Get your home organised for Christmas…
Go-to celebrity home organisers, Style Sisters, reveal their top tips for a stress-free, streamlined festive season – keeping your home (and mind!) in check to celebrate in style…
Christmas really is one of the most wonderful times of the year, it’s a time for family, friends and celebrating with traditions new and old. The build up to the big day is a huge part of the fun - putting up the Christmas tree to spending time choosing the perfect gifts for loved ones – we love it all!
It can however feel quite overwhelming, as we often want to make things perfect, from decorating the house to doing the food shop for Christmas lunch.
With lots to think about, making a plan is essential, and it’s never too soon!
BEFORE
The pre-christmas ‘spring’ clean
As the seasons change and we transition from the beginning of autumn to the colder winter months, it is the ideal time to take stock of the items in your home, switching wardrobes round to store away summer clothes.
Before 1 December strikes, we highly recommend a pre-christmas clear out. And this isn’t just reserved for toy boxes, but kitchen cupboards, fridges, and wardrobes.
With new toys for little ones, extra food and drink for celebrations and decorations going up around the house, our homes are likely to have a little more than usual in them over the festive period, so having a detox will help to avoid your home becoming overloaded.
Understanding what you already have in your home is an essential part of organising. Space is valuable and storing unwanted items doesn’t make sense. Creating more space is the key to better organisation and less overwhelm!
When working with clients on a home detox, we find they will often discover forgotten favourites hiding at the back of the wardrobe, from party dresses to winter boots – meaning they can avoid unnecessary purchases.
The further out from Christmas you start this step the better, as you can do it in stages.
In the kitchen, don’t let the back of cupboards and pantries become a wasteland of tinned food and unused baking items. Get everything out, checking best before dates, then make piles of what to keep or donate to the local food bank.
Making a list of what you already have could also save you overspending on the Christmas food shop. For example, lots of chutneys, preserves and pickles have a longer shelf life, meaning you may already have more than you think for the Boxing Day cheeseboard!
The detox process is a worthy time investment. Not only will it help to free up space in your home, but it can help give you a clearer idea of what presents are needed and useful for all members of the family.
Categorise and contain
In any space, however big or small – from a utility room to your makeup box, organising items by category is the perfect way to keeping super organised. This allows you to know exactly where everything is and what you’ve got.
Having this system in place means items have a designated place in your home, in turn making them easier to find when you need them, or when someone asks where they are – plus it will make it super easy for the rest of the household to put away and keep tidy.
This step most definitely applies to Christmas decorations and accessories, making it straightforward and stress-free to bring them out for another year.
Storage is key in creating an organised home. Consider decorative storage baskets for smaller items you want easy access to but don’t want out on display all the time – such as children’s toys or gaming consoles and opt for side boards with plenty of storage and bookshelves with doors.
Utilise space under beds and in downstairs storage cupboards with clear stacking boxes, meaning you will quickly be able to see what’s inside.
Make a list
This one may be obvious, but it is one of the most effective ways to organise when you have lots to do and think about.
Clutter doesn’t just live externally, it can also live in your mind, which means just like your cupboards, your head can sometimes feel cluttered. We can’t recommend writing lists enough. Getting anything you need to do down onto paper can instantly make you feel more organised, plus, you only need a pen and notepad, or you can use the note section on your phone. You can start ticking things off as you do them – which is always satisfying!
As we suggest when organising areas and items in your home, popping the list into categories and adding some dates you’d like or need to get things done by will create some clear order and priorities.
There are readymade planners you can purchase or print off designs from sites like Pinterest or Canva if you want to have something pretty to work from.
As a general guide, group the list into the following categories, although this may vary depending on if you are hosting or travelling to visit family – food and drink, gifting, decorating, hosting (which could include getting the guest room ready, some extra serving platters for Christmas eve soirees’, etc.)
DURING
The decorations are up, presents are wrapped, the tree is looking all magical and twinkly and the food cupboard is stocked – it’s officially time to relax and enjoy all your efforts!
Spending time with loved ones is so precious, given how busy life can get and how quickly time seems to go, the last thing you want to be doing is spending hours tidying over the festive period. If you’ve given the areas of your home a really good sort and organise beforehand, keeping on top of it should be stress-free and straightforward.
Spending a quick 5-10 minutes popping new toys away into storage boxes and clearing surfaces will help to keep your home looking clutter-free.
The power of scent is super impactful to invite the feeling of calm and comfort into your home. Add a gorgeous diffuser or fragranced candle to the hallway to welcome guests, or in bathrooms and guest rooms for a boutique hotel, spa-like feel.
AFTER
Clear the Christmas clutter for a fresh start to 2024… It’s time to take the decorations down for another year. As much as we adore the Christmas season and everything that goes with it, there is something refreshing about the New Year and returning rooms to their usual state.
Just like the switch in seasons, it provides another good excuse to take a look back through the wardrobe and check for any items that you can sell or donate and give rooms a good clean once the decorations have been taken down.
Use storage boxes for Christmas decorations, making sure any breakable baubles are carefully wrapped or in bauble boxes with individual compartments, so they are safe and stored for another year.
Clear acrylic boxes will mean you can see exactly what’s inside without having to get the entire box out from the back of the cupboard or down from the loft. If you want to be extra organised, why not write a list of what’s in each box and number them – saving the list on your phone or attaching to the top of each box.
There are some really handy fabric storage bags available at a number of retailers, which are perfect for popping unused wrapping paper rolls into along with gift tags and sticky tape. These are ideal for making sure items don’t go to waste and you’ll have your Christmas present wrapping kit ready to go and all in one place.
Try to resist the urge to take decorations down quickly without having a clear plan and some labelled boxes. We promise you will definitely thank your past self when you aren’t sat trying to unknot fairy light wires for hours on end come Christmas 2024!