Before you bring out the Christmas decorations, do you ever pause to think about where everything will go? Maybe you need to make room for the tree, put away a few pieces for the season, or find a place for those winter coats and boots gathering in the entryway. Organizing for the holidays can begin with these small changes, making room for Christmas.
I like to take a little time to prepare our home before I begin decorating. Clearing a few surfaces and making room for the things we will use throughout the season helps everything come together more easily.
You do not need to organize your entire home before Christmas. Please don’t do that. In this post, I’ll share a few places to focus so you can make room to decorate, gather, and enjoy the season at home.
AT A GLANCE
- Clear a little space in the living room and entryway for Christmas decorations and winter essentials.
- Prepare the kitchen and dining area for the meals, baking, and gatherings you have planned.
- As you unpack, look through your Christmas decorations and make a simple plan for the pieces you want to use.
Planning for Christmas at Home
If you are a dreamer and a planner like me, laying out the details can be just as much fun as pulling everything together in real life. I love thinking about how our home will look and feel for Christmas and finding little ways to change things up each year.
Sometimes it is a new ribbon color or a few additions to the decorations I already own. Other years, I might try a different table setting or find a new place for a favorite piece. That is part of what I enjoy about decorating for Christmas: there is always room to try an idea while keeping the things that feel familiar, just like my DIY Christmas Bells, a simple idea that you can do too.
I usually bring out my totes of decorations early and start planning. It gives me time to see what I already have, decide what I need, and finish any last-minute purchases. I also like to put up our decorations early, so I am not rushing as much when December arrives.
Before I begin decorating, I always get our home ready for the things I know will come with the season. I make room for the tree, put away a few pieces until the new year, and think about what I’ll need in the kitchen. Once those things are taken care of, I can bring out my decorations and enjoy putting my plans together.
Where to Start Organizing for the Holidays
What are you looking forward to at home this Christmas? Are you planning a family dinner, welcoming overnight guests, or enjoying your evening at home with tree lights, your favorite Christmas drink, and a movie?
Your plans are a good place to start organizing your home for the holidays. Think about the rooms where those moments will happen and what might make them easier to enjoy. A little attention now can make room for the things you’re looking forward to in the weeks ahead.
Take a walk through your home and consider:
- Where would you like to decorate for Christmas?
- Which rooms will you and your family use most?
- Is there a space that feels crowded or could work better?
- What could you do now to make the season a little easier to enjoy?
Choose one area and begin there. You might spend an afternoon working through it, or you can take a few minutes here and there as you go about your week.
Keep a basket or bag nearby for anything that belongs in another room, and even set aside items you are ready to donate or discard. You don’t need to buy organizing supplies. You may find that once you have cleared the space, what you already own works well.
1. Clear Space for Christmas in the Living Room
The living room is often where Christmas begins to come together. It may be where you put up the tree, hang stockings, or enjoy the lights at the end of the day.
Start with the surfaces where you plan to decorate. Clear the coffee table, mantel, side tables, or shelves, and return anything that belongs elsewhere. Then look at the decorative pieces you have and decide what you want to keep alongside your Christmas favorites.
I find it helps to put a few accessories away for the season. That creates room for Christmas decorations without making the room feel crowded. Keep those pieces together in a box or tote so they are easy to bring back out after Christmas.
If you are putting up a tree, consider what needs to move to make room for it. A side table, chair, or basket may need to find a temporary home for a few weeks.
This is also a good time to gather the blankets and pillows you reach for during cooler evenings. Freshen what needs washing and keep your favorites close by. A comfortable room with space to enjoy the season is a lovely place to begin.
2. Make the Entryway Easier to Use
As the weather changes, the entryway can quickly fill up with coats, boots, hats, and gloves. Taking a little time to make room now can make everyday life easier.
Begin by putting away shoes and outerwear your family will not need during the winter. Then look at what is left and decide where the things you use most often should go.
We have a closet in our entryway, but I keep our hats and gloves in the entryway storage bench. They are easy to find when we are heading outside, and they have a place to go when we come back in.
Your entryway may need something different. A hook for each coat, a tray for wet boots, or a basket for smaller winter items. The best arrangement works for your space and is easy for everyone in your home to use.
I also keep a bowl inside our entry table drawer for small everyday items. A place for keys and other things we reach for regularly keeps them from piling up on the table, leaving a little room for a seasonal touch.
3. Organize the Kitchen and Dining Area for the Holidays
The kitchen and dining area typically get a little busier at Christmas. Maybe you will be baking family recipes, preparing a meal for guests, or you’ll need extra room for groceries.
You don’t need to empty every cupboard. Instead, think about what you have planned and focus on the spaces that will help you enjoy it.
Clear a Little Space to Work
Look at your kitchen counters and dining table. If either has become a place to collect papers, bags, or items waiting to be put away, begin there. Organizing your kitchen for the holidays can be as simple as making room to work and gathering the baking and serving pieces you know you’ll use.
Move what does not belong, then decide what you want to keep within reach. A clear section of counter can give you room to bake or prepare a meal, while an open dining table is ready for dinner, a Christmas puzzle, or an afternoon of wrapping gifts.
You do not need empty surfaces. The goal is to make room for what you want to do.
See What You Already Have
Before adding baking ingredients, serving pieces, or table linens to your shopping list, take a few minutes to see what is already in your cupboards.
I keep a bin above our fridge with my baking essentials, including pans. Having those items together makes it easier to find what I need when I am ready to bake.
You could gather the supplies you use most in a cupboard, drawer, or basket. Check your pantry or cupboards for the ingredients you already have, and make a short list of anything you will need for the recipes you plan to make.
If you are hosting, find your serving dishes and utensils ahead of time. Knowing where everything is can make setting the table and serving dinner easier.
Make a Little Room in the Fridge
Before a larger grocery shop or a holiday meal, check the fridge. Use up what you can, discard food that is no longer safe to eat, and clear space for the ingredients and dishes you expect to prepare.
Even one open shelf can help when you bring home groceries or put away leftovers.
Start Thinking About Your Christmas Table
Once you know what you have, you can begin planning a table that feels right for your gathering. Start with your everyday dishes or favorite serving pieces, then add a few seasonal details such as linens, candles, or greenery.
If you would like some inspiration, my Christmas Table Styling Guide shares styles and ideas for bringing your table together with your own personal touch.
A Beautiful Christmas Table Starts Here
Explore five Christmas table styles with decorating ideas, color palettes, and simple steps to create each look. Plus, use the holiday table setting checklist to help you prepare for your Christmas gathering.
4. Look Through Your Christmas Decorations as You Unpack
One of my favorite parts of preparing for Christmas is bringing out the decorations again. Opening the boxes lets you revisit the pieces you have collected and decide how you would like to use them this year.
As you unpack, organizing for the holidays can be as simple as setting aside decorations you no longer use and keeping the pieces you love easy to find. Some pieces may suit a different room, while others may be ready to be passed along.
Work through one box at a time and set aside anything that is broken or that you no longer want to keep. If you come across something you would like to repair, put it somewhere visible so you can decide whether you have time to do it this season.
When the season is over, group and label your decorations in a way that makes sense to you. You might organize them by room or keep similar items, such as ornaments and outdoor lights, together. A little attention when you put things away can make next year’s decorating more enjoyable.
A Few Extra Things to Consider
If you have guests coming to stay, you may want to clear a little space for their bags, prepare fresh bedding, and make sure clean towels are easy to find. A guest room does not need to be completely reorganized to feel welcoming.
It can also be helpful to check your wrapping supplies before buying more. Gather the paper, ribbon, tags, tape, and scissors you already have so everything is easy to find when you are ready to wrap.
When you’re organizing for the holidays, choose the extras that fit your plans and leave the rest. Your home doesn’t need to be ready for every possibility.
Making Room for Christmas at Home
Organizing for the holidays can be part of enjoying the season. Clearing a surface for a favorite decoration, making room for winter coats, or finding the serving bowl you use for family dinners are small things, but they can make the weeks ahead feel a little easier.
I love seeing our home come together for Christmas, but I enjoy the planning just as much. Taking a little time to clear and prepare the spaces we use gives me room to bring out the decorations and enjoy them all season long.
Take a look around your home, choose the space that will make the biggest difference for you, and begin there. The rest can come together as the season unfolds.
What space do you like to prepare first before decorating for Christmas? I would love to hear what helps you get ready for the season in your home.
Cheryl is a mom, wife, and the heart behind Evera Design—a space for creating beautiful, livable homes.
She shares practical ideas and real-life inspiration to help everyday spaces feel calm, comfortable, and personal.
