Isn’t it amazing how Christmas decor can take over every nook and cranny of your home?
I tend to spread my Christmas cheer over multiple rooms. I have some towels and soaps in the bathrooms, some snowman/log cabin dishes in the dining room, some winter-themed goblets in the kitchen, and table runners in the living room. Every year, I get everything packed up and put away on the highest shelf of the garage, only to discover that one of the Wise Men made a run for it and has been hiding out behind a throw pillow on the couch.
So today, go through every room and gather your Christmas wares. Here are some places you may want to check:
- The Living Room
- Guest Bathroom
- Kitchen (including cabinets)
- Dining Room
- Bedrooms (for any stealth wrapping that may have taken place,)
- Laundry Room
And here is a list of things with a Christmas theme to be on the look out for:
- Candles
- Soaps
- Tablecloths/table runners
- Mugs
- Dishes
- Paper Products
- Ornaments
- Kitchen towels
- Napkins
- Christmas Cards
- Wrapping Supplies
- Stray decor
Get it all into one place – ours is hanging out on the kitchen table. Make some decisions about what stays, and what gets repurposed or recycled.
Are you ready to be Clutter Free? Start the 21-Day Clutter Free challenge! Sign up now!
I did have to go through every room to track everything down. I’m leaving the few mugs because they’re some of our favorites (nice and big!) but everything else is packed up. Great tips!!
Kathi–
Ever since the 21 days to a Stress Free Christmas, I am your disciple! But….. I have been under mega stress for the past 5 months and the circumstances are not predictable….my mom has Alzheimers and placed in a Memory Care Unit, but selling her house, going through her things, well–all that emotional stuff.
I am “undoing” Christmas with you and am signed up for the Clutter Free bootcamp online. My question is, I am wondering since I am still “emotional” from my mom’s experience, will I want everything gone, then regret repurposing, and purging my stuff. I am sort of a minimalist anyway, but once we start in earnest, will I be sorry 6 months down the road?
One suggestion is to keep anything that expresses who your mother is as a person. Think of what would be special for family members (future grandchildren perhaps) to remember her at her best. Things like letters, handmade crafts, art, photos, these could be set aside to sort out another time when you are not overwhelmed with the current situation. Things that could be easily replaced (e.g. pots & pans, linens, household furnishings, and etc.) with a trip to the mall, can go “bye bye”. This is a hard time for you and my daughter-in-law is going through this with her mother, so my heart goes out to you. Praying God will encourage you.
Sydney,
I have recently gone through the same situation you are in with your mother. I pray God’s peace for you.
My opinion regarding your own personal Christmas purging is to put it off until next year when your emotions will be more under control. Use this year to get organized. Maybe your children can go through your Christmas stuff with you next year. When I went through my mother’s stuff I was really surprised at some of the personal items my children wanted to keep; we had a good time talking about the memories invoked by a special cup or knickknack. Your children may want to take some Christmas items that have special memories for them to have in their homes now.