It’s that (most wonderful) time of the year again. When everywhere you look, you’re greeted by the evidence that the holidays are right around the corner.
The radios are playing carols.
The stores are stuffed to the gills with gifts and decor.
The coffee shops have replaced pumpkin with peppermint everything.
I’m not here to debate whether you should put your Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving.
Because, friends – I don’t actually care. You can start blasting Christmas music in June if it makes you happy. You can keep your Christmas tree up all year if it brings you joy.
You. Do. You.
But – ready or not – we are on the fast track to fa-la-la fun. And for me (and probably you), your home will be getting a heavy dose of Christmas cheer very soon. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe after Thanksgiving.
But is your home ready?
Are you?
It’s very easy to get swept into the hustle and bustle of the season. To buy carts full of decor and presents and stuff them into your already full home. To think that more means better. To get so worried about perfection that you cannot even enjoy the holiday season.
I know this because I have been there. I have rushed the entire season away before – and I never really got to enjoy it with my family. I missed what matters.
And my poor home. Instead of being the cozy place to land, it was a stressful place to worry. Because I spent too much time looking around wondering what wasn’t quite good enough. I spent too much time thinking I had to make it better.
But my home was more than enough. And yours is, too.
Want to start this season on the right foot? Here are a few ways I am getting my home (and my heart) ready for the season this year.
Clear all the clutter first.
My very first step is to give my home a little breather. I know many people go straight from fall to Christmas decor. And that works for them.
But for me, it’s a little stressful to do it all in one swoop. And if I rush it, I don’t give myself a time to come up with better ideas. Maybe clearing the house makes me discover a new (and better) place for the tree. Or a perfect spot to hang a wreath I hadn’t considered.
So, this year, I’m taking an evening to take down all the fall decor, get it put away in bins, and label the bins. I’m also going to pack up a few boxes of the decor I didn’t use this year to go to Goodwill. No need to hang onto all the stuff I don’t use.
In addition to fall decor, I like to take down extra decorative items, greenery/flors, and artwork/photos that will be in the way for holiday decor. I actually have an empty bin in our storage area for all the extra decorative stuff that rotates through our home. It’s an easy way to get it out of the way without shoving it into a closet. (You may need that closet for gifts, anyhow.)
Clean the house.
I know that decorating is going to make the house dirty again, but I always clean before getting the decorations out, too. Having a clean home makes it feel refreshed. And the trees and decor may make it harder to reach floors, trim and light fixtures after the fact anyhow.
Once I clear out the clutter, it’s a good time to give the house a clean sweep. This doesn’t have to be a days-long affair. But a little cleaning will go a long way. (Check out the lazy girl cleaning guide to begin.)
Set priorities.
This doesn’t have to be formal, but think about what you really want out of this holiday season. What are your top priorities?
- Do you want to spend the max amount of time you can with family?
- Do you want to see holiday decor in every nook and cranny of your home?
- Do you want to bake, bake, bake the days away?
- Do you want to start some new traditions?
For example, this year, I really want to keep my home comfortable for my family and kids. I don’t want to worry that my 2-year-old will break something important or that I have to pack away toys my kids use in favor of holiday decor. Decor comes after living our lives.
That means that I may actually put up less decor or more kid-friendly decor. (I promise, it will still be lovely.) And at the very least, I will focus on walls and shelves that aren’t taking up our valuable floor space that we use every day.
Make a list.
Now, it’s time to get your plans down on paper. (Or on your phone. I like making lists in my Notes app so I always have them with me.)
Ideas for lists:
- Lists of decorating ideas you have. (This can also be a great time to check out all those holiday pins on Pinterest you’ve been pinning.)
- Lists of crafts or DIY projects you want to complete this holiday season.
- Lists of gifts you need to purchase or make.
- Lists of traditions, activities or programs for the holidays. (Add them to your calendar now.)
I also like to get my kids involved in making lists. My 7-year-old especially loves dreaming about his favorite parts of Christmas – the baking and festivals and traditions he looks forward to. He has a great time making a Christmas bucket list on a chalkboard in our home.
Ask your kids (and yourself):
- What are special things you want to do this Christmas?
- What is your favorite memory from past Christmases?
- What decorations are your favorite?
- What do you wish we could do?
Lists aren’t for everyone. But I always feel like getting everything down on paper is a good way to get it out of your head. Then, you won’t wake up in the middle of the night worried about what you missed.
And, it really helps you visualize your priorities. So when you want to add more, more, more, you can say, it’s enough.
Start with what you’ve got.
To this point, I haven’t hung a single garland or strung a single twinkle light. But after all this thought and work, I think my home (and my heart) will be ready for the holidays. Maybe this prep work will be done in a few days. Maybe a few weeks.
But when you’re ready, start decorating with what you have in storage. No buying new decor before you work with what you have. (Or, if you hate everything you have and want to start over – still start with what you have and take it all to Goodwill before you bring anything new home.)
I have a lot of holiday decor that I’ve collected over the years. But even if you only have one bin of ornaments, you’ll want to begin there. Because it’s really easy to start bringing home shopping bags of new and shiny holiday decor you don’t actually need. And that’s really just more to maintain and store and stress about.
Know when enough is enough.
Getting going is one thing. Knowing when you are done is another.
This tends to be something I struggle with. I am always adding more, more and more. Instead of stopping to enjoy it all.
So this year, I’m not going to worry about adding every new and exciting thing that pops into my brain (or onto my Instagram feed). A few new projects are great, but it can become a race to the finish line. And worrying about “what’s next” can take away from enjoying what’s already here.
Evan says
My favorite part is decor comes after life! Sage advice being as we have the new puppy. My fave and cheap decoration is draping ribbon around our slider and clothes pinning Christmas cards to it as they come in the mail. It’s the first thing people gravitate towards if we have visitors.
Elma Gay says
Great article and wonderful reminder of why we decorate.
Thanks, Kim🥰
Mary says
Great piece, enjoyed the read, some good advice I’ll be taking!!! Enjoy the season.