How to Declutter Your Home Before Holiday Guests Arrive

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Getting your home ready for holiday guests? Follow this simple step-by-step guide to declutter quickly and create a welcoming space without the stress!

Holiday Decluttering Tips

The holidays are such a joyful time of year, but let’s be honest—getting your home ready for guests can quickly become overwhelming.

Between all the prep work for meals, decorating, and managing your family’s schedule, finding the time to declutter before the holiday rush might feel impossible.

A neatly made bed with a tufted gray headboard is adorned with two green throw pillows and two plaid pillows. To impress holiday guests, the small bedside table holds a black lamp, a plant, and picture frames, creating a cozy and stylish home setting.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you!

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a massive project that takes days (or weeks!).

With a little strategy and focus, you can tackle the areas that matter most and create a welcoming, organized space for your guests without the stress.

Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you declutter your home before the holidays so you can enjoy the season with less mess and more joy.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Preparing Your Home for Holiday Guests

Start with High-Traffic Areas

When time is limited, it’s important to prioritize the spaces that will get the most use while your guests are visiting.

Bright living room with a decorated Christmas tree on the left is ready to welcome holiday guests. The room features a gray armchair, a decluttered bookshelf adorned with plants and decor, a window with blinds, and a cozy sectional sofa with a throw blanket. Festive and inviting atmosphere.

Think about where your guests will spend the most time—living rooms, dining areas, bathrooms, and entryways should be your first focus.

  • Clear the clutter: Remove unnecessary items like shoes, bags, or kids’ toys that often pile up in entryways and living spaces. Create a designated space (like a basket or bin) to temporarily store these items.
  • Tidy up surfaces: Wipe down countertops, coffee tables, and other visible surfaces. Put away any knick-knacks or excess decor that might make the space feel cluttered.
  • Make it guest-ready: In your living room, fluff the pillows, fold blankets, and do a quick dusting. In the dining room, clear off any extra clutter from the table and ensure there’s room for guests to gather.

By focusing on the most-used spaces, you’re making sure the areas your guests will actually see are clean and organized.

This will take some of the pressure off of feeling like your entire home needs to be perfect.

SHOP

Tackle the Guest Bathroom

Guest bathrooms are one of those spots that tend to accumulate clutter over time without us even noticing.

A small, modern bathroom perfect for holiday guests, features a white toilet, pedestal sink, and shiplap walls. Above the toilet is a black metal shelf with decorations and towels. A wooden basket keeps toilet paper organized, while a patterned rug adds style to the floor. A round mirror hangs above the sink.

It’s usually filled with half-empty bottles, extra towels, or random toiletries.

Now’s the perfect time to clear it out and make it feel fresh for holiday visitors.

  • Declutter the countertops: Remove anything that doesn’t need to be there—old skincare products, half-used tubes of toothpaste, or stray hair accessories. Keep only the essentials, like soap and a fresh hand towel, on display.
  • Organize the cabinets: If your guests might need to access anything under the sink, take a few minutes to organize it. Place extra toilet paper, clean towels, and basic toiletries (like travel-size shampoo or body wash) in easy-to-reach spots.
  • Make it smell nice: Add a candle, reed diffuser, or fresh flowers to give the bathroom a warm, welcoming feel. It’s a simple touch that makes the space feel intentional and cozy.

A decluttered and clean bathroom makes a big impression, and it’s often one of the easiest rooms to get under control.

SHOP

Declutter the Entryway

The entryway is the first thing your guests will see when they walk into your home, and it can set the tone for the rest of their visit.

A mudroom with olive green built-in cabinets featuring black handles creates an ideal decluttering space for busy moms. Below, a wooden bench with open cubbies keeps essentials organized. A window on the right lets in natural light, highlighting the wooden floor—perfect for holidays or everyday use.

Read: How to Organize Your Entryway for Fall: Managing Coats, Boots, and Bags

If your entryway is overflowing with shoes, jackets, or bags, it’s time for a quick refresh.

  • Create storage solutions: Use baskets or bins to store shoes, hats, scarves, or gloves. If you don’t have a dedicated coat closet, a coat rack or hooks can work wonders for hanging jackets and bags.
  • Clear the floor space: Keep the floor as clear as possible. Remove anything unnecessary, like extra shoes or random items that don’t belong there. A clean, clear entryway instantly feels more welcoming.
  • Add a welcoming touch: You don’t need to go all out, but a simple fall or winter wreath on the door, a small rug, or a potted plant can make your entryway feel more festive and inviting.

Decluttering the entryway makes a huge impact with minimal effort and helps keep the rest of your home cleaner by offering a designated spot for outerwear and shoes.

SHOP

Simplify Your Kitchen Counters

If you’re hosting holiday meals or gatherings, chances are your kitchen is going to be the hub of activity.

A modern kitchen with a white island countertop, featuring a vase of red and green flowers, a covered cake, and a small white pumpkin. The background showcases a stove with wooden cutting boards and decorative flowers, perfect for stress-free holiday cooking and seamless kitchen organization.

Read: Organizing Your Kitchen for Fall: Simple Tips to Keep It Functional

Decluttering your countertops will give you more space to prep meals and help keep everything organized while guests are around.

  • Remove unnecessary appliances: If your counter is cluttered with appliances you don’t use daily (think blenders, toasters, or coffee makers), store them in cabinets or pantry shelves until you need them.
  • Clear out the clutter: Move any random papers, bills, or mail that’s piled up on your kitchen counters. Find a drawer or organizer to store them in until you have time to sort through everything.
  • Designate a serving area: If you’re hosting a holiday meal, clear off a section of the counter or island where you can set up a self-serve buffet or drinks station. This will help keep things organized when guests arrive and prevent last-minute scrambling.

A clean, decluttered kitchen not only makes meal prep easier, but it also creates a calm and organized atmosphere when your guests inevitably gather there.

SHOP

Declutter Your Coat Closet

If your guests will be hanging their coats or jackets, a tidy coat closet is a must.

The cozy entryway is ready to welcome holiday guests, featuring a winter coat and black backpack tidily hung on wall hooks. A small table holds a miniature decorated Christmas tree, while a wooden shelf displays house decorations and red heart ornaments. A pillow rests invitingly on the bench below.

We all know how easy it is to throw random stuff in the coat closet throughout the year (hello, old winter boots!), so take a few minutes to get it guest-ready.

  • Clear out excess: Remove any coats, jackets, or shoes that you and your family aren’t currently using. Store them in another closet or in storage bins to free up space for your guests.
  • Add extra hangers: Make sure there are enough hangers for your guests’ coats and jackets. You could even add a small basket or bin for hats, scarves, or gloves.
  • Store winter gear: If you have bulky winter gear (like boots or snow pants) cluttering the bottom of your closet, find a separate place to store them until the holidays are over.

A tidy coat closet ensures your guests will have a place to hang their outerwear, making them feel welcomed from the moment they step in.

SHOP

Focus on One Room at a Time

Trying to tackle the entire house at once can quickly lead to overwhelm, especially with all the other things on your holiday to-do list.

A cozy bedroom features a large bed adorned with a beige comforter and green throw blanket, embodying the essence of home decor. A wreath above the tufted headboard hints at the transition from fall to winter. Natural light spills through the window, highlighting nightstand lamps and artwork on either side.

Read: The Four-Box Method: A Simple Guide to Decluttering Your Home

Instead, focus on one room at a time and break it down into smaller tasks.

  • Set a timer: Give yourself a set amount of time (15-30 minutes) to declutter one room. This keeps the process manageable and prevents you from feeling like you have to do everything in one go.
  • Use baskets for sorting: As you declutter, have baskets or bins nearby for items to toss, donate, or store away. This makes it easy to sort through things quickly without second-guessing.
  • Don’t aim for perfection: The goal here is to make your home functional and welcoming for guests, not to achieve a Pinterest-perfect space. Focus on what matters most and let go of the rest.

Breaking it down room by room helps you feel more in control and keeps the process less stressful.

Final Thoughts: Declutter for the Holidays Without the Stress

The holiday season is about creating memories, not stressing over a perfectly decluttered home.

Focus on the high-traffic areas your guests will see and use, and don’t worry about tackling every single corner of the house.

A festive shelf display welcomes holiday guests with a nativity scene, wooden decorative pieces, small plants, and a chalkboard sign reading "O Holy Night." The homey arrangement also features a "merry + bright" sign and various rustic baskets and boxes for a cozy touch.

By prioritizing the spaces that matter most and breaking the process into smaller, manageable tasks, you can create a welcoming home without feeling overwhelmed.

And remember, your guests are coming to spend time with you—not to inspect every inch of your home!

Decluttering before the holidays is about creating a warm, inviting space where everyone can relax and enjoy the season together.

Close-up of decorative brass bells and greenery elegantly hanging on a staircase railing, creating a warm invitation for holiday guests. In the background, a blurred Christmas tree twinkles with ornaments and lights. The scene is festive, offering a beautifully decluttered ambiance.

Happy decluttering, and here’s to a joyful, stress-free holiday season!

More Decluttering Tips

How to Declutter before Christmas

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My goal is for you and your family to absolutely LOVE the home you live in. I’ll show you how to create a home that looks good, feels good, and functions well!

As a mom, wife, and home blogger, home decor is my passion! I have seen firsthand how my home can impact my family. How our home feels, looks and functions is a critical part of our family’s wellbeing!

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