Between the cooking, the shopping, and the cleaning, you’ve got enough on your plate. Clutter just adds to the stress. And if your house already feels tight, picture it with ten more people inside. This week is a good time to declutter your home and carve out some breathing room. You don’t have to go crazy with it. Hit the main areas and you’re in good shape.
Start With the Rooms Guests Will Actually See
Forget about the whole house. Nobody’s going to inspect your bedroom closet. Zero in on the spaces where people will actually spend time. Living room. Guest bedroom. Main bathroom. The entryway where everyone dumps their coats.
Surfaces matter most. Get the clutter off your counters, coffee table, dining table. Clear the floors. If stuff is piling up, toss it in a back room or closet for now. And if those are already full? That’s a sign some things need to leave the house entirely. The goal here isn’t a showroom. You just want your living room to not feel like an obstacle course when people walk in.
Decide What Goes and What Stays
Take a lap around the house and pay attention to what’s eating up space. Seasonal stuff is an easy target. The lawn mower sitting in the middle of the garage, patio furniture you won’t touch until May, bikes nobody’s ridden since September. All of that can go somewhere else for now.
Then check out the bigger stuff. That exercise bike collecting dust. The boxes you packed when you moved and never opened. Furniture you’ve been saying you’ll sell for two years now. Sports gear, hobby supplies, kids’ toys. It piles up quick. Ask yourself this. If you haven’t touched it in six months, why is it still taking up space in your house?
Where to Put Everything
Okay, so you’ve made a pile. Now where does it all go?
The garage or basement is the obvious answer. Works great if you’ve got space. Most of us don’t. Cramming more boxes into an already stuffed garage just kicks the problem down the road.
A self storage unit actually gets the stuff out of your way. Seasonal items, bulky furniture, those boxes you’re hanging onto but don’t need right now. Your house opens up and you don’t have to throw anything away. Portable storage is another route if you’d rather load on your own schedule. A Go Mini shows up at your place, you pack it when you get around to it, and it either sits in your driveway or goes to a facility.
Keep the Momentum After the Holidays
You know what happens next. Guests go home, life settles down, and bit by bit everything you moved out makes its way back inside. Fight that urge.
You’ve got room now. Don’t give it up so fast. Notice which stuff you actually missed versus what you completely forgot about. Before dragging boxes back in, really think about whether any of it needs to come home. Our common storage questions page covers more on this. And for tips heading into the new year, check out our new year storage tips.
A Cleaner Home Makes Hosting Easier
Nobody expects your house to look perfect. But when you declutter your home before company arrives, there’s actually space for coats and bags and all the stuff people bring with them. You’re not shoving things aside so someone can sit on the couch.
Holidays are stressful enough without your house adding to it. A little breathing room helps more than you’d think.
Final Thoughts
You’re not trying to impress anyone. You just want enough space to host without losing your mind. Spend a few hours this week getting the extra stuff out and you’ll thank yourself when company arrives. If you need a spot for seasonal gear or boxes you’re not ready to toss, Greylock Storage has self storage units and portable storage in Pittsfield, Adams, Schenectady, and Glens Falls.
