12 Things In Your Home To Declutter At The End Of The Holiday

The holiday season means that the year is coming to an end. Not only are the holidays a time to celebrate, but they're actually the perfect opportunity to do some decluttering and organizing around your home. Whether you are trying for a more minimalist approach to life in the new year or you just want to get rid of some excess clutter, the end of the holidays is the perfect time to do a bit of purging in order to get things out of your home. 

Decluttering does not mean getting rid of everything you own. Instead, think of this as a chance to eliminate some of the things that are no longer serving you well. Focus on items you no longer use, pieces that are damaged, or things that no longer fit or serve a purpose. Think about what you really want in your home and life as the year comes to an end. Whether you donate what you don't need or throw out things that are damaged, ending the year with less clutter means starting fresh in the new year.

At the end of the holiday season, it's always good to go through the ornaments that you are taking down and putting away to get rid of ones that you are no longer using or that may have been damaged. There is no reason to store something that you're no longer using or find joy in. Ask yourself whether you will realistically use it next year if it stayed stored this season.

Similar to going through your ornaments, if you have holiday decorations that no longer look good, are broken, or that you generally do not like anymore, this is the time to declutter them. Sorting through holiday lights and discarding nonworking strands also helps reduce clutter. You don't want to store decor that you're never going to put out again. Keep the items that you love and will want to put on display again next year.

The holidays are a time when a lot of gifts are given, and that includes new toys. As your child grows out of their old toys, the end of the year is a good time to donate them so that other kids can enjoy them. Broken toys should be discarded to prevent potential safety hazards. It also makes room for whatever new things a child may have gotten for the holidays.

The end of the holiday season is the perfect time of year to go through your closet and figure out what you are no longer wearing, what doesn't fit, and even pieces that are damaged that need to be fixed. Think about whether items needing repair are realistically going to be fixed or worn again. This is a good time to downsize what you have so that you are actually wearing the clothing that you own in the new year.

If you have shoes that you no longer wear, this is a good time to let them go. Shoes are often set aside because they are no longer comfortable or are too worn to keep using. Getting them out of your home frees up space for new shoes, and it lets you know what you might actually need. It also reduces visual clutter by eliminating shoes that are simply collecting dust.

There comes a point in time when blankets and pillows actually need to be replaced. The end of the year is a good time to go through what you have and make sure that they're in good condition, nice quality, and that the pieces you're using don't have any rips or tears. You should be replacing your pillows every one to two years, so after the holidays is a good time to start fresh. Start the new year with pillows and blankets that are comfortable, warm, and clean.

If you have skincare, makeup, and other beauty products that you are no longer using, this is the perfect time to do a purge and get rid of those items. Makeup and skincare can expire and go bad, so getting rid of things that you're not using can prevent issues with spoiled products. Products that went unused all year are good candidates for decluttering. This is also a great opportunity to get rid of any skincare or makeup that just didn't work for your skin.

During the holidays, there is a lot of packing and wrapping that happens, so you might find yourself with an excessive amount of bubble wrap, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and more. While some supplies can be reused, paring down excess packaging helps eliminate unnecessary clutter. Throw out anything that is ripped up, donate things that other people might be able to use, and put aside stuff that you can use for future gift wrapping.

The last thing you want is a guest using a towel that's falling apart. Over time, towels can get ripped up and worn out. Not only do they become thin and less absorbent, but they also fray, which can lead to them deteriorating in the washer or dryer. Once that happens, it's time to replace them. Consider donating worn towels to animal rescues or shelters, which often welcome them. Not only are you doing something good, but you are also eliminating clutter in your home.

If you have electronics that are no longer working or items that need to be fixed but you haven't looked at in a long time, this is the perfect time to get rid of them. Even working electronics that go unused can be removed to eliminate clutter that you don't need. Recycle the broken ones and donate things that can still be used but that you're not using.

Decluttering your kitchen countertops, cabinets, and drawers is all about getting rid of things that are broken, you never use, or that are missing parts and pieces. After the holidays, get rid of containers that don't have lids or water bottles that are dented and damaged. If you have duplicates of lesser-used tools, donate them so someone else can use them. The post-holiday period is a good time for removing unused items or unnecessary duplicates from the kitchen.

Gift giving is a big part of the holidays. And while it is nice to get presents and new things, not every gift is something that will work for you. If you get gifts that you can't use or don't want, you don't have to keep them. Rather than storing unwanted gifts, consider regifting or donating them so they can be put to use elsewhere.