Nothing compares to the satisfaction of a good decluttering session. And while a lot of people leave it for the new year, it makes sense to get stuck into your decluttering this side of Christmas.

If you’re expecting guests over the holidays, you’ll need to make sure the spaces they’ll be staying in are ready for them, and if you’re hosting Christmas dinner then your kitchen cupboards, fridge and freezer could no doubt do with a blitz to make room for incoming food and drink. And while we love to give and receive wonderful Christmas presents, we’re often left scratching our heads on Boxing Day wondering where to put it all (especially if you have children).

“Christmas usually brings more food, people and stuff, so ensuring you have room for the new items to come in and be given a home is essential,” recommends Vicky Silverthorn, professional organiser at You Need A Vicky. “In addition, food cupboards will likely be crammed full, and there’s more likely to be waste if you don’t start using up what you have in the lead-up to the big day.”

As a decluttering pro, Silverthorn has already got her own house in order. “I’ve already given the toy cupboards a good clear out, and I’m also trying to clear my freezer in preparation so I can fit in all I need to feed my visiting family.”

To get your own home clutter-free in time for Christmas, follow Silverthorn’s suggestion: instead of trying to tackle the whole house at once, prioritise the areas that will be used the most over the coming weeks.

“Which areas are vital right now? Who’s coming, what’s going to be coming through the door? Where will coats, shoes, suitcases, extra food and gifts go?” Silverthorn asks. “With extra guests come extra shoes and coats, and hallways and coat cupboards can quickly get crammed. Think about where everyone’s stuff will go in advance. If you’re going away for Christmas, think about what you’ll be bringing home. If it’s toys, attack children’s bedrooms/playrooms and any toy storage areas.”

Whatever you do, don’t fall foul of the classic mistake Silverthorn sees again and again. “If you pull too much out at once, you’ll be left feeling defeated or overwhelmed. Work on what you have time to do, and if you aren’t sure how long a space will take, go small. It’s always better to finish on a high and complete your task rather than having to put things back unfinished.”

When it comes to the kitchen, Silverthorn has a great system to follow.

“I focus on one thing at a time, for example, the fridge, the freezer or the snack cupboard. Don’t try to do the whole kitchen in one afternoon,” she says.

“Pull everything out, lay it out in categories in neat lines (not piles) and work through section by section. This is often a great reminder of what you have lurking at the back of cupboards.

“Send food off to food banks if you know you won’t use them (and they are still in date) and get rid of any gadgets you can live without. Try to get things back in and lined up, replicating the look of a shop. Everything doesn’t have to be in containers, it just has to be easy to see. And put new food at the back so you’re using it up in date order. You can often move shelves up and down in cupboards, fridges and freezers, so don’t shy away from reconfiguring the space to make it more practical.”

Some experts recommend setting a timer or a target for the number of items to get rid of to help motivate you to declutter, but Silverthorn isn’t so keen on this idea.

“Getting rid of a certain amount of items in a certain amount of time doesn’t work well for me. It’s OK if we don’t get rid of as much as we expected. Think of your first tries as a first draft, not a final attempt. You can come back to it again in the future as you get used to the feeling of letting go.”

Ultimately, a pre-Christmas declutter is about making a little extra room for the festivities in the spaces that need it most – it doesn’t need to be a top-to-bottom overhaul.

“I believe most people could get rid of 50% of the items in their home and not even notice. But remember, this is a quick pre-Christmas declutter. After Christmas, you can start working on areas again and think more about storage solutions that could enhance how you organise things.”

Images: Getty