As of today there are only six Saturdays left before Christmas. And although that seems like a lot of time in theory, one thing has been certain over the last few months: the year is flying by. Before you know it, you'll be in full hosting mode and your home should be supporting you all season long.
To help you host without breaking a sweat, we've put together a six-week plan of simple home organization ideas that strategically tackle the areas of your home that will undoubtedly be busiest over Christmas and the New Year.
Let's not waste any more time! Here you can find out how you can plan your organization for the next few weeks and enjoy the holidays in a relaxed manner.
Week 1 – Common Areas
The common areas in your home are visited by many guests and therefore need to be in top condition.
(Image credit: Lisa Cohen. Design: Kim Kneipp)
Since you'll likely have the most energy and motivation to work through this six-week home organizing schedule in the first week, it's best to start tackling your common spaces feeling empowered.
Brittany de la Fuente, storage expert at Saint Louis Closet Co., recommends organizing the entryway and main living spaces first. “Bringing order to these spaces will set the tone for an organized season and create a good opening impression,” she says.
“I suggest storing non-seasonal decorations, wiping down flat surfaces, and making room for incoming holiday decorations. This will help reduce stress before the busy weeks begin.”
You can also spend the first week reading through our pre-Christmas organizing rules to have a clearer overview to work with.
Color: Light blue
Something as simple as this lacquered tray from H&M can help you organize the loose items you find in your entryway – bonus points for this blue number, which matches our color swarm of the month.
Brittany De La Fuente majored in interior design and minored in architectural design in college. She has been designing beautifully organized closets and storage solutions at Saint Louis Closet Co. for more than 12 years. Known for her exceptional eye for detail and commitment to customer satisfaction, Brittany consistently designs spaces that are as functional as they are stylish. She is truly an interior design guru and is committed to bringing each client's vision to life.
Week 2 – Christmas Closet
Since you need to dust off your Christmas decorations and household goods for the holiday season, this needs to be organized too.
(Image credit: The Roost)
If you're wondering what to organize in November, along with fully equipped rooms, your hosting closet should be high on your priority list. And Brittany suggests taking out all of your Christmas decorations and taking inventory at the start of week two.
“Before you start decorating, it's important to sort through all your decorations and neatly store everything you want to keep in your collection for this year,” she says. “Labeled containers and adjustable shelving systems can make decorating and deep cleaning after Christmas much easier.”
Storing your Christmas decorations properly now will save you a lot of time on the first day of decorating your home for the season.
SONGMICS
Christmas decoration storage box
Capacity: 64 slots
This Christmas decoration storage box is particularly practical with its pull-out drawers and practical handles, making organizing your Christmas closet a breeze.
Week 3 – Kitchen and Pantry
Pay special attention to your kitchen and pantry in the third week so that you can cook in peace from then on.
(Image credit: Timothy Kaye. Design: the Stylesmiths. Architecture: Di Bartolo Architects)
Tina Priestly, founder of Ready, Set, Refresh, rightly points out that the time of year is upon us when your kitchen will soon be working overtime. “Take a morning to go through the fridge and pantry,” she advises.
“Throw out expired foods, wipe down shelves, and organize ingredients for baking and celebrating. Make room in the freezer for leftovers and create a place for serving platters and dishes you'll use soon. A little preparation will make holiday cooking much easier later.”
This is your week to learn how to organize your kitchen and pamper your culinary closet with some pantry organization ideas. This means your cooking zone is perfectly put together from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Mette Ditmer
Large Luna jar with lid
Color: Brown
Whether you're storing your secret hot chocolate mix, a bunch of candy canes, or even some delicious Christmas chocolate minis, this large Luna jar is great.
Tina, founder of Ready, Set, REFRESH!, began her home decluttering and design journey during the pandemic. Their approach combines craftsmanship, sustainability and a commitment to customer satisfaction. With a focus on creating uncluttered, relaxing spaces, Tina helps her clients declutter, reorganize and refresh their homes.
Week 4 – Guest Room
You can always move this to a week or two earlier if your loved ones bring the start of the Christmas month.
(Image credit: Erik Bernstein Photo. Design: Jessica Gould)
According to Brittany, you should spend the fourth week organizing your guest rooms. From clearing out any items lying around that may have taken up closet space over the summer to refreshing the guest bedscape to organizing the bathroom, there's a lot to do.
“Swap fall items for winter home goods and make sure guests have space to hang coats or unpack their belongings,” she notes. “Adding adjustable shelves, pull-out baskets, and double hanging rods can instantly make these areas more functional and inviting.”
This is also a good time to organize your entertainment center. And if you have time to spare, you can also add thoughtful finishing touches to your guest room to make it look more expensive.
Lauren Rubinski
Imitation suede jewelry tray
Color: Blue
One of my favorite things to add to a guest's bathroom or vanity is a pretty all-round jewelry piece like this faux suede jewelry tray from Lauren Rubinski.
Week 5 – Gift Wrapping Station
I organized my gift wrapping station last November and it was an absolute game changer.
(Image credit: Cox & Cox)
“Now that your house is prepared, it's time to tackle the gift situation,” says Tina. Instead of worrying about wrapping, decorating, and sending your holiday gifts at the last moment, this prepared space will calm your nerves and make gift-giving fun again.
“Write a list, keep track of what’s been purchased, and pack it up as you go,” she advises. “Set up a small gift station with scissors, tape, and gift tags to make wrapping easy and stress-free. If you're sending packages, do it this week before all the post offices get out of hand!”
Properly organizing your gift bags and storing your gift wrap neatly is another great tip to avoid having crumpled paper and hanging bags at your gift wrapping station.
Color: Dark gray
The SKUBB from IKEA is a great choice for storing wrapping paper, ribbon rolls, gift bags, and other decorative items in one place.
Week 6 – Final touch-ups
As the final task of the week, I'd recommend tackling your home bar to get it ready for those repeat espresso martinis around the holidays.
(Image credit: Mitchell Kemp. Design: CG Design Studio)
Tina tells me that the last week of this six-week organizing plan should be calm and not rushed. “Quickly clear your main space, light a candle, and then turn on your favorite playlist,” she suggests.
“Focus on small details, like folding blankets, fluffing your pillows, and wiping down counters. Then stop. Enjoy your space. You deserve it. An organized home isn't about perfection; it's about creating space to truly experience the season.”
This is one of the last things hosts do to prepare for the holidays, and now you can spend the holidays focusing on what matters most – making memories and toasting the end of the year in a cool, calm, and serene home.
Letitia Rouget
I Am Santa Vide Poche stoneware trinket tray
Color: Green, red, gold
You can never have enough trays, and this I Am Santa Vide Poche stoneware trinket tray is also perfect for a nightstand in your bedroom or the guest bed.
One final piece of advice. As you go through each week of this pre-hosting plan, there are a few key organizational issues you should avoid if the order lasts longer than a week. And our guide will help you.