7 ways to cut clutter when decorating this Christmas – professional organizers share their tips

Without a doubt, one of the best parts of Christmas is the decorating. From putting up the tree, to stringing lights on the staircase, it makes a home feel cozy, magical and festive.

As beautiful as decorations are, though, they also inevitably mean clutter. Whether that's on surfaces and countertops covered with twinkling displays, or storage boxes pulled out of the attic, garage and basement, it can be difficult to manage the Christmas chaos.

Here, we spoke to professional organizers, to find out their tips to cut clutter and decorate for Christmas without getting overwhelmed, while keeping your home both festive and functional.

How to decorate for Christmas without clutter

1. Start with decluttering and cleaning

As Marie Bateson, APDO's volunteer director and owner of Cut the Clutter explains, you can't avoid clutter without some pre-Christmas decluttering and cleaning. This will give you a fresh canvas to work with.

She says, 'Before you start to decorate for Christmas, have a good clean. Dust and polish so it looks clean and fresh when you trim it up. The only thing to leave until afterward is the vacuuming (using your best vacuum) as decorations and the tree shed. Our top pick is the Dyson Gen5detect™ vacuum available at Dyson, if you're not sure about the best places to buy vacuum cleaners.

Then, when it comes to decluttering, why not try following the pre-Christmas decluttering rules, or simply focusing on the best places to declutter before Christmas.

2. Replace home decor, don’t add to it

While there's nothing wrong with going a little over the top when it comes to decorations, there is somewhat of a limit, and it's important to keep that in mind, says APDO's president and founder of Sorted! Siân Pelleschi. Instead, she recommends changing out your regular decor for your Christmas decor ideas, rather than trying to make both work. This will avoid visual clutter, and avoid adding to already existing piles around your home.

She says, 'Firstly, it's important that you consider this a swap rather than an embellishment on what you already have. When you're decorating for Christmas, I always suggest taking down those items that you have out year-round.

'Consider this as an opportunity to change the gallery you have in your home. It also helps reduce that feeling of emptiness when it comes to packing your Christmas items away as you have something to replace them with.'

Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized also suggests making seasonal swaps, such as switching regular throw pillows for cozy holiday versions, or usual candles with ones that have a festive scent, such as the YANKEE CANDLE Christmas Cookie Scented Candle available at Amazon.

'You'll keep the space feeling fresh and seasonal, without piling on extra stuff,' she says.

3. Work with less

Christmas decor is one of those categories that tend to build up unnoticed over time, until we have more decor than we know what to do with. So, instead of putting it all out, professional organizer Pelleschi recommends decluttering and donating some of it that's no longer your style, or working with more minimalist Christmas decor ideas instead to maintain a good balance between festive and functional.

She says, 'Go for less to start with and then add as you see fit – remember that it is okay not to use every single bauble if your tree isn’t big enough.’

If you love all your pieces and don't want to declutter Christmas decorations, Pelleschi assures us that you don't have to. ‘Maybe you have different themes or styles you want to try each year,' she adds. 'It’s a great opportunity to try new styles.'

Therefore, it's always worthwhile to stock up on Christmas decor storage essentials, to keep your decorations looking their best, even when not on display.

4. Decorate vertically

Perfect for small living room ideas and tiny entryways, professional organizer Ter Avest suggests thinking vertically when it comes to decorating.

She says, 'Think wreaths, garlands, and twinkling lights on walls, doorways, and even up the staircase. Hanging decorations take up no floor space, and they add a big impact with a small footprint.

'The same goes for window decorations – some beautiful string lights or paper snowflakes (or stickers, such as the LUDILO 135Pcs Christmas Window Clings Snowflakes available at Amazon) can make the whole room feel magical, without taking up any shelf or table space.' You can even try out some DIY Christmas decor ideas, for handmade holiday decorations with a personal touch.

5. Keep decor away from functional areas

It can be tempting to decorate every inch of your home to help get into the Christmas spirit, but that is a surefire way to make your decor impractical. When draping your home in Christmas wreaths, candles, and Christmas garlands, Jamie Hord, professional organizer and co-founder of Horderly urges you to keep them away from functional areas:

‘You want to "lightly sprinkle" Christmas decor throughout your house,’ he explains. ‘Avoid putting decor anywhere that is going to be in your way. If you use the stair banister to walk up and down the steps, avoid hanging decor here. If you have a small space, get a tree that fits the scale of that space so that you're not squeezing around it.’

It can also be a good idea to keep things like kitchen Christmas decor to a minimum to help make cleaning a kitchen and cooking Christmas dinner safer and easier.

6. Stay true to one style

Visual clutter is just as bad as physical clutter – especially at Christmas, when we layer lots of decor and lights in one space.

Owing to this, professional organizer Ter Avest recommends sticking to one theme, and carrying it through your space, to avoid visual clashes and clutter.

One of the easiest ways to do so, she says, it so pick a color palette and stick with it. 'Using the same colors throughout your decor helps tie everything together and creates a cohesive look that feels intentional, rather than chaotic.

'If you love traditional red and green, stick with those and incorporate them into your throw pillows, blankets and even dishware.

'Or, go for a modern twist with whites, golds, and silvers for a minimal, elegant look. When you keep the color scheme consistent, it feels like everything belongs, and you don't need to add as much to make an impact.' It's also an effective way to make Christmas decor look more expensive, whether you prefer to stick to traditional Christmas decor ideas, or put your own twist on the holidays.

7. Decorate with practicality in mind

Another really great way to cut clutter at Christmas is to use practical decorations that serve a purpose, rather than just looking pretty, suggests professional organizer Di Ter Avest.

She says, 'For example, a decorative basket (such as the Rectangle Christmas Basket available at Amazon) filled with cozy blankets can double as both a festive element and a way to store blankets. You could also fill a glass jar with ornaments as pretty centerpiece, and it's easy to tuck away when not needed.

'By being selective and focusing on fewer, more meaningful pieces, you'll create a beautiful holiday atmosphere – without feeling like your home is bursting at the seams.'

FAQs

How do you decorate for Christmas when you have no space?

When you are running low on space in your home and need to decorate for Christmas, consider using minimal decor with a big impact. For instance, choose a smaller or narrower tree, and decorate with hanging garlands around doors and windows to bulk out your Christmas foliage.

How do you declutter Christmas decorations?

When decorating for Christmas, simply harness the same decluttering tips and principles you use throughout the year. Declutter as you take pieces out of their boxes, and, when you come across a piece that doesn't instantly make you feel nostalgic or festive, or you have to think hard about where to put it, consider putting it in a donation pile.

Then, when taking your decor down again, pack away the pieces you loved looking at this year, and think about which decorations were more hassle in daily life, which could go to a better home.

Ultimately, when styling a home for Christmas, you want to strike a balance between keeping your home functional and making it look festive. If your mind can't rest when you look around your home, or cleaning your home has become impossible in December, you may need to cut back to avoid clutter.