Once the holidays are finally over and it’s time to pack away all the decor until next year, it may be worth sorting through your holiday clutter. After all, no one wants to store broken ornaments or string lights that no longer work.
We tapped a designer to help break down the holiday decor items minimalists always toss after the season, so you know what to target when you’re cleaning up and decluttering post-holidays.
Meet the Expert
Evelina Juzėnaitė is the principal interior designer at Planner 5D.
Wrapping Paper, Gift Bags, and Boxes
If you’ve finished all your gift wrapping for the season, it may be time to part ways with paper and bows.
Evelina Juzėnaitė, the principal interior designer at Planner 5D, explains how these items may take up valuable space in your home if you don’t have a designated place to store everything.
“I prefer not to take up space in the wardrobe and throw it away,” Juzėnaitė says.
Juzėnaitė explains how she would rather buy something new that actually fits her style and aesthetic that specific year. And refreshing your wrapping paper avoids crumpled up wrapping paper or torn boxes, which inevitably happens after a year in storage.
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Torn or Broken Ornaments and Garlands
We’ve all been tempted to keep torn or broken ornaments or garlands, with the hopes of fixing them with some tape or glue next year. However, Juzėnaitė says it’s more likely it will just sit in a box and not be used, or even forgotten over time.
“Minimalists don’t put them away with the thought of ‘I will fix it,'” Juzėnaitė says. “If I see the slightest scratch, I throw it away because fewer items equals more space.”
Home Textiles
If you’re hosting this holiday season, you might notice your tablecloths and napkins are starting to look stained and faded from washing, Juzėnaitė says.
Unless they have sentimental value to you and your family, Juzėnaitė recommends tossing them—you may not even reach for them the following year if they’re not in good condition. This will only lead to built-up clutter which you’ll have to deal with later.
Disposable Decorations
Juzėnaitė also suggests saying goodbye to disposable decorations like balloons, paper banners, paper snowflakes, and other similar items since you probably won’t use them, especially if you only host during the holidays.
“Every year, there is a different theme for New Year’s Eve decorations and parties, and chances are that only a maximum of 20 percent of what you have will be useful,” Juzėnaitė says.
