5 Quick Spaces to Organize Before the Holidays Sneak Up
The holidays always sneak up on us, don’t they? One minute it’s pool days and sunscreen, the next you’re staring at a calendar full of potlucks, school parties, and “surprise, we’re hosting Thanksgiving!”
Here’s the thing: you don’t need to overhaul your whole house before the holidays (because who has time for that?). What you can do is knock out a few high-traffic spots that make everything else feel lighter. These are small, doable resets — think 10 to 30 minutes — that give you big impact without sucking up your whole weekend.
Let’s get into it.
1. The Entryway — Your First Impression Zone
This is where chaos loves to live: shoes, backpacks, mail, random Amazon boxes. And guess what? It’s the first thing you see when you come home and the first thing guests see when they walk in.
Quick fixes you can do today:
Give everyone a hook and one spot for shoes. Overflow goes somewhere else.
Add a tray or bowl for keys (no more “where’s my wallet?” mornings).
Toss or file that pile of mail — for real.
💡 Pro tip: If your entryway feels cramped, go vertical. Wall hooks, slim shelves, and hanging baskets save lives in small spaces.
2. Kitchen Counters — Because Nobody Wants to Cook Around Clutter
Holiday cooking = a lot of action in the kitchen. But if your counters are covered in paperwork, gadgets, and last week’s snack wrappers, you’re adding stress before you even turn on the oven.
Here’s your game plan:
Tuck away small appliances you don’t use daily.
Clear the paper piles — give them a folder or wall sorter.
Create a little “coffee/tea station” so your mugs and supplies aren’t spread across the whole kitchen.
Keep one area clear for prep (trust me, you’ll thank yourself later).
If you’re moving three things just to chop an onion… that’s your sign to declutter.
3. Guest Bathroom — Small Room, Big Impact
You know what stresses people out before hosting? Realizing five minutes before guests arrive that the bathroom is a mess. Let’s not do that this year.
Fast refresh ideas:
Toss anything expired and stash your personal products.
Add a basket under the sink with backup tissue, soap, and toothpaste (guests will love you for this).
Keep the counter simple — soap and maybe one cute décor piece.
When in doubt: less is more in a guest bathroom.
4. Living Room — The 10-Minute Reset
This is where everyone hangs out, and also where clutter multiplies overnight. The goal here isn’t “perfectly styled.” It’s: Can I make this room look pulled together in 10 minutes or less?
Do this:
Grab three baskets: one for stuff that stays, one for stuff that belongs elsewhere, and one for donations.
Reset zones: one basket for blankets, one spot for remotes/chargers, one bin for toys.
Style it just enough — a couple throw pillows, one cozy blanket. Done.
And if you can’t reset this room in under 10 minutes? That’s your cue you’ve got too much stuff living here.
5. Dining Table — AKA The Catch-All Drop Zone
Be honest — when’s the last time you actually ate dinner at your dining table? If it’s buried under mail, bags, and random stuff, you’re not alone. But since the holidays = dinner parties, it’s time to reclaim it.
Here’s how:
Clear everything off into one tote.
Create a “command center” nearby with folders or a sorter (bills, forms, kids’ stuff, whatever piles up most).
Make it a rule: nothing lives on the table permanently.
Add a simple centerpiece or runner — if it looks nice, you’ll be less likely to junk it up.
Your dining table deserves to shine more than twice a year.
Story Time: Why Small Wins Matter
Last year I hosted Christmas at my house. And let me tell you—I did not do a full sweep of the entire home (yes, my home gets messy too). Instead, I focused on the key areas: the entryway, kitchen counters, guest bathroom, living room, and dining table. That’s it.
Guess what? It made all the difference. Guests walked in and saw a clear entryway instead of tripping over shoes. I could actually cook without clearing counters first. The guest bathroom was stocked and ready (no scrambling for extra toilet paper). And the dining table wasn’t buried under stuff, so we could actually sit down and enjoy a meal without the awkward “move that pile over there” shuffle.
That experience proved to me what I tell my clients all the time: you don’t have to declutter your whole house to feel holiday-ready. Just hit the right spaces, and everything else feels lighter.
FAQs About Holiday Decluttering & Home Organizing
Do I need to go buy bins before I start?
Nope. Start with editing. Most of us don’t need more containers — we need fewer things in them.
How long does each space take?
Anywhere from 10–30 minutes. Set a timer, put on music, and call it done when the timer goes off.
What do I do with donations?
Keep a box in a closet or the garage. When it’s full, schedule a drop-off or pickup. Easy.
What if I feel overwhelmed?
Pick one space. Just one. You’ll build momentum once you see progress.
Let’s Be Real
You don’t have to declutter your whole house before the holidays. That’s not the goal. The goal is to make your everyday spaces work better so you can actually enjoy the season and not be shoving piles into closets when company rings the doorbell.
So tell me — which one of these spaces is calling your name first?
Ready for Backup?
If you’re nodding along but secretly wishing someone would just come do it with you, that’s where I come in. At Your Orderly Space, I help families just like yours with real-life decluttering and home organizing. No judgment, no pressure, just systems that make sense.
✨ Book your free consultation today and let’s get your home holiday-ready — without the stress.
