Intentional Decorating this Holiday Season

The holidays are always a time of both merriment and messes, cheer and chaos, and speeding up when we should be taking the time to slow down with our loved ones. Too long we’ve lived our fast-paced lives and if anything, this worldwide pandemic has taught us to slow it down, take it easy, and soak in the little things. So this holiday season, I challenge you to find ways to simplify your life instead of making it more difficult.

Grab Your Holiday Bins & Get Organized

The months of November and December at The Orderly Space are packed with clients looking for encouragement and assistance in going through their holiday decorations. Year after year we save treasured items and if we do this for five, ten, fifteen years, the items start to pile up until we don’t know where to put them or what to do with them.

The beginning of the season is the perfect time to take stock of what you have, donate any items that are no longer needed, and preserve the items that bring you joy. This could mean donating old ornaments that no longer fit your holiday themes or downsizing your snowman collection to a few treasured items. Whatever it looks like, before you start decorating your home take inventory of what stays and what goes.

Focus on being intentional.

It is not uncommon for us to find years of holiday cards and kids holiday crafts stashed away in boxes and bins when working with clients. We find that many people have a hard time parting with these - especially photo cards, but here is the secret, you can let them go. For cards, I propose holding onto the past year’s holiday greetings, sifting through them as you pull out your decor for the year, and then letting them go. Give yourself permission to move onto this year’s cards and make new memories that can be cherished a year from now.

As for kids’ Christmas crafts - I like to display only this years projects and few small mementos from years past. The rest of their creations get filed away in their keepsake bins for safe keeping.

Replace items instead of adding items.

One way to keep things minimal in your home is to replace current decor with Christmas decor. When we keep out our year-round decor and add the holiday items on top of those, it can become a cluttered mess that can easily make your feel overwhelmed.

Instead of adding to what you have, go around your home and replace items. This freshens up your space with your holiday favorites without creating chaos. Pack your usual home decor away into the holiday bins and when the festivities are over you can swap them back out.

Less stuff in your home, means less to clean and less to keep track of. This will make sure your life during the holidays is simplified and less stressful.

Select containers that are practical and functional.

Whether you are taking your items out for the season or putting them away, the containers you use can make a difference in your storage space. At The Orderly Space, we are all about form and functionality! Your holiday decor should be well-organized, easy to find, and easy to store.

If you aren’t quite there yet, no worries, we can help you with some of these tips!

Save your holiday wreath in a wreath bag that is easy to find and keeps your wreath in mint condition all year long.
If you use an artificial tree, ditch the box it came in for a nice tree storage bag.
Store ornaments in an ornament storage case where they will stay safe and secure.
Use our favorite label maker to label your bins and bags in your garage, attic, or other storage areas to keep your holiday items in order and ready to be used.
Clear, weathertight storage bins will keep your holiday memories and decorations safe from pests and moisture wherever they are stored year round. Clear bins will allow you to see exactly what is inside before pulling it out.

Focus on the Main Areas of Your Home

You are all organized and ready to tackle the season. You are feeling cool, confident and collected. Your holiday decorations have been carefully curated with all of your favorites at the ready. Now, before you get completely overwhelmed by the task remember this little tip: decorate where it matters most.

Focus on keeping your spaces minimal, intentional, and full of joy. Decorating for the holidays too easily puts people into overdrive and can cause total holi-drama. It doesn’t need to be that way. Remember: swap your normal decor for your holiday decor, create less mess which equals less stress, and slow down this season.

All is Calm, All is Bright

The holidays don’t need to mean busier. At times like these and in a world dominated by go-go-go, it is time to simplify your holiday lifestyle and get down to the important things. You can have a well-decorated home and still feel in control of your surroundings. Take your time going through your holiday items, get organized, purge unused or old decorations, and soak in the moments of laughter and joy. Enjoy your home and streamline your holiday living.

xoxo

- Jennifer

Simplifying Your Life During the Holidays