Home decor: Avoid holiday decorating chaos

Author of the article:

Linda White • Special to Postmedia Network

Published Nov 29, 2023 • 3 minute read

Jen Rowe, owner of NEAT Method Toronto. Photo by Supplied

Before long, you’ll be decking the halls and are already dreaming of the hashtags you’ll use to share the Insta-worthy results. Still, you dread the temporary chaos you’ll inevitably create as you transform your home into a winter wonderland.

“As you prepare to deck the halls, you may have some décor that needs to be temporarily re-homed to make room for the holiday decorations,” says Jen Rowe, owner of NEAT Method Toronto.

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The company offers organizing services that promise to take your home from chaotic to composed with sustainable organizing systems based on your needs and lifestyle. NEAT Method has locations throughout North America, including Ottawa and Vancouver, B.C.

“To keep the house feeling aesthetically calm, dedicate a zone in the home that isn’t high traffic – maybe a formal dining room or an area of the basement – where you can gather all of the day-to-day décor that is being put on holiday hiatus in one place,” Rowe says.

Creating a tantalizing hot cocoa station using a turntable and clear jars for hot chocolate mix, marshmallows and other treats. Photo by NEAT Method photograph

Once you’ve unpacked and placed your seasonal décor, use the holiday containers to temporarily store your day-to-day décor. But just like Santa makes a list and checks it twice, look at those everyday items with a critical eye. If anything is worn out, tired looking or no longer appeals to your tastes, donate or dispose of it, she advises.

Depending on the size of both your home and holiday décor collection, you may feel overwhelmed, even as you sing, ‘It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.’ Rowe offers some tried-and-true tips that just might make you feel like it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

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1. Go easy on yourself. Create a plan that works for your schedule. If decorating all in one day is overwhelming, spend a little time each day or dedicate a weekend or two to the task. 2. Use what you’ve got or only some of it. Especially if you’ve got an expansive collection, you don’t have to use all your holiday décor every year. Consider using some this year and the rest next year. Doing so will offer a sense of variety and won’t overwhelm your space. 3. Consider colour. Sometimes the overwhelming feeling associated with holiday décor comes from the clash of colours between your home’s day-to-day style and festive items. Consider choosing holiday pieces that complement your home’s décor or that are neutral and/or are made of natural materials.4. Edit annually. A great time to edit your festive décor is when you take it out or put it away each year. If any pieces have exceeded their lifespan or are out of style, this is the time to bid ‘adieu.’ The ‘winter’s magic’ holiday décor trend is “gently feminine with a hint of masculine metallics.” Photo by Home Depot Canada photograph

Don’t forget, you can give a festive twist to many of the things you already have on hand, Rowe reminds:

Store gift-giving supplies in a basket. Once New Year’s Day rolls around, reuse holiday wrapping supplies for other gift-giving occasions. Place ribbons and gift tags in glass canisters or baskets so they’re easy to find when you need them for celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries. Store in a hall closet for stress-free gift wrapping throughout the year.

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Change up the bar cart. After the festivities wrap up, use the bar cart as a plant stand to display blooming greenery. Make sure it’s near a window for sunlight.

Refresh and organize your baking supplies. Store baking ingredients and small supplies in easy-to-grab grid baskets. Airtight canisters also are pretty enough to sit out and are ideal for keeping flours and sugars fresh.

Transform fabric baskets into organization cubes. Store fabric baskets in your linen closet so they’re easily accessible throughout the year whenever you need to reorganize your space and limit clutter. Visitors can use them to corral their personal belongings instead of living out of a suitcase or cluttering your bathroom counter with their toiletries, for example.

Reuse glass jars. If you have a collection of glass jars to store treats, use as gift containers or create decorations, consider using them throughout the year to store cookies, candies and grab-and-go snacks. Because they’re clear, you’ll always know when it’s time to restock.

Simplify holiday decorating by harmonizing your décor with your existing home aesthetic and embracing natural elements. Photo by Urban Barn photograph

Entertaining tips

Whether you’re hosting an open house or a dinner party, keeping your house tidy as guests come and go may seem like an impossible task. NEAT Method Toronto owner Jen Rowe offers a couple of handy tips:

Extra coats/boots. Consider storing coats and boots (the latter in bags) in the guest room so they don’t crowd your entryway.

Extra food containers. Put a tote bin in your car trunk and as soon as you’ve washed any food containers guests leave behind, place them in the bin so they’re out of your space and ready to be returned as your schedule allows.

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