The holidays are here, and even though it’s supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable time, many hosts experience stress about having guests over. Declutter your home for the holidays by focusing on these five main areas to have a stress-free experience and enjoy your guests’ company!

The Entryway

Remove out-of-season jackets and shoes to make room for guests’ coats, shoes, and umbrellas. It might be a good idea to move your family’s coats, shoes, and accessories to their bedroom closets for the duration of the party. This will avoid having a huge pile of clothes on your bed. Remember to ensure you have enough sturdy hangers.

The Living Room

Make room for entertaining by clearing your living room of excess items. Discard piles of old newspapers and magazines. Clear surfaces & floors of scattered books, toys, clothing, etc. Store them in a bin temporarily – especially if you are rushing to tidy the space on short notice. You can sort, categorize, and declutter after the holidays. Storage ottomans serve as a catch-all and extra seating. Another great product is a storage coffee table.

The Dining Room

If you are planning to have people over but don’t have enough space to seat them around your regular dining table, consider purchasing foldaway tables and chairs so all your guests can have an enjoyable dinner. Another option is to prepare a buffet-style meal. If you hold a lot of large gatherings, a useful gadget might be these ‘wine & dine plates.’ It’s a convenient solution for carrying a wine glass and munching on hors d’oeuvres. There is even a version for younger guests.

The Kitchen

Entertaining can turn into ‘kitchen parties,’ so decluttering all surfaces in your kitchen will make space to linger and, more importantly, to prepare the meal and snacks. This will also allow you to donate/recycle unused tools and appliances!

The Bathroom

Bathrooms are often overlooked but one of the rooms your guests will almost certainly use. Ensure you have enough supplies on hand. Get creative with a holiday theme such as filling a small decorative basket with colourful fingertips towels. Fill another basket with extra toilet paper, refill the soap dispenser, and empty the garbage bin so you can enjoy the night instead of constantly refilling supplies.

Don’t stress about hosting your next party. Just focus on these five main areas to declutter your home for the holidays.