Generational Transitions: Refresh and declutter this holiday season
Holiday decluttering for small spaces
Melissa Darr
Generational Transitions
Less than a month away and Santa will be coming down the chimney! Don't let him drop your new goodies atop of old clutter from this past year.
Time to freshen up the house, so here are tips to do just that: Holiday Home Refresher checklist. Where does your family gather? The den, the sunroom, perhaps the dining room or basement or even the garage? Go to that special holiday room and start decluttering. Does the garage/carport or basement need to be pressure washed? Should the office be set off the dining room table and the laptop put away? How about the sunroom cushions? Ready for the holiday season cushion collection?
Donate items that have fulfilled their purpose in your life. This can be all the books in the corner, the punch bowls in the hutch that are never used or simply the stack of magazines on the coffee table. Is the coat closet full and preventing guests from hanging up those heavy wool coats?
Once you have decluttered, let the fun begin! Pull out the decorations. Good tidings to you as you prepare for the kinfolks’ arrival.
Size matters when decorating each room. The tree height typically is about 10-16 inches below the ceiling so the angel can fit on top and not look squeezed into that popcorn ceiling.
If your rooms are small, pick a decorative piece that can be used as a tree and decoration such as this Santa Claus holding a tree. You can decorate the tree with your favorite ornaments and place a Christmas skirt under the base. This one has a Scottish kilt ready to be filled with gifts. Theme trees are great only if you have the space.
Instead of pulling out hundreds of holiday china pieces, pull out enough for a two-piece place setting, holding the others in the cabinet for company. This simplicity will not look cluttered. Place a few of your favorite holiday serving pieces around the table, but not all of them. Show off those wood grains in the dining room table, don't cover it up with lots of unnecessary dishware.
Do you have a train set that's been rolling on the floor during the holidays but you no longer have the space? Two options: shorten the track and let it roll or place the train cars on fresh evergreen to appear as if they were chugging through the forest to grandma and grandpa's house.
There are so many ways to decorate a decluttered, organized compact home for the holidays.
Enjoy your home, holidays and life's joys.
