Between decorating, shopping for gifts, cooking, entertaining and wrapping presents, it's easy to get disorganized and feel overwhelmed during the holidays. With these tips, you can tame the holiday madness!
Organize Your Closets Beforehand
Before you add another year's worth of sweaters, slippers and other new gifts, take stock of what you have in your closet. Which items do you really need to keep? If it's an item you love and one that sees regular use, keep it. If the item no longer fits or has not been used within the past year, toss it. Don't forget to take inventory of the kids' closets and toy chests too. In the spirit of the holiday season, think about those who could benefit from your items and share or donate them as appropriate.
Keep Holiday Décor Simple
Holiday décor doesn't have to be elaborate to be beautiful! Simple touches, such as greenery, twinkling lights and a decorated tree, can help a home look festive without feeling cluttered. If you prefer more decorations, focus on one or two key areas to splurge on rather scattering a few things here and there around the house. The kitchen and family room are good candidates for decorating since they are generally used the most. Once the holidays are over, be sure to pack away decorations in boxes or bins that are properly labeled to keep things organized and safe.
Create a Gift Shopping List
Well in advance of gift-giving, create a shopping list that you can refer to as you purchase gifts. Set a budget, decide which gifts you will purchase and match them with sale ads. If you have small children, ask your spouse or a friend to watch the kids while you shop alone. If you prefer to keep things even simpler, get out your apron and mixing bowls and bake various items to give as gifts. These homemade goodies are a great way to show appreciation to teachers and friends, and save money too.
Plan Holiday Gift Wrapping
Purchase a supply of gift wrap, gift bags, bows, tape and other wrapping essentials early, so you don't have to run out to buy them when it's crunch time. Schedule a convenient time to wrap gifts to avoid stressful late-night wrapping sessions. After the holidays, keep excess supplies nice for next year by storing in clear, sturdy containers.
Schedule Baking
Sweets and other foods play a major role in the holiday celebrations of many families, but no one wants to be baking at midnight on Christmas Eve. At the beginning of the holiday season, create a list of holiday favorites that you want to bake. Collect the recipes and determine which ingredients you will need to purchase. Then schedule your shopping and baking time on the calendar, just as you would any other appointment.
Outdoor Sheds Can Minimize Holiday Clutter
Outdoor sheds are a great place to store artificial Christmas trees, decorations and other items that are only used during the holidays. In addition to keeping your home clutter-free, a shed built with
LP products offers more durable protection than
wooden sheds.
LP engineered wood products resist warping, splitting, cracking, fungal decay and termites. To buy a shed built with LP products,
find shed dealers near you.