmas themes as well.
3) Cut down on Christmas Décor
Christmas décor is the one area that is likely to add the most clutter to your home. We all want our Christmas trees to be unique, our homes to be decorated the best, and the star and lights outside our homes to be eye-catching. And trying to achieve all this, we tend to go overboard and add to the junk in our homes. The trick is not to get carried away with Christmas décor. Remember, it will be an equally herculean task to dismantle all of it once the holiday season is over.
Minimalism may not be such a bad idea when it comes to clutter-free Christmas decorations. More is not necessarily the best. In fact, lesser but more creative décor ideas may actually help you steal the show. Another thing to remember before you launch into buying Christmas décor is to check for what you already have from previous years. Most often they can be reused with a little bit of dusting, a touch of paint, or even a bit of remodeling. This will save you space and cut down on expenses.
Remember you may need to keep your kids occupied during their Christmas holidays. DIY Christmas décor is a great way to engage your kids and spend some quality time together as a family. It makes for happy childhood memories, making your children feel like they are significantly involved in the Christmas arrangements. Training them to clean the mess when they finish, will keep your home orderly for the celebrations, along with teaching them a useful life skill.
4) The Season of Giving
Last but not the least, remember that Christmas is the season for giving. Give away any unused new décor or décor from previous years that you are unlikely to use. Not everyone can buy new Christmas décor, so if you aren’t using something in your home, give it away and let someone else enjoy it! For instance, if you have upgraded to a bigger tree, don’t hoard the old one. Find someone who may need it and donate it to them. Not just Christmas décor, but clothes, toys, and stationary – consider giving away all the things that you don’t need but may light up someone else’s lives during Christmas. It’s one of the best ways to spread Christmas cheer and you will also end up tidying your own home.
Nothing like having a well-organized holiday season. You can literally have your Christmas cake and eat it too, immaculately!
We’d love to hear how you’re planning to make your Christmas clutter-free. Tell us in the comments.
Reach out to us if you need personalized assistance in decluttering and reorganizing of your home or any other space. Write to us at arrangeitall.01@gmail.com