Decluttering This Area Seasonally Will Make Your Kitchen Instantly Feel Holiday-Ready

We all know that feeling of wanting our homes to feel "just so" for the holidays. It's like a type of seasonal nesting, and the annual preparation is a ritual we gladly participate in because we know the payoff is always worth it. Whether it's decorating for Halloween, transforming your home for Christmas or Hanukkah, or spring cleaning for Easter, unpacking sentimental decor and maybe DIYing a few new pieces is a given — and organizing key spots around the home can make the holidays feel even more inviting. Decluttering the pantry ahead of the holidays might not be top of mind, but it will make a big difference in your seasonal cheer as you prepare to host loved ones and serve up your favorite holiday dishes.

While your guests might not ever see your pantry, it's one area to check off your cleaning list before hosting for the holidays that is more about your personal benefit than a house-proud display. It's about doing your future self the favor of a tidy and orderly space so that your cooking, baking, and meal prep are enjoyable and efficient experiences instead of stressful obligations. After all, few things put a damper on the holidays like frantically tearing apart the pantry looking for that one key ingredient you could have sworn you had on hand. By organizing the pantry before the holidays, you'll gain one stress-free zone in your home where everything you need to enjoy the season is right at your fingertips.

With a little bit of strategy and planning, you can create a pantry system that works for you and actually stays organized. First and foremost, holiday prep is the perfect time to go through your pantry and check expiration dates, get rid of anything expired, and donate what you know you'll never end up using. That extra space will come in handy as you collect your seasonal ingredients for your tried-and-true holiday recipes.

If you'll be doing a lot of cooking for the holiday, you may want to designate a shelf or section just for those holiday ingredients to ensure you have everything you need ready to go. Beyond a holiday section, group pantry items together in a system that makes sense for your routine and cooking habits. This might look like a baking staples shelf, a produce shelf, and a snack shelf, or maybe it would work better for you to group items by what you use the most frequently, storing those everyday items front and center. 

Clear containers help you keep track of ingredient amounts so you aren't surprised by an almost-empty box at the last minute. Just make sure you label ingredients and food items with expiration dates as needed, and store older items toward the front so they get used up first. It takes time, but with your pantry organized, you'll be that much more able to make the most of the holidays. And it doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are tons of great products and hacks from budget retailers like Dollar Tree that will help you say goodbye to pantry clutter.