8 Ways to Organize Your Home This Holiday Season
Declutter and organize your holiday supplies for the future to create a more peaceful home right now
Jeanne Taylor
November 8, 2020
Houzz Contributor. Jeanne Taylor is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the co-owner of Tailorly with her business partner Patricia Lee. Together they create beautiful homes through decluttering, organizing, and styling. For more information visit www.tailorly.net.
Houzz Contributor. Jeanne Taylor is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco... More
The holiday season might look very different this year than it has in past years. Large gatherings of family, friends and coworkers might not take place. Many of us might not fly to visit loved ones due to anxiety surrounding congested airports. Those who usually enjoy holiday shopping at crowded retail stores might instead make gift purchases online. Some might prefer not to give or receive baked goods.
Given that this year’s holiday festivities might be limited, you might find that you have extra time available for getting organized. If so, I recommend decluttering and organizing the supplies you use for entertaining and hosting guests so that you’ll be prepared for holiday entertaining in future years. Below are eight ways in different areas to focus on.
Given that this year’s holiday festivities might be limited, you might find that you have extra time available for getting organized. If so, I recommend decluttering and organizing the supplies you use for entertaining and hosting guests so that you’ll be prepared for holiday entertaining in future years. Below are eight ways in different areas to focus on.
1. Cull Your Cookbooks
Many of us look for recipe inspiration online these days. If this is true for you, then you may be consulting your cookbooks less frequently. Perhaps you can let some go by donating them to your favorite charity.
I recommend hanging on to the classics you refer to for cooking techniques, food preparation tips and advice on ingredient selection. Personally, I often consult James Beard’s American Cookery and The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. I also occasionally use The Joy of Cooking for some old favorite recipes.
However, I confess that I never use several of my cookbooks. Some were gifts; others I purchased for school or charity fundraisers. Still others feature recipes that I find too labor-intensive or ingredients I find too uncommon. Cookbooks like these are the ones to donate.
If you use only one or two recipes from a particular cookbook, I suggest scanning those recipes and saving them on your computer. Alternatively, you could use the old-school method and handwrite recipes on index cards to store in a recipe box. This will open up space on your cookbook shelf for other things.
Find a professional home organizer near you
Many of us look for recipe inspiration online these days. If this is true for you, then you may be consulting your cookbooks less frequently. Perhaps you can let some go by donating them to your favorite charity.
I recommend hanging on to the classics you refer to for cooking techniques, food preparation tips and advice on ingredient selection. Personally, I often consult James Beard’s American Cookery and The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. I also occasionally use The Joy of Cooking for some old favorite recipes.
However, I confess that I never use several of my cookbooks. Some were gifts; others I purchased for school or charity fundraisers. Still others feature recipes that I find too labor-intensive or ingredients I find too uncommon. Cookbooks like these are the ones to donate.
If you use only one or two recipes from a particular cookbook, I suggest scanning those recipes and saving them on your computer. Alternatively, you could use the old-school method and handwrite recipes on index cards to store in a recipe box. This will open up space on your cookbook shelf for other things.
Find a professional home organizer near you
2. Declutter Your Baking Supplies
Many people rarely take stock of their baking supplies. Perhaps you purchased a special pan to make a certain dessert and have never used it since. Maybe you own multiple cupcake tins that you used only when your college-age children were in elementary school. Or you may have acquired items as gifts or hand-me-downs that have now sat unused in the back of a cabinet for years.
Consider donating these unused items taking up valuable cabinet space. Also take a look at frequently used items like cookie sheets or loaf pans that may have reached the end of their functional life. Perhaps you can use this time to shop online sales and replace them.
15 Essentials for the Baker’s Kitchen
Many people rarely take stock of their baking supplies. Perhaps you purchased a special pan to make a certain dessert and have never used it since. Maybe you own multiple cupcake tins that you used only when your college-age children were in elementary school. Or you may have acquired items as gifts or hand-me-downs that have now sat unused in the back of a cabinet for years.
Consider donating these unused items taking up valuable cabinet space. Also take a look at frequently used items like cookie sheets or loaf pans that may have reached the end of their functional life. Perhaps you can use this time to shop online sales and replace them.
15 Essentials for the Baker’s Kitchen
3. Sift Through Your Baking Ingredients
If you find that you are not baking as much this holiday season, consider using the extra time to review the expiration dates of baking products in your pantry.
I recommend that when you open a baking item, you write the date on the package so you can keep track of how long it has been open. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cornell University and the Food Industry Association (formerly the Food Marketing Institute) offer an online resource called FoodKeeper for guidelines on food freshness and quality. Here are their recommendations for the maximum amount of time you should keep a few common baking ingredients once they’ve been opened:
If you find that you are not baking as much this holiday season, consider using the extra time to review the expiration dates of baking products in your pantry.
I recommend that when you open a baking item, you write the date on the package so you can keep track of how long it has been open. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cornell University and the Food Industry Association (formerly the Food Marketing Institute) offer an online resource called FoodKeeper for guidelines on food freshness and quality. Here are their recommendations for the maximum amount of time you should keep a few common baking ingredients once they’ve been opened:
- Baking powder: Six months
- Baking soda: Six months
- White flour: In the pantry: six to eight months; in the fridge: one year
- Sugar (granulated, powdered, brown): Two years
- Solid shortening: 12 months
- Whole spices: Three to four years
- Ground spices: Two to four years
- Ground and whole leafy herbs: One to three years
4. Organize Guest Bedding and Bath Supplies
Some of my clients rarely host out-of-town visitors yet have an overabundance of guest sheets, towels, pillows and blankets. Take a look at what you realistically use given the quantity of guests you typically host, and let go of supplies that may never be used.
If your guest bedding and towels are overly worn, consider replacing them. A local animal shelter may be a good place to donate excess or worn-out supplies; call the shelter to find out.
Also take a look at the toiletries you may have saved for guests. Some of my clients keep hotel-size shampoo and bath products in quantities so large, it would take years to use them. If this is true for you, consider donating excess items to a homeless shelter.
I recommend that once you have sorted and decluttered these guest supplies, you store them separately from your main household bed and bath supplies. You might use a label maker to designate a shelf in the linen closet for guest bedding. You might store guest necessities in a designated basket or container. If you are fortunate enough to have a guest room, consider storing these items there.
Shop for storage and organizing products
Some of my clients rarely host out-of-town visitors yet have an overabundance of guest sheets, towels, pillows and blankets. Take a look at what you realistically use given the quantity of guests you typically host, and let go of supplies that may never be used.
If your guest bedding and towels are overly worn, consider replacing them. A local animal shelter may be a good place to donate excess or worn-out supplies; call the shelter to find out.
Also take a look at the toiletries you may have saved for guests. Some of my clients keep hotel-size shampoo and bath products in quantities so large, it would take years to use them. If this is true for you, consider donating excess items to a homeless shelter.
I recommend that once you have sorted and decluttered these guest supplies, you store them separately from your main household bed and bath supplies. You might use a label maker to designate a shelf in the linen closet for guest bedding. You might store guest necessities in a designated basket or container. If you are fortunate enough to have a guest room, consider storing these items there.
Shop for storage and organizing products
5. Take Inventory of Party Decor and Supplies
Often clients store party supplies in their basement or garage in large plastic containers that they rarely open. Repeatedly, I see party boxes that are cluttered and disorganized. Now is a great time to review these supplies.
To get started, remove all party supplies from their various storage locations in your home and review your stash as a whole. Unpack each box and place everything on a large, flat surface, like a dining room table. (Be sure to first protect the table with a blanket or towels.) Then separate your party items by category. For example, place candles in one group and paper products in another. Toss anything that is stained or beyond repair.
Also consider removing from your party supplies any stray items such as a few leftover napkins from your daughter’s ladybug-theme party several years ago, or one or two paper plates from your sister’s baby shower. Store these items with your everyday plates and napkins so they can be used. Consider donating any tabletop decor, candleholders or other party decorations that you don’t plan to use again.
If you host theme parties, consider storing supplies for each theme together. If you do not plan to repeat the theme, you might donate your collection to a charity or a friend or post it on the website Nextdoor.
Once you’ve decided what party supplies to keep, create a box for each holiday. For example, Valentine’s Day party supplies can be stored in one bin. Label the outside of the container and store it in a garage or basement away from your everyday supplies. Generic party items such as candles and candleholders can be stored together in a generic party supplies box.
Often clients store party supplies in their basement or garage in large plastic containers that they rarely open. Repeatedly, I see party boxes that are cluttered and disorganized. Now is a great time to review these supplies.
To get started, remove all party supplies from their various storage locations in your home and review your stash as a whole. Unpack each box and place everything on a large, flat surface, like a dining room table. (Be sure to first protect the table with a blanket or towels.) Then separate your party items by category. For example, place candles in one group and paper products in another. Toss anything that is stained or beyond repair.
Also consider removing from your party supplies any stray items such as a few leftover napkins from your daughter’s ladybug-theme party several years ago, or one or two paper plates from your sister’s baby shower. Store these items with your everyday plates and napkins so they can be used. Consider donating any tabletop decor, candleholders or other party decorations that you don’t plan to use again.
If you host theme parties, consider storing supplies for each theme together. If you do not plan to repeat the theme, you might donate your collection to a charity or a friend or post it on the website Nextdoor.
Once you’ve decided what party supplies to keep, create a box for each holiday. For example, Valentine’s Day party supplies can be stored in one bin. Label the outside of the container and store it in a garage or basement away from your everyday supplies. Generic party items such as candles and candleholders can be stored together in a generic party supplies box.
6. Winnow Your Drinkware
Many of my clients entertain often and have a fully stocked bar. They often also own cocktail glasses such as highball, old-fashioned, collins, martini and shot glasses as well as coupes and brandy snifters. They may have wineglasses in multiple shapes and sizes plus specialized drinkware for beer, Irish coffee and Moscow mules.
If you live in a large home with adequate storage and enjoy entertaining, it may be satisfying to own a large selection of glasses. However, many people do not have sufficient storage space in their homes, so all this glassware ends up crowded in cabinets or packed away in boxes.
Since you may not be entertaining as frequently this holiday season, now may be a good time to sort your collection. A good goal is to make space in your home for the contents of all your boxes and have better access to your supply. I recommend that you reflect on your entertainment style and frequency and consider which wines and cocktails you tend to serve.
Though variety-specific wineglasses are available, if you’re not a wine connoisseur, you might keep a small selection of universal glasses. For instance, a standard cabernet glass can work for all red wines, a chardonnay glass for white wines and a Champagne flute for sparkling wines. If you are unsure which type of glasses you own, do a bit of online research before you decide which to keep. Similarly, if you are not a cocktail aficionado yet have a collection of cocktail glasses, consider researching to learn more about your collection and what you truly need.
You also might want to let go of any chipped glasses or single pieces that are not part of a collection.
Many of my clients entertain often and have a fully stocked bar. They often also own cocktail glasses such as highball, old-fashioned, collins, martini and shot glasses as well as coupes and brandy snifters. They may have wineglasses in multiple shapes and sizes plus specialized drinkware for beer, Irish coffee and Moscow mules.
If you live in a large home with adequate storage and enjoy entertaining, it may be satisfying to own a large selection of glasses. However, many people do not have sufficient storage space in their homes, so all this glassware ends up crowded in cabinets or packed away in boxes.
Since you may not be entertaining as frequently this holiday season, now may be a good time to sort your collection. A good goal is to make space in your home for the contents of all your boxes and have better access to your supply. I recommend that you reflect on your entertainment style and frequency and consider which wines and cocktails you tend to serve.
Though variety-specific wineglasses are available, if you’re not a wine connoisseur, you might keep a small selection of universal glasses. For instance, a standard cabernet glass can work for all red wines, a chardonnay glass for white wines and a Champagne flute for sparkling wines. If you are unsure which type of glasses you own, do a bit of online research before you decide which to keep. Similarly, if you are not a cocktail aficionado yet have a collection of cocktail glasses, consider researching to learn more about your collection and what you truly need.
You also might want to let go of any chipped glasses or single pieces that are not part of a collection.
7. Edit Your Serving Platters and Bowls
Serving pieces can be large and bulky. This holiday season, take out all of your serving platters and bowls to see what you own. You may be able to donate those you don’t use.
Consider letting go of anything that is chipped, takes up too much space or serves only one purpose. For instance, a large pedestal cake stand is awkward to store and does not have multiple uses. Unless you use it frequently, you might want to donate it.
Serving pieces can be large and bulky. This holiday season, take out all of your serving platters and bowls to see what you own. You may be able to donate those you don’t use.
Consider letting go of anything that is chipped, takes up too much space or serves only one purpose. For instance, a large pedestal cake stand is awkward to store and does not have multiple uses. Unless you use it frequently, you might want to donate it.
8. Pare Down Your Holiday Decorations
Many of us receive ornaments as gifts and leave older, less popular decor packed in storage containers year after year. When you are ready to decorate this season, open all your boxes and assess your stockpile as a whole. If you haven’t used an ornament or a tabletop decoration for several years, consider donating it. Let go of items that you don’t really like, and toss anything that’s broken or damaged.
Also take stock of your holiday lights. Replace burned-out bulbs and dispose of strands that don’t work properly. Consider donating wreaths, garlands and outdoor decor that you don’t use anymore.
Decluttering these items can actually help others who may be in need. If you donate your unwanted decor to a local charity before Thanksgiving, perhaps someone else can use it this season.
More on Houzz
Read more organizing stories
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Find a local professional home organizer
Shop for holiday decor
Many of us receive ornaments as gifts and leave older, less popular decor packed in storage containers year after year. When you are ready to decorate this season, open all your boxes and assess your stockpile as a whole. If you haven’t used an ornament or a tabletop decoration for several years, consider donating it. Let go of items that you don’t really like, and toss anything that’s broken or damaged.
Also take stock of your holiday lights. Replace burned-out bulbs and dispose of strands that don’t work properly. Consider donating wreaths, garlands and outdoor decor that you don’t use anymore.
Decluttering these items can actually help others who may be in need. If you donate your unwanted decor to a local charity before Thanksgiving, perhaps someone else can use it this season.
More on Houzz
Read more organizing stories
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Find a local professional home organizer
Shop for holiday decor
Related Stories
Houzz Call
Houzz Call: Show Us the Stunning Snowy Scenes Near Your Home
Please share the best pictures of your home and garden in winter
Full Story
Christmas
Houzz Readers Share Their Christmas Trees
By Becky Harris
These 25 trees are infused with memories and holiday cheer
Full Story
Winter Gardening
Last-Minute Ideas for Attractive Winter Container Designs
Create a welcoming holiday entryway with ideas from these 9 looks
Full Story
Housekeeping
A Clean Home for the Holidays in 5 Days
Follow this guide to get your house clean before the festivities begin and your guests arrive
Full Story
Fun Houzz
Houzz Cats Get Into the Holiday Spirit
By Becky Harris
Houzz readers’ feline family members love the Christmas tree, the tree skirt and even the rolls of wrapping paper
Full Story
Decorating Guides
14 Easy Last-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas
These festive decorations for doors, windows, stairs and tables can be created quickly
Full Story
Decluttering
5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Season Burnout
By Patricia Lee
You can enjoy the traditions and activities that matter to you and let go of the rest
Full Story
Fall and Thanksgiving
10 Easy Ways to Give Your Entryway and Front Yard a Holiday Boost
Make your entry inviting this season with decorations, lighting, furniture and more
Full Story
Christmas
Houzz Call: Show Us Your Christmas Tree!
By Becky Harris
Please share your favorite Christmas tree traditions and stories, and post your photos
Full Story
Powder Rooms
10 Things to Enhance Your Powder Room for the Holidays or Anytime
Treat yourself and your guests to one of these special touches for the powder room
Full Story
Thanks @dlb98! It all kind of goes together too - that's fabulous! I bet your table will look stunning when it's all set for guests :) Your set also makes me think of summer - eating outdoor in the shade.
Thanks for the nice tips. It felt a little strange to read words like "since you will not be having people over", "now that you will not need so much glassware" etc. I guess there are people from all parts of the planet in this app. I heard Sweden isn't doing much of a quarantine. Wonder if they'll be having a regular Christmas. At my side of the world, our city just went into lockdown. Again. If you're reading this, I hope you're well and healthy. ❤️
All I can think is refuse, reduce, reuse. I have stuff to declutter but it’s mostly along the lines of having an empty nest. Sustainable life is key.