Your Pre-Holiday Reset: Make Room for the Magic

The holiday season is here and for some, there is a contagious excitement to decorate and wrap gifts, plan your holiday feast and prep your home for out-of-town guests.

But for others, the overwhelm and anxiety of getting the house ready out shadows the joy of

carrying on family traditions and making new ones. For many people, that pressure comes from the feeling that they’re already behind, that their home isn’t “holiday-ready” and that every closet, cabinet, and storage bin is one more reminder of how much there is to do. This fear is real, and it often belongs to the people who need organization the most; those who want to enjoy the holidays but feel weighed down by clutter, time constraints, or the mental load of running a household.

For many, there is a constant struggle of finding time. Searching through storage boxes, cupboards, and chaos built up over the years. Wouldn’t it be easier if everything had a place? We think so. And that’s why Home Again Organizing is all about creating space for what matters – not just in your home, but in your time and energy. Because when your space supports you, you get to be present for those everyday magical moments instead of stressing over where that heirloom dish from your grandmother disappeared three Christmases ago.

A well-organized entertaining cabinet = less scrambling and more celebrating.

Your Best Pre-Holiday Reset

Before diving into specific rooms, set the tone by giving yourself permission to work in small, manageable pockets of time. We suggest taking 20–30 minutes per room in short, intentional bursts that make a surprisingly big impact on the flow of your holiday season. This keeps the process from feeling overwhelming and helps you see quick wins, which motivates you to keep going.

A once-over of every room, closet, cabinet, and storage area helps you understand what you have and what you should restock. Bonus points for labeling everything. Labels act like little instruction manuals, helping you, your guests, and everyone in your home know exactly where things belong and actually put them back. This will help more than you know. Once you know what you need to hold on to and what can be donated or given away, half the battle is won. Set aside a designated place to house all of your donations and start decluttering room by room.

To make the process even easier, decide where you are going to donate your items before you begin. This helps keep the recipients of your donations in mind rather than focusing on what you are letting go of. Then, once you’ve gone through every space, drive it right to your chosen donation center.

If you don’t have a preferred donation center, we encourage you to consider our non profit partner, Resilient Provisions, which supports families rebuilding after escaping domestic abuse.

Getting organized doesn’t have to feel like a chore. In fact, letting go with intention can actually feel beautiful and empowering!

A quick room-by-room reset guide: Pantry

Refresh your pantry: Dispose of or compost expired food so you have a better idea of what you already have and what should be restocked before your holiday cooking and baking begins.

Add a quick inventory list to your pantry door - noting baking essentials, spices, oils, and holiday must-haves. This saves you from buying duplicates and keeps last-minute store runs to a minimum.

Linen Closet

Rotate blankets and pillows to make room for the holiday ones.

While doing this, check for linens that are worn out, mismatched, or never used. The holidays often bring overnight guests — so this is the perfect time to ensure you have fresh, comfortable, guest-ready bedding and towels.

Playroom

Clear space for all the gifts that will come in.

Holiday gifting brings a natural influx of new toys, games, books, and craft supplies. Do a quick pre-holiday reset by involving your kids — letting them choose what they’ve outgrown or no longer use. This makes space for upcoming gifts and teaches them mindful ownership.

Guest Bedroom

Refresh guest bedrooms, if you intend to have someone over for the holidays. Think pillows, blankets, towels, etc.

Instead of waiting until guests arrive, create a simple guest basket with essentials: travel toiletries, extra chargers, fresh towels, and a cozy throw. This small gesture makes hosting easier and your guests feel welcome.

Kitchen

Organizing your kitchen by arranging baking tools and dishes helps when you have to cater to large numbers. Reorganizing the fridge to create space for holiday leftovers is vital.

Consider creating a “holiday zone” in your kitchen. A designated shelf or bin for baking ingredients, cookie cutters, serving pieces, or special-occasion cookware. This keeps everything accessible and minimizes last-minute scrambling.

Entryway

Adding coat hooks, baskets for scarves, gloves, or hats, and winter trays for shoes in your entryway will save you the extra clean-up. 

A tidy entryway sets the tone for your whole home. Use labeled baskets for each family member, a dedicated spot for wet boots, and a tray for keys and mail. These tiny systems help control winter clutter before it spreads.

Décor

With rooms, closets, and the kitchen organized, getting the décor out and ready is key. Of course, less is more, but if you do have a penchant for décor and have curated your fair share of holiday pieces — the only way to use it all is to be organized.

Color-coding every item into storage boxes goes a long way when you start decorating. Think about how you decorate: do you work room by room, or category by category? Organize your décor to support your natural flow, keeping all living room décor together, tree lights separate from outdoor lights, and mantel décor separate from kitchen accents. This makes decorating smoother and packing up easier. 

Having a designated area in the house solely for storing this décor helps you avoid going through too many boxes.

Think practical, easy-to-store storage bins, and label everything. Designate a gift wrapping station. Ensure you are well-stocked with cards, tape, ribbons, gift bags, boxes and wrapping paper.

And before storing décor at the end of the season, donate anything you didn’t use this year. This keeps your collection fresh, curated, and clutter-free next season.

Bring Out the Cheer — Without the Chaos The holidays should feel warm, connected, and joy-filled, not weighed down by clutter or last-minute stress. When your home is organized, you create room for the traditions, memories, and moments that truly matter.

At Home Again Organizing, we believe the best gift you can give yourself is a space that supports you, a space that lets you slow down, savor the season, and be present with the people you love.

Because when everything has a place, you gain back the time, energy, and calm you deserve, and that’s what makes room for the real magic of the holidays. Reach out to schedule a free virtual consultation and see how we can support you.