There are great parts of the Holidays that make us all look forward to late December: quality time with friends and family & the joy of giving & receiving gifts are highlights.

There’s also a lot of excess-aside from holiday parties, long gift lists, home decoration and buying more Christmas decorations (for example) to go with the other stuff you already have buried in your closet can make the holiday season overwhelming.

Truthfully, it doesn’t have to be. People understandably tend to take on more than what’s really necessary, and by reducing your holiday load & organizing can make your holiday season a lot more relaxing & stress free.

A recent article from HGTV recommends starting with making space in your closet before you start getting more gifts:

Donate or purge anything that you haven’t used in one year…Separate clothes by season if your closets and drawer space will allow. Sorting that way makes sense, and such a system will simplify seasonal cleaning. Visibility is also important when organizing closets….Be prepared when relatives ask what to buy your spouse and children.

Also, for holiday decor & displays, think simple. In the same article, Lisa Adams, owner of LA Closet suggests:

“Resist over-accumulation, purge unused decorations and swap decorations with a friend….If you like to set up decorations the same way each year, do not leave it to memory….Write down steps, take a photo of your decor and store in a binder…It’s very tempting to pick up new tableware and decorations. Know exactly what you have before buying anything new…”

Keeping these points in mind will help keep your holidays organized & on the continued path to an orderly 2015!