Clutter-Free Christmas Stage 1
Light the Candles and Declutter before the Big Day
We Danes light candles from breakfast through to bed time. They are on the shopping list between bread and milk – usually un-scented and usually white. We are crazy about candles but not because candlelight hides a multitude of sins and oodles of stuff! Along with candlelight, a clutter-free Christmas is essential for creating ‘hygge’ and cosiness. It lowers your stress levels too.
Where to start with a clutter-free Christmas? The easiest place is with your clothes. You need them daily – so once sorted, you’ll feel the benefits of your efforts every day. Work in sections by type of clothing. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and you can fit in a bit of tidying every day.
The kitchen will see a lot of action, so clearing up a few problem areas will you give significant results that far outweigh your hard work. To achieve your clutter-free Christmas kitchen, instead of tidying a bursting drawer or an overflowing shelf, tackle kitchen content by category too. By the time you’ve collected one type of item from all over, sorted and chucked what you don’t need, you will 
have freed up space and made room for yummy Christmas essentials like mince pies and chocolates.
The KonMari Method™ always starts with clothes then books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), which includes kitchen komono, and sentimental bits are last.
Even if you’ve only got a few hours, don’t waste time agonising over it – just start!
Clutter-Free Christmas Stage 2
The Magic of the Wish List
I can’t back it up as fact but in my opinion, Danes don’t go mad for novelty gifts. We really do like a proper Wish List and find it thrilling to receive gifts that we really, really want or need. As someone who helps people to declutter, I can’t recommend a Wish List highly enough. It’s an indispensable process for a clutter-free Christmas. Here are a few reasons why:
- So many people find it impossible to get rid of a gift, so please think twice before gifting them a hilarious but ugly mug or novelty stuffed toy. They’ll feel obliged to keep it forever
- If their house is groaning with stuff, it’s hard to buy the perfect gift, if you haven’t been given a clue from their Wish List. You’ll not believe the amount of ‘perfect gifts’ that linger at the back of cupboards taking up loads of space for years, yes years and years!
- Parents hate to see their kids spend hard-earned cash on gifts for them, that they don’t need. It’s like a double whammy of guilt – guilt that you don’t need it (or need much at all) and guilt about the waste of cash.
On a positive note, if you think a Wish List kills the magic, there’s a massive and delicious choice of surprise gifts you can give that won’t detract from a clutter-free Christmas:
- Vouchers towards a favourite restaurant.
- Tickets for the theatre or music event.
- Subscriptions or vouchers towards to the gym, swimming membership, National Trust etc.
- Invitations to dinner/days out/weekends with you doing the cooking/driving or just sharing the time together.
- Favourite magazine subscription.
- Homemade bakes, conserves or food (but hold off on the unusual salt, herb and spice mixes, I have seen the kitchens where a lot of them have ended up – for years and years!)
- If you know their favourite store, then you could buy something you think they’ll love with a gift receipt so that they can exchange if it doesn’t suit.
- Upgrade things used often like their preferred skin care brand products or luxury toiletries.
- And a gorgeous candle or two of course.
With a little bit of decluttering and a well shared Wish List, you can relax and enjoy every moment of the magical season and enjoy a clutter-free Christmas.
