The run-up to Christmas can be a sure-fire recipe for stress, especially in tough economic times when we have less money as well as time to spend on presents, preparation and entertaining.
Lots of us have a grand old clear-out in the New Year, but decluttering BEFORE Christmas to make space for all your gifts, goodies and guests over the festive season can go a long way to creating a welcome sense of peace and goodwill. And remember that the true spirit of Christmas ISN'T all about splashing the cash so why not make yours a simpler celebration this year?
Christmas decorations are the set-dressing that helps create a magical backdrop to the celebrations, but there’s no need to splash out on a new look every year just to fit fashion’s whims.
This autumn Mother Nature has given us a fantastic bounty of fruit and berries so why not take a countryside walk and turn hunter-gatherer to harvest some natural decorations that won't cost you a penny?
A jug of berried boughs - it doesn't have to be holly - will make a lovely traditional red and green table or mantelpiece arrangement. A bowl of polished red apples or platter of pinecones with a few baubles added for sparkle looks wonderfully festive.
And who says you must have a Christmas tree? Why not ring the festive changes this year by hanging decorations on a bunch of interesting twigs in a tall vase and adding a string of simple white fairy lights? If you like you can spraypaint the twigs white, silver or gold to look extra Christmassy - or a different colour to compliment your baubles and living room colour scheme. The internet is a great source for more simple and inexpensive decorating ideas.
If you do find decorations you don’t need or like while decking your halls, box them up and give them away to brighten up someone else’s home or a perhaps a local charity’s Christmas event.
Thoughtful giving
Instead of rushing around spending more than you can afford on presents, how about giving those important people in your life the gift that money can't buy instead? As Rick Warren, American philantropist and author puts it: "Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time."
So how can you package up and gift-wrap your time? With some creative thinking about how your time and skills can provide a tailor-made treat for a loved one or special friend, the possibilities are almost endless. You could give them a 'gift voucher' that's valid for a day's gardening or decorating, or a few hours' sewing, or a special occasion cake you will make when they want it. A busy mum might really appreciate a day off with you taking the children off her hands more than yet another collection of bath oil. An elderly friend would probably love being taken for an afternoon out in the car far more than given a box of chocolates.
The best-received present I have given this year was to a male friend who is mad about the comic book character Iron Man. I couldn't think what to buy him and then hit on this idea: I searched out and printed a range of Iron Man images from the internet (cost: nothing apart from printer paper), cut them out and arranged into a collage (cost: two hours of my time), then displayed it in an unused box frame I found in a cupboard (cost: nothing). Result? A unique personalised artwork that has pride of place on his wall and he was so chuffed with that it made ME feel like a super-hero!
Clarify your wardrobe
If your wardrobe and drawers are already full to bursting, where will you put new party glad-rags or clothing gifts? Have a proper sort-out and give a Christmas bonus to the charity shop of your choice by donating all your unwanted clothing and shoes. The best way is to get EVERYTHING out of your wardrobe and go through every item – if you haven’t worn it in the past year, let it go. Do the same with your drawers and shoe and coat cupboards.
Quality items could earn you some welcome festive dosh on eBay or through a local dress agency. Another fun way to recycle festive fashion items is to organise a 'swishing party' where you can swap good quality clothes, shoes and bags with your female friends. That little black dress that’s just TOO little these days could be exactly what a slimmer pal is looking for, while the heels and bag she wore last Christmas might be just the thing to jazz up your 2013 party wear. Find out more at swishing.com
Have a bathroom blitz
As with the kitchen, so with the bathroom. Some body and bath products are almost bound to be in everyone’s Christmas stocking, so make way for them by clearing the bathroom of all the half-empty or unused products that are cluttering the shelves and cupboards. Sort the best of the used products into men’s and women’s and offer them as free job lots on recycling sites such as Freecycle and Freegle if there’s a group near you - less well-off families will be very grateful for them.
Unused bathroom products can also be donated to your local domestic violence service for use in their refuges, see womensaid.org.uk
Animal charities will often take towels, tea towels, and bedding. Check first before donating.
Gadget giveaway
Sort out those gadgets and gizmos that were ‘must-haves’ when you got them. If they’ve been gathering dust, or superseded by a better, newer model, are you REALLY going to use them again? If the answer’s no, they’ve gotta go. This applies just as much to unused kitchen ‘essentials’ (when did you last use that fondue set or cappuccino frother?) as ‘boy’s toys’. Flog 'em on eBay or give them to a charity shop and you could make someone else’s Christmas.
Make space for your guests
Is your spare room a depository for all the stuff that won’t fit anywhere else in your house? Then it’s sure time to declutter if you’ve got guests coming for Christmas. If you don’t have the time or the task feels too overwhelming why not treat yourself a practical pre-Christmas present? The Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers has friendly experts based all over the UK who can help turn a spare room clutter mountain into a welcoming bedroom in just a few hours.
Make space for your new gifts
Decluttering can be a pretty good Christmas present in its own right, but let’s hope Santa will bring you something nice too. Homes can feel pretty crowded at Christmas time so it makes sense to encourage everyone in the family to make a space ready to store their gifts so they are not cluttering up the living room once opened.
Lots of us have a grand old clear-out in the New Year, but decluttering BEFORE Christmas to make space for all your gifts, goodies and guests over the festive season can go a long way to creating a welcome sense of peace and goodwill. And remember that the true spirit of Christmas ISN'T all about splashing the cash so why not make yours a simpler celebration this year?
Here are my tips to streamline and simplify your Christmas planning to help you save time and money, make your home feel calmer and more spacious, and you feel more in control in the run-up to the festive season.
Make space BEFORE you go Christmas shopping
This sounds obvious but have you ever come home from a marathon gift-buying session for the family then wondered where you’ll ever find space to hide all their presents till the big day? Better to clear the decks before you deck the halls and spend all your lolly. The bonus of a big pre-Christmas clearout is that those secret corners may hide unwanted or forgotten items that could either make more presents or be sold to give you more Christmas spending money.
While you're at this early stage make time to draw up a master checklist of ALL your seasonal tasks and deadlines – menus, food shopping lists, who you need to get presents for, etc. It beats trying to keep too much in your head, it will almost certainly save you money by avoiding panic-buying in crowded shops – and don’t under-estimate the satisfaction of ticking things off as you get them done!
Avoid decoration distractionsThis sounds obvious but have you ever come home from a marathon gift-buying session for the family then wondered where you’ll ever find space to hide all their presents till the big day? Better to clear the decks before you deck the halls and spend all your lolly. The bonus of a big pre-Christmas clearout is that those secret corners may hide unwanted or forgotten items that could either make more presents or be sold to give you more Christmas spending money.
While you're at this early stage make time to draw up a master checklist of ALL your seasonal tasks and deadlines – menus, food shopping lists, who you need to get presents for, etc. It beats trying to keep too much in your head, it will almost certainly save you money by avoiding panic-buying in crowded shops – and don’t under-estimate the satisfaction of ticking things off as you get them done!
Reduce the toy mountain
If you’ve got children, they’ll get loads of toys and games for Christmas. Chances are you are struggling to store the ones they’ve already got so enlist their help in making room for what Santa will bring. Either hold a car boot or garage sale and let the kids have the proceeds to buy their own Christmas presents, or give them to charity – children can be very generous if you explain that some other youngsters aren’t as lucky as them, or that their unwanted toys can help animal charities.
Cut the paper trail
Christmas means wrapping paper. Lots of it. But before you rush out and buy rolls and rolls of it, are you sure you haven’t got leftovers from last year sitting around somewhere waiting to be used up? One tip is to buy gold, silver or coloured foil wrapping paper that doesn’t have obvious Christmas decorations or greetings on it – then it can be used for wrapping gifts for birthdays and more throughout the year.
Cut the paper trail
Christmas means wrapping paper. Lots of it. But before you rush out and buy rolls and rolls of it, are you sure you haven’t got leftovers from last year sitting around somewhere waiting to be used up? One tip is to buy gold, silver or coloured foil wrapping paper that doesn’t have obvious Christmas decorations or greetings on it – then it can be used for wrapping gifts for birthdays and more throughout the year.
Christmas decorations are the set-dressing that helps create a magical backdrop to the celebrations, but there’s no need to splash out on a new look every year just to fit fashion’s whims.
 |
| A vase of decorated twigs is simple but elegant |
A jug of berried boughs - it doesn't have to be holly - will make a lovely traditional red and green table or mantelpiece arrangement. A bowl of polished red apples or platter of pinecones with a few baubles added for sparkle looks wonderfully festive.
And who says you must have a Christmas tree? Why not ring the festive changes this year by hanging decorations on a bunch of interesting twigs in a tall vase and adding a string of simple white fairy lights? If you like you can spraypaint the twigs white, silver or gold to look extra Christmassy - or a different colour to compliment your baubles and living room colour scheme. The internet is a great source for more simple and inexpensive decorating ideas.
If you do find decorations you don’t need or like while decking your halls, box them up and give them away to brighten up someone else’s home or a perhaps a local charity’s Christmas event.
Thoughtful giving
Instead of rushing around spending more than you can afford on presents, how about giving those important people in your life the gift that money can't buy instead? As Rick Warren, American philantropist and author puts it: "Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time."
So how can you package up and gift-wrap your time? With some creative thinking about how your time and skills can provide a tailor-made treat for a loved one or special friend, the possibilities are almost endless. You could give them a 'gift voucher' that's valid for a day's gardening or decorating, or a few hours' sewing, or a special occasion cake you will make when they want it. A busy mum might really appreciate a day off with you taking the children off her hands more than yet another collection of bath oil. An elderly friend would probably love being taken for an afternoon out in the car far more than given a box of chocolates.
The best-received present I have given this year was to a male friend who is mad about the comic book character Iron Man. I couldn't think what to buy him and then hit on this idea: I searched out and printed a range of Iron Man images from the internet (cost: nothing apart from printer paper), cut them out and arranged into a collage (cost: two hours of my time), then displayed it in an unused box frame I found in a cupboard (cost: nothing). Result? A unique personalised artwork that has pride of place on his wall and he was so chuffed with that it made ME feel like a super-hero!
Clarify your wardrobe
If your wardrobe and drawers are already full to bursting, where will you put new party glad-rags or clothing gifts? Have a proper sort-out and give a Christmas bonus to the charity shop of your choice by donating all your unwanted clothing and shoes. The best way is to get EVERYTHING out of your wardrobe and go through every item – if you haven’t worn it in the past year, let it go. Do the same with your drawers and shoe and coat cupboards.
Quality items could earn you some welcome festive dosh on eBay or through a local dress agency. Another fun way to recycle festive fashion items is to organise a 'swishing party' where you can swap good quality clothes, shoes and bags with your female friends. That little black dress that’s just TOO little these days could be exactly what a slimmer pal is looking for, while the heels and bag she wore last Christmas might be just the thing to jazz up your 2013 party wear. Find out more at swishing.com
Clear out the kitchen
Christmas means lots of extra food to store, so why not save on the food budget for a week or so by making store-cupboard meals to use up all those tins and jars that have been sitting around waiting to be used. You’ll save money so you have more to spend on delicious festive fare and it’s an opportunity to clean and reorganise the cupboards ready for Christmas. And when it's time to stock up again remember to stick to your festive food shopping list. It's oh, so easy to be tempted by all those seasonal special treats and offers in the supermarket - but remember how much uneaten food you probably ended up throwing out after LAST Christmas?
Flush out the fridge and freezer
Have a proper clear-out of the fridge and freezer – throw out all those leftovers you are never REALLY going to use, and use up the food that’s in there so there will be plenty of space for storing all the Christmas necessities as well as room for some pre-cooked meals to ease the festive cooking burden over the holiday period.
Have a proper clear-out of the fridge and freezer – throw out all those leftovers you are never REALLY going to use, and use up the food that’s in there so there will be plenty of space for storing all the Christmas necessities as well as room for some pre-cooked meals to ease the festive cooking burden over the holiday period.
Have a bathroom blitz
As with the kitchen, so with the bathroom. Some body and bath products are almost bound to be in everyone’s Christmas stocking, so make way for them by clearing the bathroom of all the half-empty or unused products that are cluttering the shelves and cupboards. Sort the best of the used products into men’s and women’s and offer them as free job lots on recycling sites such as Freecycle and Freegle if there’s a group near you - less well-off families will be very grateful for them.
Unused bathroom products can also be donated to your local domestic violence service for use in their refuges, see womensaid.org.uk
Animal charities will often take towels, tea towels, and bedding. Check first before donating.
On your (book) marks!
Are your shelves groaning with books you’ve read and will never read again? Or even never read? You know what to do .. donate them to a charity shop or Christmas bazaar or recycle the unread ones as gifts. The same goes for CDs and DVDs. T
Are your shelves groaning with books you’ve read and will never read again? Or even never read? You know what to do .. donate them to a charity shop or Christmas bazaar or recycle the unread ones as gifts. The same goes for CDs and DVDs. T
Gadget giveaway
Sort out those gadgets and gizmos that were ‘must-haves’ when you got them. If they’ve been gathering dust, or superseded by a better, newer model, are you REALLY going to use them again? If the answer’s no, they’ve gotta go. This applies just as much to unused kitchen ‘essentials’ (when did you last use that fondue set or cappuccino frother?) as ‘boy’s toys’. Flog 'em on eBay or give them to a charity shop and you could make someone else’s Christmas.
Make space for your guests
Is your spare room a depository for all the stuff that won’t fit anywhere else in your house? Then it’s sure time to declutter if you’ve got guests coming for Christmas. If you don’t have the time or the task feels too overwhelming why not treat yourself a practical pre-Christmas present? The Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers has friendly experts based all over the UK who can help turn a spare room clutter mountain into a welcoming bedroom in just a few hours.
Make space for your new gifts
Decluttering can be a pretty good Christmas present in its own right, but let’s hope Santa will bring you something nice too. Homes can feel pretty crowded at Christmas time so it makes sense to encourage everyone in the family to make a space ready to store their gifts so they are not cluttering up the living room once opened.
Recycle and get ready for a clutter-free New Year
Once Christmas is over, clear the house of all the festive clutter as soon as possible – wrapping paper, cards, tree and bottles can all be recycled. And as for those unwanted presents? There’s someone out there who would LOVE them – so let them go and make someone else happy, whether you sell them or donate to charity.
Once Christmas is over, clear the house of all the festive clutter as soon as possible – wrapping paper, cards, tree and bottles can all be recycled. And as for those unwanted presents? There’s someone out there who would LOVE them – so let them go and make someone else happy, whether you sell them or donate to charity.
If you would like help with decorating your home for Christmas or decluttering before or after the festive season, get in touch with Clarify Interiors - the clue's in our name! See www.clarifyinteriors.co.uk, telephone me on 01865 594955 or 07917 716004 or email clare@clarifyinteriors.co.uk
