We are so close to my favourite time of year - Christmas!
Even with all the excitement, Christmas decorations can cause us some frustration as they can be so fiddly at the best of times, especially with young children and pets at home who see the tree as one big climbing frame.
In our home, Christmas decorating involves every member of the family, so I make sure that the less fragile decorations are in one category so my son has free range to use these as he wishes. This is why it’s a great idea to have decorations organised so everyone has their role and they can hit the ground running as everything is organised and ready to go.
When is the best time to sort decorations?
My favourite approach to pretty much everything in life, is to get ahead of the panic. November is a great time to get yourself organised before December. We know what December and Christmas mean - lots of busyness! So we tend to try and keep low profiles in November to save our energy. This is the perfect time to get out your decorations, and assess what is good to go, and what is no longer of use or interest.
Another reason to organise your decorations in November, means you have an up to date inventory of how many baubles you have etc. This will save you money on buying items which you already own. We can all too easily fall into the pattern of overspending at Christmas, especially with decorations so invest in some lovely ones that you can use year after year.
I know over the years, my approach to decorating the tree has changed as I have gotten older from maximalist to minimalist, so I do a good declutter of baubles in November with Christmas fast approaching. We all suffer from a bit of post Christmas fatigue once we hit January so it’s good to have systems in place so packing away all the decorations is as fuss free as possible. A good declutter forces you to keep the items you really love.
What is the best way to store my decorations?
Many of us will store our boxes of decorations in lofts or basements which are likely to be stored behind summer’s clutter so now is a good time to gather all your Christmas related items and if you can stomach it, and sort through the last of the summer clutter you quickly packed away before going back to work or school starting.
And remember labelling is your friend! You don’t need a fancy label making machine, just a sharpie straight onto the box is enough.
Amazon is my go to for general storage as it has excellent storage solutions. Baubles can be very delicate and can smash into tiny little pieces that will hurt small feet so I suggest individually storing them in bespoke decoration storage boxes. I love layered organisers as you use the full height of the box.
To store fairy lights, you can use a paper towel roll to wrap your lights in. If you have multiple lights, wrap them up separately. Take your time unwrapping the tree of its lights and aim to do this with someone else as they can be very fiddly.
Remember to take out any batteries you have used in your decorations as these can be used elsewhere throughout the year.
Decluttering Toys
The best time of year to declutter toys is just before the Christmas rush. Children are more willing to take part in the decluttering process as they are incentivised to make room for their new toys. I know including them when you’re making space can be a challenge at the best of times, so you should find that at this time of year, it is slightly easier to propose as an activity. Perhaps you could make a start on what you think should go so half the work is done for them when you want to involve them in the final decision making process. I apply the same approach when I work with clients. I do as much of the ‘heavy lifting’ with their belongings, through categorisation and at times, using my own intuition as to what they may want to donate. An easy win with toys would be anything that they have outgrown.
I know there have been recent appeals from toy shops for donations so please do enquire with your local charity shops if they are accepting toys. Please remember that these donations are going to a home in need and will need to be in good working order. If the toys need batteries, could you pop in some new batteries so the toy is ready to be used?
Keeping your living space organised can make a huge difference, especially during busy festive periods - not only in how you manage your belongings, but also in boosting your mood and productivity. I know it can feel overwhelming to get started, so start your decluttering journey when you have the headspace to do so and remember, it’s not something you have to tackle alone.
At The Organised Curator, I’m here to help you create a home that feels calm, organised, and works to suit you. Together, we can clear the clutter and find smart ways to make the most of your space, boosting productivity and bringing you peace of mind. With personalised strategies and clever storage solutions, we can reimagine your home environment.
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