A shelf with two black candles, a square photo frame and a small stack of presents

How to Get Your Home Ready for Christmas: Cleaning and Decluttering Tips

The holiday season is just around the corner, and it’s time to get your home ready for Christmas. While decorating and festive activities are essential, one crucial step that often gets overlooked is cleaning and decluttering. A clean and clutter-free home not only creates a welcoming atmosphere but also makes it easier to decorate and entertain guests, as well as providing space for new gifts that may arrive! In this blog post, I’ll share some valuable tips on how to prepare your home for Christmas by tidying up and decluttering.

1. Start with a Clean Slate

Before you dive into the holiday decorations, give your home a thorough cleaning. Dust surfaces, vacuum carpets, mop floors, and clean windows to ensure your home sparkles when the holiday lights are turned on. A clean environment is the perfect canvas for your festive décor.

2. Declutter Your Space

Decluttering is an essential step in preparing your home for Christmas. Begin by going through each room and identifying items you no longer need or use. Consider donating or selling these items to make room for your holiday decorations and prevent your home from feeling cramped. You might like Decluttering Challenge: 20 Bags in 20 Days for a Clutter-Free Home or FREE 30 Day Declutter Challenge Workbook. We always have a toy clear out just before Christmas – this way we have space for anything new that may arrive, and use it as a great opportunity to get rid of anything that is no longer played with or broken.

3. Organize and Store

As you declutter, it’s essential to organize and store items efficiently. Invest in storage solutions like bins, baskets, and shelves to keep your belongings neatly tucked away. Label containers for easy identification, and store them in closets or the basement, ensuring they don’t interfere with your holiday decorations. Natural baskets can also look great as part of your holiday decorations!

4. Streamline Your Holiday Décor

When it comes to holiday décor, less can be more. Choose your favourite and most meaningful decorations and arrange them strategically. Instead of spreading decorations all over your home, focus on key areas like the living room, dining room, and entryway. This will make your home feel festive without overwhelming it with clutter. Don’t feel like you have to keep up with everyone on social media – whilst the OTT stair garlands and huge floral installations are gorgeous, they can attract dust and be a nightmare to live with!

5. Invest in Multi-Functional Decorations

Consider decorations that serve multiple purposes. For example, a decorative holiday-themed storage box can hold blankets or extra pillows when not in use. This way, your décor items can also be practical storage solutions.

6. Create a Gift Wrapping Station

Designate a specific area for gift wrapping such as the home office. Organize wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, and scissors neatly, making it easier to wrap presents and maintain a tidy home throughout the holiday season.

A top down view of some hands wrapping a present

7. Tackle One Room at a Time

Avoid feeling overwhelmed by breaking the decluttering and cleaning process into smaller tasks. Tackle one room at a time, and once you’ve finished, move on to the next. This method allows you to maintain your motivation and see progress as you go. You might like Gradual Decluttering: Transform Your Home, One Step at a Time or Declutter a Room in 30 Minutes: The Ultimate Speedy Guide to a Neat Space.

8. Enlist the Help of Your Family

Getting your home ready for Christmas is a family affair and you don’t have to do it alone. Enlist the help of your family members to clean, declutter, and decorate together. It can be a fun and bonding experience that gets everyone into the holiday spirit. Giving each family member an area to clean eg the kids their own rooms can make things much easier on you – Christmas is stressful enough!

9. Maintain Regular Cleaning Routines

Once your home is clean and clutter-free, it’s essential to maintain it throughout the holiday season. Set aside time each day for quick cleaning tasks, such as wiping down surfaces and tidying up. This will prevent clutter from accumulating and ensure your home remains inviting for guests. This 30 Minutes-a-Day Cleaning Schedule will help keep your home clean and welcoming over the Christmas period and leave you plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.

Getting your home ready for Christmas involves more than just chucking up a tree and some lights; it’s about creating a warm and inviting space for your loved ones to enjoy. By following these cleaning and decluttering tips, you’ll be well-prepared to celebrate the holiday season in a clean, organized, and festive home. So, roll up your sleeves, put on some holiday tunes, and get your home ready for a Christmas to remember!