How to Reduce Holiday Clutter

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As the gift giving season begins, so does the amount of things infiltrating our homes, holiday events packed into every weekend, expectations from family and friends, and not to mention credit card debt from living above our means. Isn’t that the opposite of what the holidays are supposed to bring?

The book by Marie Kondo The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up changed the way I viewed my home, consumed material things, and ultimately set me in the direction of a minimalist lifestyle. Because of this, I reached out to a local Portland KonMari consultant Devin VonderHaar of The Modern Minimalist to get some tips and tricks on how to reduce holiday clutter.

Devin is a silver certified Konmari consultant, which means she has 300 hours of Konmari services working with 20 clients thus far.  She offers professional organization services in the Konmari method.  As a consultant she receives training as part of the certification process, which typically takes 4-6 months in total. She likes to say she “empowers the modern matriarch through the lens of organization.”

We, at Literally Simple, are grateful for her knowledge and expert tips on how to minimize, simplify, and reduce holiday clutter.

How to Reduce Holiday Clutter

1. First Create Vision then Simplify

The first step in the Marie Kondo process is to create vision. Devin teaches you to “focus on a feeling or a specific goal you have in mind…Once you set your vision, everything else will follow.” For your family this feeling might be of peace and joy, filled with family and friends. You can picture holiday parties that have low expectations, full of rooms with laughter, good friends, perhaps hot beverages, and a strong sense of community. Or perhaps you also want quiet moments to reflect over the year, reset new routines, and welcome more joy and love into your life. Whatever your vision is make sure to follow it with intention.

Now that you have a vision, you can begin recognizing only the essentials that are needed to create your clutter free holiday. What are items over the holidays that you can completely stop buying, or at least simplify? With the help of our KonMari consultant of The Modern Minimalist, you can simplify your holiday by eliminating or reducing in these three areas.

2. Reduce Decorations

If you want to truly embrace minimalism, you can eliminate purchasing decorations. Instead you can use seasonal natural decorations like pine boughs, cranberries, or holly. These are zero waste and don’t require you to store in the off season. Also, they reduce your plastic consumption.

You also might consider a simple tree decorated with white lights, or just candles this holiday. Better yet, create zero waste ornaments using your own creativity.  Here is an excellent post on more zero waste gifts, and decoration ideas.

The simple act of “not buying” this holiday could set you on a clutter free path for many holidays to come!

3. Reduce and Choose Clutter Free Gifts

Your vision probably didn’t include an entire living room full of toys, new clothes, your kids hopped up on sugar, and more clutter than you’d like to organize. Your vision did probably include laughter and joy. There are ways to give gifts that create joy, without all the over consumption, waste, and debt.

Try to focus on experiences over things, limit your purchases to items people really need or want, and buy quality to make items last throughout the year. Also, check out gift giving for kids, clutter free gifts for women, and gifts for the outdoorsman for tips on gift giving without clutter.

Are you hosting a holiday party this year? Make sure to set an intention for this event. Avoid putting unwanted burdens on yourself or guests like asking for elaborate gifts, or trying to go above and beyond your own cooking and hosting abilities. Keep it simple.

Take the burden off your guests and request “no gifts” or “only gifts for kids.” This eliminates stuff being passed around to adults, who really have the means to buy what they want any day of the year. Instead you can request guests bring a dish to share.  This way guests will leave with no unwanted clutter and their own dish they came with.

Wondering how to suggest a “no gift” gathering? Check out this extensive post by Reduce Reuse Renew on how to to graciously ask for “no gifts.”

4. Reduce Calendar Clutter

Another way to minimize and reduce stress over the holidays is to say “no” to calendar clutter. You don’t have to go to every company party where colleagues drink too many glasses of mulled wine and poor decisions are made. You don’t have to feel obligated to make it to five different homes Christmas morning. If driving all day on Christmas morning is not part of your vision, explain this to family and friends. Calendar clutter can really lessen the joy that the holidays should bring.

Keep in mind these two guidelines to enjoy a clutter free calendar this year.

Set a schedule with intention

This means choosing the holiday parties and events you’ll be attending ahead of time. This helps you to be intentional. It’s just like sticking to a budget. Last minute events that you don’t have the energy for won’t make the cut.

Communicate your expectations to family before the holiday season

Explain your intentions for your family. Graciously accept invitations, and graciously decline invitations if there are too many commitments.

Final Thoughts on How to Reduce Holiday Clutter

Simplicity over the holidays makes for a happier family. With less obligations, and expectations you can truly enjoy the season for what it is. In fact, with less focus on consuming you may be able to start a few treasured family traditions like cuddled up and watching It’s a Wonderful Life, making cinnamon rolls on Christmas eve, allowing your children to open a gift early, or simply decorating cookies with your best friends while sipping hot coco. If the holidays are stressful, make the change. Choose to do and consume less this season to simplify.

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Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday!

Join the Discussion

How will you reduce holiday clutter this year?

Author

Maria Halcumb is a teacher, reading specialist, and mother. You can find her reading books, being in nature, minimizing her life, and spending time with family and friends in the great PNW.

Source

“Holiday Clutter.” VonderHaar, Devin 1 Oct. 2019.