Make Room for the Holiday Season in Just 12 Days

With holidays just around the corner, you may be starting to get overwhelmed thinking of all the tasks you need to do in preparation. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or inviting in visiting relatives for a few days, there can be lots to get done in a short amount of time. No need to fret! 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is here to help break up the work into manageable chunks, so you can be ready for the holidays in just 12 days!

12 Areas to Clean Up Before Holiday Hosting

From gift-wrapping to decorating to clearing space for guests, there’s plenty to do over the holiday season! Whether you want to get everything done right away or break it up into easy tasks over multiple days, follow these tips to prepare your home for all your holiday hosting needs.

1. Organize the kitchen

Start off your holiday hosting preparations by organizing your kitchen! This area will be getting plenty of use over the holiday season, especially if you love holiday baking and cooking. First, go through your kitchen, fridge, and pantry to declutter any unwanted items. Once you’ve cleared out anything you don’t need, organize everything from the bottom of your drawers to the tops of your shelves, so your most-used items are easy for yourself and guests to find. Once everything is neatly organized, it’ll also be easier to see if there’s anything you need to stock up on before your guests arrive.

2. Clear closet space

On the second day of holiday hosting prep, tackle your closets to ensure there is enough space for extra items. Whether it’s a closet, coat rack, or front entry, make sure there is room for extra coats and shoes as you entertain this holiday season. If you’re limited on closet space, consider clearing space in a spare bedroom for guests to put their belongings while they visit. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is happy to help clear any unwanted clutter you discover while clearing up closet space.

3. Prep your guest room

Next on the list is to prep your guest room, or DIY one if you don’t have a spare bedroom! Whether your guests are staying overnight or not, ensuring you have a space for them and their belongings will help them feel welcome. If you have a spare bedroom, declutter any miscellaneous items that may have taken up space over the year. Ensure it is cleaned with fresh sheets. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, it’s time to get crafty! Prep that air mattress or pull-out couch, and consider the best space to set it up. While you don’t need to have everything set up days in advance, it will help to have a plan in place so your guests can seamlessly visit.

4. Clean the bathrooms

A commonly used space during any gathering will be the bathrooms, so don’t forget about them while preparing for your guests arrival! Give all your bathrooms a quick clean before hosting, and double check that they are sufficiently stocked with necessities like toilet paper, hand soap, and hand towels. For more tips on cleaning your bathroom, check out our blog for four easy steps to clear bathroom clutter. Once your bathroom is tidied, add in some holiday touches for you and your guests to enjoy.

5. Declutter the common areas

After getting the kitchen, bathroom, closets, and guest rooms ready, it’s time to declutter the rest of the common spaces that your guests may be spending their time in. Whether it’s the living room, dining room, or any other entertaining spaces, ensure there is enough space for all your guests to comfortably come together. Remove any clutter from seating areas, and check for any potential tripping hazards. You don’t want to hit your foot on anything while carrying plates of food to the dining table! Once all your common areas are clutter-free, it’s time to start decorating.

6. Organize holiday decorations

While it may be tempting to leave the decoration organization for after the holidays, your future self will thank you if you work ahead! Organize your Christmas or other holiday decorations as you are pulling them out, and ensure any boxes are clearly labeled so it will be easier to put them back in the correct spaces after the holidays. As you’re bringing out your decorations, consider if there are any that you no longer want, or that have been damaged while in storage. Once you have a pile of unwanted decorations, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to properly dispose of them!

7. Create a gift wrapping space

Before your guests arrive, take some time to pre-wrap any gifts so they are ready to be handed out. Find a comfortable space to set up all your essentials (wrapping paper, scissors, name cards, etc.) so you don’t have to search around your home once you’ve started wrapping. If you have to declutter an area to make space, make sure there’s plenty of room for all your necessary items! Once you’ve got a designated gift wrapping spot, it will be easier to get all your wrapping done in one sitting before any guests visit. Unsure of what to get your loved ones? Check out our minimalist gift ideas, including some tips for sustainably wrapping your items!

8. Create space for writing letters

There’s nothing better than receiving a letter from your loved ones during the holiday season. Whether it’s your first time sending out holiday cards, or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s always a good idea to prep your space prior to writing letters! Similar to when wrapping gifts, find a space to set up your letter writing station. This could be your home office, or a space on your kitchen table. Declutter the area so you have plenty of room to write, and ensure items like pens, paper, and envelopes are easily accessible. This is a great way to spend some time with your kids as well, as they’ll have a blast decorating and drawing on cards to send out!

9. Get rid of any unused toys

If you have kids, you’ll want to make sure that there is room for any new toys that they might receive during the holiday season. Don’t be afraid to get your children involved in the process, and have them help organize any unwanted or unused toys into donation and trash piles. Not only will it be another way to spend some extra time with your kids this holiday season, it’ll be a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of donation and gift giving. If you’re unsure where to donate any unwanted items, give 1-800-GOT-JUNK? a call! Many of our franchises work with charities, including Second Chance Toys, so your well-loved toys can find a new home for the holidays.

10. Prep your cleaning pantry

If there’s anything to learn about hosting anytime of the year, it’s to be prepared. Whether there’s a spilled glass or a dropped plate, it’s always a good idea to be prepared to bust out the cleaning supplies at a moment’s notice. Organize your cleaning closet or pantry so you can easily access everything you’ll need before, during, and after hosting. This will make it easier to quickly grab anything you’ll need to do a quick sweep before your guests arrive, and it will make it much easier to put the supplies away at the end of the day.

11. Plan to get rid of any post-holiday clutter

It may seem early to start thinking about how to properly dispose of your holiday clutter, but “future you” will be thankful that you did! Before you host anyone for the holidays, plan how you will dispose of any boxes, wrapping paper, and even your Christmas tree. Some common disposal places will have adjusted dates over the holiday season, so it’s best to prepare to get rid of anything you can in advance, or consider how and when you will dispose of your items after the holidays. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is happy to help take the stress out of planning ahead and handle all your holiday disposal needs!

12. Clear the front entry

Last, but certainly not least, make sure to clear your driveway and front entry for your guests to safely arrive. Remove any unnecessary items from your common walkways and ensure there is no debris or safety hazards that your guests might encounter coming up to your home. You don’t want to accidentally leave something that your loved ones could slip or trip on! While clearing a path, check any outdoor decorations to ensure they’re properly set up for your guests to admire on their way in as well. Whether you do these tips in 1 day or 12 days, this is best left for the end so your guests can arrive safely.

And just like that, 12 days have flown by, and it’s time to enjoy your holidays with family and friends! To make your holiday hosting run smoothly so you can focus on your loved ones, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to handle all your junk removal needs. We handle all the lifting, loading, and proper disposal of your items, so you can save your time and energy for spreading the holiday cheer with your guests! To make it even easier, Coming Home Insider Perks members get $40 off Junk Removal — book here or call 1-866-995-5865 with code CHIP40.

Are you ready to host this holiday season?